introduction to biostatistics Flashcards
what is biostatistics?
data that is analyzed, and is obtained from biological sciences and medicine
what is data?
raw material of statistics, defined as figures
where can figures be obtained from?
1- from the process of counting
2- from the process of measurment
what do statisticians do?
attempt to interpert as well as share results with others
what are the sources of data?
1 routinely kept records
2- survey[census]
3- experiments
4- external resources
describe routinely kept records, as a source of data
these are the records which hopsitals keep day to day such as medical records or financial records
describe survey[census], as a source of data
source of data is a survey when the data required is about answering questions
describe survey[census], as a source of data
source of data is a survey when the data required is about answering questions
what are the methods of collecting data for survey?
interview
mailing
telephone
describe experiments, as a source of data
data needed to answer the question can only be found through an experiment
describe experiments, as a source of data
data needed to answer the question can only be found through an experiment
what are the reasons for experiment?
1- make a discovery
2- test a hypothesis
3- demonstrate a known fact
what is an experimental research?
a true research, in which one variable is manipulated and the rest of the variables are controlled
describe external source, as a source of data
data needed to answer a question already exsists
in which source of data, did someone already ask the same question and so the data already exsists?
external source of data
what are the types of data?
primary data
secondary data
what are the types of data?
primary data
secondary data
define primary data
this is a type of data, where it is collected by the investigator themselves, for a specific purpose
define secondary data
this is a type of data that is collected by someone else for some purpose, and utilized by the investigator for another purpose
what is a variable?
characteristic that takes on different values, in different person,places and things
what are the types of variable?
1- quantitative variable
2- qualitative variable
define quantitative variable
a variable that can be measured in the usual senses
what are examples of quantitative variable
1-height
2- weight
what are the types of quantitative variables?
1- discrete variable
2- continuous variable
define discrete variable
discrete variable is characterized by gaps or interuptions in the values that it can assume
define continuous variable
continuous variable is characterized by how any value can be assumed within a specific relevant interval of values assumed by the variable
what are examples of continuous and discrete variable?
discrete- number of daily admission to the hospital
continuous- height, weight, skull circumference
define qualitative variable
many characteristics are not capable of being measured, only can be ranked or ordered
define qualitative variable
many characteristics are not capable of being measured, only can be ranked or ordered
what are the types of qualitative variables?
1-nominal variable
2- ordinal variable
define nominal variable
the data is unordered
define ordinal variable
the data are ordered
what are examples of nominal and ordinal variables?
nominal- gender,blood group,eye color
ordianl- age, pain level,income status
how can varaibles be manipulated?
1- continuous variable made discrete
2- continous or discrete varaibles are categorized
3- categoreical variables are re-catergorized
how can varaibles be manipulated?
1- continuous variable made discrete
2- continous or discrete varaibles are categorized
3- categoreical variables are re-catergorized
what is the classification of variables?
1- dichotomous variable
2- attribute variable/background
3- independent and dependent variable
4- extraneous variable
what is a dichotomous variable?
a variable which varies in only 2 values
what is a attribute variable/background?
a variable which is a pre-existing characteristic such as age and sex, therefore the researcher simply observes and measures
what is an independent and dependent variable?
independent-causes or influences the dependent variable
dependent variable- influenced by the independent value
what is an extraneous variable
[ confounding]
a variable that confounds/interupts the relationships between IV and DV
What needs to be done to the extraneous/confounding variable?
it needs to be controlled
what is a sample?
a set of variable value of some indivuduals sampled from the population at random
what is a population?
largest collection of values of a random variable for which we have an interest at a particular time
define parameter
summary data from a population
define statistics
summary data from a sample
what is the reason to know about statistics?
1- medicine is becoming quantitative
2- planning, conduct and interpretation of much medical research relies on statistical methodology
3- statistics passes through the medical literatures
what is the reason to know about statistics?
1- medicine is becoming quantitative
2- planning, conduct and interpretation of much medical research relies on statistical methodology
what is the role of clinical medicine?
1- documentation of medical history of disease
2- planning and conduction of clinical studies
3- evaluating the merits of different procedures
4- providing methods for definition of normal and abnormal
what is the role of preventive medicine?
1- provide the number of any health problem in the community
2-find basic factors causing poor health
3- evaluation of health programs introduced to communities
4-introduction and promotion of health legislation
