Preface to First Edition - lib

CHAPTER 2Data Analysis Using GraphicalDisplays: Malignant Melanoma in theUSA and Chinese Health andFamily Life2.1 IntroductionFisher and Belle (1993) report mortality rates due to malignant melanomaof the skin for white males during the period 1950–1969, for each state onthe US mainland. The data are given in Table 2.1 and include the number ofdeaths due to malignant melanoma in the corresponding state, the longitudeand latitude of the geographic centre of each state, and a binary variableindicating contiguity to an ocean, that is, if the state borders one of theoceans. Questions of interest about these data include: how do the mortalityrates compare for ocean and non-ocean states? and how are mortality ratesaffected by latitude and longitude?Table 2.1:USmelanoma data. USA mortality rates for whitemales due to malignant melanoma.mortality latitude longitude oceanAlabama 219 33.0 87.0 yesArizona 160 34.5 112.0 noArkansas 170 35.0 92.5 noCalifornia 182 37.5 119.5 yesColorado 149 39.0 105.5 noConnecticut 159 41.8 72.8 yesDelaware 200 39.0 75.5 yesDistrict of Columbia 177 39.0 77.0 noFlorida 197 28.0 82.0 yesGeorgia 214 33.0 83.5 yesIdaho 116 44.5 114.0 noIllinois 124 40.0 89.5 noIndiana 128 40.2 86.2 noIowa 128 42.2 93.8 noKansas 166 38.5 98.5 noKentucky 147 37.8 85.0 noLouisiana 190 31.2 91.8 yes25© 2010 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC