1.

01 INTRODUCTION AND VARIABLES Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Dr. Vincent Lu ll August 2021
Transcriber: Geverola, Sitti Miriya Kiara G.

1.0 STATISTICS EXAMPLE

DEFINITION

 is the science of making sense of information and data

around us.

Statistic – is a measure of a characteristic or attribute of a group

of people or a sample population, while

Statistics – is a branch of mathematics that involves in the  Note: Each year has 4 quarters and imagine those values
collection, analysis, interpretation, presentation & organization are in millions.
of data that will eventually lead to the practical utilization and  In a DESCRIPTIVE sense: Quarterly sales for surgical
translation of data to meaningful and purposive actions or disposable masks in 2020 is increasing while the sales
deeper and broader appreciation of realities. for 2023 is decreasing.
 (Coming up with a descriptive formulation out of
this table presented)
 “Bio” = Life (or group of people) + Statistics = Making use
 In an INFERENTIAL sense: There is an increase of
of data coming from human or science or the field of public
health and using them practical value and translating demand for masks in 2020 due to the pandemic.
those data to something meaningful  (We’re making a conclusion)

1.1 GENERAL USAGE

1. In Plural sense:
 It is used to refer to a set of data or a mass of
observation
 Biostatistics and Epidemiology now is very important in
this pandemic. We see the trends of increased number of
cases. Whether it’s in the Cebu city or province, and such
and its’ corresponding deaths, morbidity, and mortality
rates and etc.

Ex. Public Health: quantitative data needed as basis for

planning, monitoring and evaluation of health services,
which include:
o VITAL STATISTICS: data on vital events like # Just a reiteration.
of deaths, births, and marriages.
o HEALTH STATISTICS: cover a wide variety of
numeric information including on morbidity
(causes & frequency of illness).

2. In Singular sense:
 It refers to the body of methods/techniques for the
organization and analysis of collected information

1.1.2 TWO BRANCHES OF STATISTICS

1. Descriptive Statistics
 Refers to the different methods applied in order to
summarize and present data in the form in which will
make them easier to analyze and interpret;  From a descriptive statistics’ point of view, you have many
o Ex. methods of tabulation, graphical values here, you have your different vaccines. With inferential
presentation, computation of averages, statistics, you want to gather a conclusion/meaningful data.
measures of variability.  Note: The open-close parenthesis here means death
 Basically how you summarize and present the data  Observe the data.
 Therefore, it is easy to infer that vaccines actually work. They
2. Inferential Statistics prevent severity
 Refers to the methods involved in order to make  If it’s inferential statistics, you’ll get conclusive data.
generalizations & conclusions about a target population  Tip: Before you read the headline, always read the entire
based on results from a sample, includes estimation of context, especially the data when it comes to numbers. The
parameters and the testing the hypothesis. statistics.
 1.01 INTRODUCTION AND VARIABLES Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Dr. Vincent Lu ll August 2021
Transcriber: Geverola, Sitti Miriya Kiara G.

1.2 BIOSTATISTICS  That video was an emphasis on the importance/applications of

biostatistics in the development/process of diseases. Such as
DEFINITION the delta variant.

1.4 MAJOR DIVISION OF STATISTICS

 is a branch of applied statistics directed towards
applications in the health science and biology;
1. Mathematical Statistics
 an innovative field that involves the design, analysis and
 The study and development of statistical theory and
interpretation of data for studies in public health and
methods in the abstract.
medicine, to arrive at conclusions about disease and
health risks by evaluating and applying mathematical
2.Applied Statistics
and statistical formula to the factors that impact health.

The application of statistical methods to solve real
 Doc suggests that if you want to get details of those
problems involving randomly generated data and the
controversial headlines, check out Jerry Tan, a physician
that gathers data and make you appreciate the development of new statistical methodology motivated
importance of biostatistics and epidemiology and the by real problems.
impact of research.  Different from biostatistics.
1.5 BASIC STEPS
1.3 APPLICATIONS OF BIOSTATISTICS
1. Making observations
1. Tool in decision-making process:  i.e. gathering of data
 Different people make decisions in different 2. Generating a hypothesis
ways, some based on intuition, on past  The underlying law & order generated by the data
experience, or on existing information. 3. Deciding how to test the hypothesis
 An information-based decision-making  What critical data is required
process invariably needs the application of 4. Experimenting (or observing)
Biostatistics.
 This leads to an inference that either rejects or
 An example is the shifting of either MECQ or GCQ to
affirms the hypothesis
MGCQ. If we see a high number of cases, and
especially, the use of COVID wards, ICUs, and the
ventilators in the hospitals, they’re going to get adjusted 2.0 DATA
and overwhelmed and when there’s a high positivity
percentage. DEFINITION
 The government leaders, hand-in0hand with the IATF
(Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of  Are observations made on particular elements of a
Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolutions) and also the sample or population.
healthcare supervisor will consult and make a decision
to shift (levels of community quarantine levels).
 Could be quantities or attribute of a sample or
population that are either measured or observed
2. Development of new drugs or vaccines through a collection for the purpose of analysis.
 E.g. phases that vaccines have to go through to test
what is effective and what is not. 2.0.1. PRIMARY & SECONDARY DATA
3. Investigation in the development of disease
 E.g. the study of the different variants (like Delta) 1. Primary Data
4. Integral part of the foundation upon which the  Collected from the original source first hand.
expertise of health administrators, planners and  Original data collected specifically for the
public health practitioners in general rests. purpose in mind.
 FIELD RESEARCHERS
5. Problem identification, assessment, allocation of 2. Secondary Data
funds and evaluation of programs.  Collected from another purpose in mind;
 E.g. Planning --- Monitoring --- Evaluation ---  DESK RESEARCHERS
Decision
2.1. CONSTANT & VARIABLES
TikTok Video: How They Differentiate the Variant via PCR-Test
Answer: They take a random set of those swab samples, 1. Constant
sequence those and then use that to determine the overall ratio  Is a phenomenon whose values remain the same
of the different variants in circulation. They don’t do genetic from person to person, from time to time or from
sequencing on every swab sample. place to place.
Example: In Florida, from June to July, they sequenced about  Has fixed or definite value.
5,000 samples, which is only a fraction of those samples o e.g. the pull of gravity, # of months in a year,
collected but of those 5,000, 70% of them were the Delta variant. minutes in an hour, speed of light
Since then it has gotten even more prevalent. So they randomly o Can be derived from the physical rather than
sequence a set of some of the swab samples, figure out which the biological.
variant those ones are, and use that to determine the overall 2. Variables
ratio in that region, at that time.  A phenomenon whose values or categories
cannot be predicted with certainty;
 An entity that can take on different values;
 1.01 INTRODUCTION AND VARIABLES Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Dr. Vincent Lu ll August 2021
Transcriber: Geverola, Sitti Miriya Kiara G.

 An information which changes in value from one  Descriptive research: The Effect of the Students’
observation to the other. Grades with the Family Functional Level in a Home-
o e.g. weight, age of gestation, attributes to Based Learning Environment
certain issues, blood pressure, educational  Experimental research: The Gastro Perspective
attainment Effect of Mango Leaves to Prevent Acute Gastritis
in Mice
o We assign variables to understand specific
o This is an experimental research because
characteristics of a population we are there are many factors to manipulate and
studying. those involved with numerical data, with
some form of experimentation/intervention in
3.0 DATA AND VARIABLES between.

3.1 TYPES OF DATA  E.g. The effects of smoking to the development of

pulmonary disease.
3.1.1 QUANTITATIVE DATA  The effect of smoking is a causal (variable). What
causes the pulmonary disease, is the effect of
DEFINITION smoking.
 The outcome is the pulmonary disease. This is the
result of the manipulation or the effect of your
 Data that can be measured (quantified), can be written smoking.
down numerically.  The pulmonary disease is also dependent on your
smoking,
3.1.1.1 CLASSIFICATION OF QUANTITATIVE DATA  There are moderator variables in between the
number of sticks you consume, stress (if you are
A. Discrete more stressed, you have the tendency to smoke
 A count that can’t be made more precise, typically more) It can also be the country you reside in
involve integers (whole numbers). because in countries like Singapore, its banned
 Sets of data that record actual, physical things.  Moderating variable refers to a variable that can
 Categories can be measured and ordered according to strengthen, diminish, negate, or otherwise alter the
amount association between independent and dependent
o E.g. # of patients admitted, # of students in a variables.
class o Useful because they help explain the links
B. Continuous between the independent and dependent
 Information that can be counted are expressed with variables.
infinite degrees of precision:
 Can be reduced to lower units (fractions and decimals)
 May take any value, within a defined range
o E.g. Height 160 cm, weight 150.5 lbs, fasting
Blood sugar of 120mg/dL

3.1.2 QUALITATIVE DATA

DEFINITION

 Are descriptive data, difficult to measure or count and

cannot be written down numerically.
 They can be counted but mathematical operations
could not be applied
o E.g. Severity of disease: Light, moderate,  To help you in terms of descriptive and to help you
severe understand better on what is the independent variable or the
3.2. TYPES OF VARIABLES dependent variable.
 If it’s independent, this is what’s inherent in the person
1. Dependent Variables already. It can’t be changed. Like for example, the personal
 A variable measured to see whether the treatment or attributes, professional experience, it is already
given/inherent to the person.
manipulation of the independent variable has an effect.
o For example, “The Effect of the Professional
A result of manipulation after association with the Experience of Dean Pam Throughout Her Teaching
independent/moderator/ variables. Performance in an Online Platform”
 Also called outcome variables. o The teaching performance is therefore your
dependent variable.
2. Independent Variables  Moderator variables are the confounding variables in
 Inputs of the study that cannot be manipulated in between. That may or may not affect either both of the
descriptive research but can be manipulated in variables (dependent &independent)
experimental research. The variable manipulated to
examine its impact on the dependent variable.
 AKA: causal variable.
 1.01 INTRODUCTION AND VARIABLES Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Dr. Vincent Lu ll August 2021
Transcriber: Geverola, Sitti Miriya Kiara G.

3. Moderator Variables scale/Likert scale (strongly disagree,

 Have a contingent effect on the relationship between disagree, no opinion, agree, strongly agree)
the independent and dependent variables.  The rank values have no inherent meaning outside
 May or may not influence the independent and the “order” that they provide.
dependent variables.
 AKA: Confounding variables or secondary input
variables or control variables.

 Note: It is important to distinguish the type of variable one

is dealing with because it is one of the major determinants
of the type of statistical technique that can be most
appropriately applied to the data.
 Another example: “The Professional Experience of the
Senior Faculty in Velez College Throughout Their
Performance in Online Platform”
o Confounding variables: The working condition,
benefits, salary, internet speed

3.3 TYPES OF DATA as to LEVELS/SCALES OF

MEASUREMENT
- In the process of distinguishing variables, process
of measurement is to be done
1. Nominal Data
 Are neither measurable or ranked but simply
categorized or classified.
 Simplest and crudest form of measurement
o E.g. Gender (male or female), race (white,
black, Asian, etc.), types of bacteria (coccus,
bacillus, mycoplasma, spirillum)

1.2. Nominal Scale

TWO GROUPS OF NOMINAL SCALE

1.
Nominal- Reaming
 Occurs when each object in the set is
assigned a different number;
o E.g. Number in the back of a football
player
2. Nominal-Categorical
 Occurs when objects are grouped into
subgroups and each object within a
subgroup is given the same number.
 The subgroup must be mutually exclusive,
that is, an object may not belong to more
than one category or subgroup.
o E.g. Based upon political party
preference (Republican, democrat, or
other)
. 2. Ordinal Scale
 Natural ordering that fall into a logical sequence
o E.g. (Severity of an adverse event: slight,
moderate, or severe), or an agreement