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Chapter 1. Biostatistics

This document provides an introduction to statistics, including key concepts and types of data. It discusses the two main branches of statistics: mathematical statistics and applied statistics. Descriptive statistics are used to organize and summarize data, while inferential statistics allow generalizing from samples to populations. There are two main types of data: quantitative data which includes discrete and continuous variables, and qualitative or categorical data. The measurement levels for data are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales.

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203 views34 pages

Chapter 1. Biostatistics

This document provides an introduction to statistics, including key concepts and types of data. It discusses the two main branches of statistics: mathematical statistics and applied statistics. Descriptive statistics are used to organize and summarize data, while inferential statistics allow generalizing from samples to populations. There are two main types of data: quantitative data which includes discrete and continuous variables, and qualitative or categorical data. The measurement levels for data are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales.

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Introduction to the field and provides

a survey of data and data types.


Chapter 1
Objectives
 Demonstrate knowledge of all
statistical terms.
 Differentiate between the two
branches of statistics.
 Identify types of data.
Objectives
 Identify the measurement level
for each variable.
 Identify the four basic sampling
techniques.
• Statistics is the science whereby inferences are made about specific random
phenomena on the basis of relatively limited sample material.

• The field of statistics has two main areas: mathematical statistics and applied

statistics.

1- Mathematical statistics concerns the development of new methods of

statistical inference and requires detailed knowledge of abstract mathematics

for its implementation

2- Applied statistics involves applying the methods of mathematical statistics to

specific subject areas, such as economics, psychology, and public health.

Biostatistics is the branch of applied statistics that applies statistical methods to

medical and biological problems.


What is Statistics?

“Statistics is a way to get information from data”


Statistics

Data Information

Data: Facts, especially Information: Knowledge


numerical facts, collected communicated concerning
together for reference or some particular fact.
information.

Statistics is a tool for creating new understanding from a set of


numbers.
Key Statistical Concepts…
Population
— a population is the group of all items of interest to a
statistics practitioner.
— frequently very large; sometimes infinite.
E.g. All 5 million Florida voters, per Example 12.5

Sample
— A sample is a set of data drawn from the population.
— Potentially very large, but less than the population.
E.g. a sample of 765 voters exit polled on election day.
Key Statistical Concepts…
Parameter
— A descriptive measure of a population.

Statistic
— A descriptive measure of a sample.

1.7
Key Statistical Concepts…
Population Sample

Subset

Statistic
Parameter
Populations have Parameters,
Samples have Statistics.

1.8
Types of Statistics

1- Descriptive statistics consists of


the collection, organization,
summation, and presentation of data.
Types of Statistics

2- Inferential statistics consists of


generalizing from samples to
populations, performing hypothesis
testing, determining relationships
among variables, and making
predictions.
Descriptive Statistics…
…are methods of organizing, summarizing, and presenting
data in a convenient and informative way. These methods
include:
Graphical Techniques
Numerical Techniques
The actual method used depends on what information we would
like to extract. Are we interested in…
• measure(s) of central location? and/or
• measure(s) of variability (dispersion)?

Descriptive Statistics helps to answer these questions…

1.11
Statistical Inference…
Statistical inference is the process of making an estimate,
prediction, or decision about a population based on a sample.
Population

Sample

Inference

Statistic
Parameter

What can we infer about a Population’s Parameters


based on a Sample’s Statistics?
1.12
Definitions…
A variable is some characteristic of a population or sample.
E.g. student grades.
Typically denoted with a capital letter: X, Y, Z…

The values of the variable are the range of possible values


for a variable.
E.g. student marks (0..100)

Data are the observed values of a variable.


E.g. student marks: {67, 74, 71, 83, 93, 55, 48}

1.13
Types of Data….
Quantitative data
Numbers representing counts or
measurements

 Qualitative (or categorical or


attribute) data
Can be separated into different categories
that are distinguished by some nonnumeric
characteristics
Examples
Quantitative data
The number of students with blue eyes

 Qualitative (or categorical or


attribute) data
The eye color of students
Types of Data (quantitative)

• Discrete variables assume values


that can be counted.
• Continuous variables can assume
all values between any two specific
values. They are obtained by
measuring.
Definitions
We further describe quantitative data by
distinguishing between discrete and
continuous data

Discrete

Quantitative
Data
Continuous
Definitions
Discrete
data result when the number of possible values is
either a finite number or a ‘countable’ number of
possible values
0, 1, 2, 3, . . .
 Continuous
(numerical) data result from infinitely many possible
values that correspond to some continuous scale or
interval that covers a range of values without gaps,
interruptions, or jumps
2 3
Examples
Discrete
The number of eggs that hens lay; for
example, 3 eggs a day.

 Continuous
The amounts of milk that cows produce; for
example, 2.343115 gallons a day.
Interval Scale
 Researcher can specify rank ordering of
variables and distance between
 Intervals are equal but no rational zero
point (example IQ scale, Fahrenheit
scale)
 Data can be treated mathematically,
most statistical tests are possible
Ratio Scale
 Highest level of measurement
 Rational meaningful zero point
 Absolute magnitude of variable (e.g.,
mgm/ml of glucose in urine)
 Ideal for all statistical tests
Types of Data (Qualitative)

• The nominal level of measurement classifies data


into mutually exclusive (nonoverlapping),
exhausting categories in which no order or
ranking can be imposed on the data.
Nominal Data…
Nominal Data
• The values of nominal data are categories.
E.g. responses to questions about marital status, coded as:
Single = 1, Married = 2, Divorced = 3, Widowed = 4

Because the numbers are arbitrary arithmetic operations


don’t make any sense (e.g. does Widowed ÷ 2 = Married?!)

Nominal data are also called qualitative or categorical.

1.25
Nominal Measurement
 Lowest Level
 Sorting into categories

 Numbers merely symbols--have no

quantitative significance
 Assign equivalence or nonequivalence

Examples, gender, marital status, etc


Male / female smoker /nonsmoker
alive/dead

1 2
Rules of Nominal system
 All of members of one category are
assigned same numbers
 No two categories are assigned the
same number (mutual exclusivity)
 Cannot treat the numbers
mathematically
 Mode is the only measure of central
tendency
• The ordinal level of measurement
classifies data into categories that
can be ranked; precise differences
between the ranks do not exist.
Ordinal Data…
Ordinal Data appear to be categorical in nature, but their
values have an order; a ranking to them:

E.g. College course rating system:


poor = 1, fair = 2, good = 3, very good = 4, excellent = 5

While its still not meaningful to do arithmetic on this data


(e.g. does 2*fair = very good?!), we can say things like:
excellent > poor or fair < very good
That is, order is maintained no matter what numeric values
are assigned to each category.

1.30
The Ordinal Scale
 Sorting variations on the basis of their
relative standing to each other
 Attributes ordered according to some

criterion (e.g. best to worst)


 Intervals are not necessarily equal

Should not treat mathematically,


frequencies and modes ok
Ordinal scale
4.5

3.5

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
level level level

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