Chapter 1 Introduction To Biostatistics

Question 1

Data

Answer 1

Numbers resulting from counting or measuring

Question 2

Datum

Answer 2

Individual number

Question 3

Statistics

Answer 3

Field of study concerned with the collection, summarization and analysis of data and the drawing of inferences about a body of data when only part of the data is observed

Question 4

Descriptive statistics

Answer 4

The collection, organization, summarization and analysis of data

Question 5

Inferential statistics

Answer 5

The drawing of inferences about a body of data when only part of the data us observed

Question 6

Population

Answer 6

The largest collection of entities for which we have an interest at a particular time. A population of values is the largest collection of values of a random variable for which we have an interest at a particular time. Populations may be finite or infinite

Question 7

Sample

Answer 7

Part of a population

Question 8

Sources of data

Answer 8

Routinely kept records, surveys, experiments, external sources

Question 9

Biostatistics

Answer 9

The application of statistical tools and concepts to data derived from the biological sciences or medicine

Question 10

Variable

Answer 10

A characteristic that takes on different values in different persons, places or things

Question 11

Quantitative variable

Answer 11

One measured in the usual sense and conveys information regarding amount

Question 12

Qualitative variable

Answer 12

Measuring consists of categorizing and the measurements convey information regarding attribute.

Question 13

Frequencies or counts

Answer 13

The numbers we manipulate when our analysis involves qualitative variables

Question 14

Random variables

Answer 14

Values arise as a result of chance factors, and cannot be predicted n advance

Question 15

Observations or measurements

Answer 15

Values resulting from measurement procedures

Question 16

Discrete random variable

Answer 16

Characterized by gaps or interruptions in the values it can assume; you can count out possible values

Question 17

Continuous random variable

Answer 17

Can assume any value within a specified relevant interval of values assumed by the variable

Question 18

Measurement

Answer 18

Assignment of numbers to objects or events according to a set of rules

Question 19

Nominal scale

Answer 19

Classifying into mutually exclusive and exhaustive categories. Examples are medical diagnoses and age groups

Question 20

Ordinal scale

Answer 20

Ranking among categories, where the distance between categories need not be equal. Examples are below average, above average, and the pain scale, where nurses ask you to rate pain 1-10

Question 21

Interval scale

Answer 21

Has a unit distance and a zero point so there is equal

It’s of intervals; this is a truly quantitative scale. An example is temperature.