Introduction to Biostatistics lecture 12

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Questions and Answers

Why are statistics used in health sciences?

To track real-time data on hospital admissions.
To identify individual patient needs for more personalized treatment plans.
To determine the specific types of diseases affecting a population.
To understand and assess the health of a population in terms of disease prevalence, risk factors, and treatment effectiveness. (correct)

A sample is the entire group that you want to draw conclusions about.

False (B)

Define the process of sampling in the context of statistical analysis.

Sampling is the process of selecting a subset of a population to make inferences about the entire population.

The goal of ______ is to draw conclusions about a population based on data obtained from a representative subset of that population.

sampling Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their correct descriptions:

Population = The entire group about which information is sought. Sample = A subset of the population used to infer characteristics of the whole. Inference = The process of drawing conclusions about a population based on sample data. Representative Sample = A sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for using sampling in research?

To efficiently gather data from a manageable group and generalize findings to a larger population. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Taking a larger sample always guarantees a more accurate representation of the population.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Describe how prevalence, risk factors, and treatment effectiveness contribute to understanding population health, according to the text.

These factors allow researchers to quantify the burden of disease, identify contributing causes, and evaluate interventions within a population. Signup and view all the answers

In statistical terms, location refers to , while spread refers to the of the data.

central tendency, variability Signup and view all the answers

Match each term to its statistical meaning:

Mean = The average of a dataset. Standard Deviation = A measure of the spread or variability of a dataset. Prevalence = The proportion of a population found to have a condition. Risk Factor = A variable associated with an increased risk of disease. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term central tendency refer to in statistics?

A typical or central value that summarizes the distribution of a dataset. (D) Signup and view all the answers

The standard deviation measures the central tendency of a dataset.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

How does understanding both the central tendency and spread improve statistical analysis?

It provides a comprehensive view of the data, detailing both typical values and the extent of variability, enabling more informed conclusions. Signup and view all the answers

In statistics, the ______ is the sum of all observations divided by the number of observations.

mean Signup and view all the answers

Match each health science concept to its appropriate statistical application:

Prevalence of a disease = Proportion Effectiveness of a treatment = Mean Variability in patient response = Standard Deviation Change in health outcome = Difference of Means Signup and view all the answers

If researchers find a high standard deviation within a dataset, what can they infer?

There is a wide range of values in the dataset. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Categorical variables, such as eye color, can be analyzed using means and standard deviations.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Explain why study design is critical to interpreting statistical results, even if the statistical analysis is flawless.

A poorly designed study can introduce biases or confounding factors that undermine the validity of the results, regardless of the statistical methods used. Signup and view all the answers

To calculate a percentage, you multiply the ratio of the number with a characteristic to the total number by ______.

100% Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts with the formulas:

Percentage = $100 \times \frac{\text{number with characteristic}}{\text{Total number}}$ Proportion = $\frac{\text{number with characteristic}}{\text{Total number}}$ Mean = $\frac{\text{sum of all observations}}{\text{total number of observations}}$ Signup and view all the answers

If a study reports that 35% of participants have a certain condition, which of the following statements is also true?

The proportion of participants with the condition is 0.35. (B) Signup and view all the answers

A proportion can be greater than 1.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Explain why it is important to know the range of possible values when analyzing percentages.

Knowing the range helps ensure that the calculated percentages are plausible and that the analysis is correctly interpreted. Signup and view all the answers

In a dataset with a minimum value of 0 and a maximum value of 1, the data represents a ______.

proportion Signup and view all the answers

Match the following statistical measures with their appropriate interpretations in a study about water coverage:

71% water coverage = 71 out of every 100 units of area are covered by water. Proportion of 0.71 water coverage = For every unit of area, 0.71 is covered by water. Larger sample size = Potentially reduces the error in water coverage estimate. Smaller sample size = Potentially increases the error in water coverage estimate. Signup and view all the answers

After conducting multiple surveys, it is found that the estimated water coverage of Earth ranges from 40% to 77%. What does this range indicate?

There is a high level of uncertainty with different estimates. (C) Signup and view all the answers

A larger sample size always eliminates uncertainty in statistical estimates.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Explain how the size of a sample affects the reliability of the estimate of a population parameter.

Larger samples generally provide more reliable estimates because they reduce the variability between the sample and the true population. Signup and view all the answers

A variable that can only take on one of two possible values is known as a ______ variable.

binary Signup and view all the answers

Match the variable type with its example:

Categorical variable = The color of M&M's Continuous variable = Height Signup and view all the answers

Why are proportions and percentages used to describe categorical variables?

They quantify how much of the whole falls into each category. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Continuous variables can only take integer values.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the formula for the mean?

The mean is calculated by summing all the values in the dataset and dividing by the number of values. Signup and view all the answers

The ______ is a measure of variability of spread.

standard deviation Signup and view all the answers

Match the graph type with the data it displays:

Histogram = The distribution of a continuous variable. Scatter plot = the relationship between two continuous variables. Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

What is a sample?

A part of the population selected for study.

What is a population?

The entire group of individuals about which we want information.