What is Biostatistics
Biostatistics is the development and application of statistical reasoning and methods in addressing, analyzing, and solving problems in: • public health; • health care and; • biomedical, clinical and population-based research.
Course Objectives:
- Describe the roles biostatistics serves in the discipline of public health.
- Describe the basic concepts of probability, random variation and commonly used statistical probability distributions.
- Describe preferred methodological alternatives to commonly used statistical methods when assumptions are not met.
- Distinguish among the different measurement scales and the implications for selection of statistical methods to be used based on these distinctions.
- Apply descriptive techniques commonly used to summarize public health data.
- Apply common statistical methods for inference.
- Apply descriptive and inferential methodologies according to the type of study design for answering a particular research question.
- Apply basic informatics techniques with vital statistics and public health records in the description of public health characteristics and in public health research and evaluation.
- Interpret results of statistical analyses found in public health studies.
- Develop written and oral presentations based on statistical analyses for both public health professionals and educated lay audiences.