Body Temperatures of Healthy Adults

Body Temperatures of Healthy Adults

J

MTH/233

September 22, 2001

Kimberly Shockey

Abstract

Decades of medical testing and information gathering have led to the conclusion that the average body temperature of a healthy adult should be 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite the amount of information gathered this known medical “fact” continues to be debated. The National Institute of Health indicates “average normal body temperature is generally accepted as 98.6°F” (MedlinePlus, 2014). However, the NIH also indicates that some studies indicate that there may be a larger range of normal body temperatures (MedlinePlus, 2014). Dr. Robert Shmerling of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center concludes “it is time to put aside a single reading as indicative of normal body temperature because a single reading does not adequately describe body temperature” (Shmerling, n.d.). It is the ambiguity of the opinions and the data gathered on this subject make for an interesting study.

Body Temperatures of Healthy Adults

Having researched the subject it is my claim that 98.6 degrees Farhenheit is not the mean body temperature of a healthy adult, and therefore cannot be used as an accurate measurement for one of medicines key vital signs. I will use the data gathered from Dr. Wasserman, Dr. Mackowiak and Dr. Levine provided in Statdisk. The data provided is of 106 unique test subjects having the temperature measured orally at 12:00 a.m.

The data provided will be examined as a one sample mean test. The 106 test subjects (x=106) will be tested against the claimed mean of 98.6 (µ=98.6). My claim is that the claimed mean of 98.6 is not the actual mean (µ≠98.6). If the statement is proven false than the following statement will be true (µ=98.6).

Given my claim that the mean is 98.6, the following are the hypothesis statements:

H0:

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