Biostatistics Flashcards
1
Q
Statistics
A
- Study of how information should be reflected on
- Given guidance for action in a particular situation involving uncertainty
2
Q
Biostatistics
A
- Application of statistical methods to the medical and health sciences
- Includes epidemiology
3
Q
Main Goals
A
- To obtain descriptive information about the population from which the sample is drawn
- To test research hypothesis about population
4
Q
Population
A
Any large collection of objects or individuals about which information is desired
5
Q
Parameter
A
Summary number that describes the entire POPULATION, averages or percentages for example
6
Q
Sample
A
Representative group drawn from the population
7
Q
Statistic
A
Any summary number that describes the SAMPLE, like an average or percentage
8
Q
Population v.s. Sample
A
- Population: Contains all members of a specified group
- Sample: part/subset of population, ALWAYS less than entire population
9
Q
Why sample?
A
- Economic advantage
- Time factor
- Very large populations
- Inaccessible populations
- Destructive nature of the observation
10
Q
Types of Data
A
- Binary (discrete)
- Categorical (discrete)
- Continuous
11
Q
Binary Data Examples
A
- Yes/No
- Success/failure
- Alive/dead
12
Q
Categorical Data
A
- Nominal: unordered/qualitative
- Gender, race, martial status, education, etc.
- Ordinal/Hierarchial: scales or statuses for comparison
13
Q
Continuous
A
- Age, height, weight, temperature, distance, etc.
- Measured on continuum or scale
- Ratio accomadates a value of zero
- Distance between each unit has the same meaning or measurement
- Continuous data can have almost ANY numerical value and can be meaningful at any interval
14
Q
Mean
A
- Arithmetic average
- Measure of central tendency for continuous variables
- Affected by outliers
15
Q
Medium
A
- Middle value of an ordered data distribution (50th percentile)
- Measure of central tendency for continuous variables
- NOT affected by outliers
