Comparisons of statistical techniques to assess age-related skeletal markers in bioarchaeology.

摘要: Objectives Many authors argue that inconsistencies between studies of skeletal markers are based on different data collection protocols, especially when comparing age-related such as osteoarthritis. Less attention is given to the choice statistical techniques used test hypotheses associated with data. This paper addresses how compare prevalence indicators, specifically osteoarthritis. Materials and methods Osteoarthritis was scored in eight postcranial joints 243 adult individuals from seven prehistoric archaeological sites Central California, compared three time periods [Early (4800–2800 BP), Middle (2800–1200 Late (1200–250 BP)] using commonly tests: chi-square, Fisher's exact, odds ratios. In addition, we analyzed tests able take into consideration effect age osteoarthritis prevalence: ANCOVA Factorial ANOVA. Finally, bootstraps were applied investigate fluctuating frequencies, sample size, age-at-death distributions affected interpretations resulting each test. Results The results demonstrate consider a covariate (ANCOVA ANOVA) more efficient rejecting null hypothesis smaller magnitudes difference observed samples, irrespective even though fails meet assumptions normal distribution homoscedasticity. Discussion ANCOVAs or ANOVAs incorporate should be considered often prevalences osteological among past populations.