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01 - Introduction To Biostatistics

This document provides an introduction to biostatistics. It defines statistics as the science of collecting, organizing, analyzing, interpreting and presenting numerical information. Biostatistics refers to applying statistics to biological and medical sciences. The document outlines why statistics should be studied, the main branches of statistics, and key statistical concepts like variables, data sets, measurements scales and types of variables. It emphasizes that understanding statistics facilitates research, medical literature comprehension and evidence-based decision making.

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SayapPutih
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46 views16 pages

01 - Introduction To Biostatistics

This document provides an introduction to biostatistics. It defines statistics as the science of collecting, organizing, analyzing, interpreting and presenting numerical information. Biostatistics refers to applying statistics to biological and medical sciences. The document outlines why statistics should be studied, the main branches of statistics, and key statistical concepts like variables, data sets, measurements scales and types of variables. It emphasizes that understanding statistics facilitates research, medical literature comprehension and evidence-based decision making.

Uploaded by

SayapPutih
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Biostatistics

Community Medicine Unit


International Medical School
Management and Science University
Introduction to Statistics
What is STATISTICS?
Why should I study statistics?
Two main branches of Statistics

2 04/22/2020
What is Statistics ?
Statistics is a science that deals with the
collection,
organizing,
analysis,
interpretation, and
presentation of information that can be stated
numerically.
(Daniel
WW, 1999)
Biostatistics is the application of statistics in
biological sciences & medicine
3 04/22/2020
Why should I study
Statistics?
A tool for research
Every research involves data collection, analysis
and interpretation of results
Easier to communicate with
Statisticians/Biostatisticians
Understanding medical literature (improve
literature appraisal‐skills)
Enable to think analytically and facilitate decision‐
making process
Epidemiology and statistics go hand in hand
They both are instrumental in quantifying medical
sciences

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Data and Data Sets
Data are the facts and figures that are
collected, summarized, analyzed, and
interpreted.
The data collected in a particular study are
referred to as the data set.
Data are entered into computers and saved
as electronic database.
Statistical software are used to archive and
analyze data

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Elements, Variables, and
Observations
The elements are the entities on which data are
collected. E.g. all subjects in a population, all heights
or weights etc
A variable is a characteristic of interest for the
elements.
The set of measurements collected for a particular
element is called an observation.
The total number of data values in a data set is the
number of elements multiplied by the number of
variables.
E.g. # elements = 10 students; # variables = 3 (age,
wt., ht.)
Total # data values (bits) = 10 (ements)*3 (vars.) = 30

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Discrete Vs. Continuous Random
Variables?

 Discrete random variable: it is characterized by gaps


or interruption in the values that it can assume.
These gaps' or interruptions indicate the absence of
values between particular values that the variable
can assume.
 Examples:-
1. The number of daily admissions to a general
hospital is a discrete random variable since the
number of admissions each day must be
represented by a whole number, such as 0, I, 2, or
3. The number of admissions on a given day cannot
7 be a number such as 1.5, 2.997, or 3.333. 04/22/2020
Continue….

A continuous random variable : it does not possess the gaps


or interruptions characteristic 0f a discrete random variable.
 A continuous random variable can assume any value within
a specified relevant interval of values assumed by the
variable.
Examples,
1. Various measurements that can be made on individuals
such as height, weight, and skull circumference.
2. No matter how close together the observed heights of two
people, for example, we can, theoretically, find another
person whose height falls somewhere in between.

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Classification of variables
Characteristics that are Characteristics that are
merely categorized. measurable.
Unit of measurement is not Variable Unit of measurement is either
numeric. discrete or continuous.
Categorica Numerical
l (Quantitat
(Qualitativ ive)
Known as
‘scale’ in
e) SPSS

Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio

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more informative
Measurement Scales
 Assignment of numerals to objects or events
according to a set of rules (Steven, 1946).
 Knowledge of knowing types of variables helps
in deciding how to organize, analyze and present
the data.

Four types of variables based on levels of


measurement
Nominal
Ordinal
Interval
Ratio

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Categorical variables
NOMINAL
 classify characteristics of variables into
categories e.g. sex, race, colour, blood group; or
dichotomous variables: e.g. high or low BP, alive
or dead
 data is mutually exclusive and not in rank order.
 assigned by numeric values in statistical
software;
Sex: 1 = male Race: 1 = Malay
2 = female 2 = Chinese
3 = Indian
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4 = Others
04/22/2020
Categorical variables
ORDINAL
 classifies data into categories that can be ranked
(ordered categories)
 differences/distances between ranks don't exist.
 properties of ordinal data:
- data are mutually exclusive
- data categories have some logical order

SE status: 1 = Low Attitude scale : 1 = Strongly agree


2 = Middle 2 = Agree
3 = High 3 = Neutral
4 = Disagree
12 5 = Strongly disagree 04/22/2020
Numerical variables
INTERVAL
 Quantitative variables (discreet or continuous)
 Distances between the values are equal (able to
add or subtract) but zero point is arbitrary (not
true), e.g: temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius
scale.

 E.g of continuous variables (with decimal values):


temperature scale : 37.50, 38.20, 40.50 etc

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Numerical variables
RATIO
 Very similar to interval variables
 However, zero point is NOT arbitrary, e.g:
temperature in Kelvin scale (0 point is physically
zero/no value).
 Able to multiple or divide the values.
 Other examples of ratio variables:
 Blood pressure
 Height

 NOTES:
 Intervals and Ratio variables sometime are
indistinguishable and handled the same way in
analyzing data.
14
 Both can be converted to categorical variables04/22/2020
(but
with lost of information (Cohen, 1983).
Exercise!
State the data type of each of the following:
 Homicide rate (deaths/100,000)
 High school graduate (Y/N)
 Hair color
 Hospital expenditures (yearly, in dollars)
 Smoking status (none, light, heavy)
 Coronary heart disease (Y/N)

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