The study reported in "Gait Patterns During Free Choice Ladder Ascents" (Human Movement Sci., 1983: 187-195) was motivated by publicity concerning the increased accident rate for individuals climbing ladders. A number of different gait patterns were used by subjects climbing a portable straight ladder according to specified instructions. The ascent times for seven subjects who used a lateral gait and six subjects who used a four-beat diagonal gait are given.
a. Carry out a test using α = .05 to see whether the data suggests any difference in the true average ascent times for the two gaits.
b. Compute a 95% CI for the difference between the true average gait times.