Question

In the following scenarios identify the Reality, the test, Sensitivity, Specificity, False Negative, and False Positive. Then explain which is worse (if either) a False Negative or a False Positive.

2. A test is done to determine the sex of snails. (Consider Male to be positive and Female negative)

a. Reality:

b. Test:

c. Sensitivity:

d. Specificity:

e. False Negative:

f. False Positive:

g. Which is worse:

Answer 1

a. Reality: Snail is Male.

b. Test: Test correctly identifies given snail as Male.

c. Sensitivity: Among all the snailes which are male, the proportion of snails identified as male by the test.

d. Specificity: Among all the snailes which are female, the proportion of snails identified as female by the test.

e. False Negative: Snail is actually Male and test identifies it as female.

f. False Positive: Snail is actually female and test identifies it as male.

g. Which is worse: Both False negative and false positive are equally worse in this case.