BIOSTATS: Describing Variation and Distribution of Data in Clinical Medicine
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Questions and Answers

Which type of error is caused by variations that can distort data in one direction and introduce bias?

  • Systematic error (correct)
  • Biological differences
  • Random error
  • Measurement error

Which type of variable is characterized by a defined, continuous measurement scale?

  • Random error
  • Quantitative Characteristic (correct)
  • Qualitative Characteristic
  • Nominal variables

What is the possible cause of variation in Clinical Medicine related to the presence or absence of disease?

  • Different techniques of measurement
  • Presence or absence of disease (correct)
  • Random variation
  • Different conditions of measurement

Which type of characteristic is described by features and words rather than numbers?

<p>Qualitative Characteristic (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of variable is based on measurement scales or rank orders and assigns numbers that have a coherent meaning?

<p>Quantitative Characteristic (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of variable are naming or categoric variables not based on measurement scales or rank orders?

<p>Nominal variables (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a dichotomous variable?

<p>Gender (male/female) (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of variable is skin color?

<p>Nominal (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which type of variable does 0 degrees indicate absolute zero?

<p>Ratio (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a ratio variable?

<p>Height (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of variable is satisfaction with care (e.g. very satisfied, fairly satisfied)?

<p>Ordinal (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of variable shares characteristics of both discrete and continuous variables?

<p>Risk and Proportions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of variable is blood pressure (systolic & diastolic)?

<p>Continuous (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of variable is occupation?

<p>Nominal (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of variable is the scale of 0-10 for pain, with 0 for no pain and 10 for worst imaginable pain?

<p>Ordinal (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of variable does satisfaction with care and amount of swelling in a patient’s legs illustrate?

<p>Ordinal (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Quantitative Characteristic (Quantitative data) is characterized using a defined, continuous measurement scale. For example, ______ & ______ blood pressure, Serum sodium level

<p>Systolic, Diastolic</p> Signup and view all the answers

Systematic error is caused by variations that can distort data in one direction and can introduce ______. For example, weighing patients while wearing shoes

<p>bias</p> Signup and view all the answers

Nominal variables are naming or categoric variables that are not based on measurement scales or rank orders. Numbers assigned to nominal variables are merely numerical names but size of the number has no ______ meaning

<p>coherent</p> Signup and view all the answers

Qualitative Characteristic (Qualitative data) is described by features, words rather than ______

<p>numbers</p> Signup and view all the answers

Random error is caused by random variation, slight, inevitable inaccuracies in measurement and does not introduce ______. For example, Blood pressure

<p>bias</p> Signup and view all the answers

Possible causes of variation in Clinical Medicine include Biological differences, Presence or absence of disease, Stages or extent of disease, Different conditions of measurement, Different techniques of measurement, Measurement error, ______ variation

<p>Random</p> Signup and view all the answers

Blood groups, Occupation, Food groups, Skin color are examples of ______ variables

<p>Nominal</p> Signup and view all the answers

Variables with only two levels, such as Normal/Abnormal, Male/Female, Well/Sick, Living/Dead, are known as ______ variables

<p>Dichotomous</p> Signup and view all the answers

Data characterized in terms of three or more qualitative values that have a clearly implied direction from better to worse are called ______ variables

<p>Ordinal</p> Signup and view all the answers

Measurable data on continuous measurement scales that show the position of different observations relative to each other and the extent to which one observation differs from another are known as ______ variables

<p>Continuous</p> Signup and view all the answers

Variables derived from a continuous scale with a true 0 point are referred to as ______ variables

<p>Ratio</p> Signup and view all the answers

Variables that share some characteristics of both discrete and continuous variables, created by ratio of counts in the numerator to counts in the denominator, are known as ______ variables

<p>Risk and Proportions</p> Signup and view all the answers

The conditional probability of an event (e.g. death or disease) in a defined population in a definite period is an example of higher ______

<p>Risk</p> Signup and view all the answers

Temperature in Kelvin is an example of a ______ variable

<p>Ratio</p> Signup and view all the answers

Gender (Male/Female) is an example of a ______ variable

<p>Dichotomous</p> Signup and view all the answers

Blood pressure (Systolic & Diastolic) is an example of a ______ variable

<p>Continuous</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Systematic Error

Error that distorts data in one consistent direction, leading to bias.

Random Error

Error resulting from chance inaccuracies in measurement, without introducing bias.

Continuous Variables

Variables with a continuous scale where values can take any number within a range.

Nominal Variables

Variables defining categories without a measurement scale; numbers have no size meaning.

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Ordinal Variables

Variables based on ranked orders; numbers indicate relative rank but not interval size.

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Dichotomous Variables

Variables with only two levels or categories.

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Discrete Variables

Variables with distinct, separate values, without fractional values.

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Blood Pressure

Pressure of blood against artery walls during contraction (systolic) and rest (diastolic).

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Skin Color

Categorized shade of a person's skin.

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Pain (0-10)

Scale illustrating subjective levels of discomfort or pain severity.

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Ratio Variables

Variables with a true zero point, indicating absence of characteristic.

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Sick-to-Healthy Ratio

Counts or ratios among groups quantifying the relationship between sets.

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Qualitative Variables

Variables described using features and words rather than numerical measures.

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Variations in Clinical Medicine

Disparities or differences observed in clinical findings.

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Measurement Error

Source that introduces error into the data.

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Examples of Qualitative Data

Blood groups, occupations, or food groups

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Method of measurement

The method of taking measurements can affect results

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Qualitative data features

Refers to characteristics described using features and words rather than numbers

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Complex Measurements

Variables expressing both quantity and specific demographics.

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Biological Differences

Differences in characteristics such as age, genetics, or lifestyle between individuals.

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Presence/Absence of Disease

Either the presence or the absence of diseases in an individual.

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Stages of a Disease

Where a disease progresses to over time

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Measurement Technique

Specific to measurement, can introduce variations in a clinical setting

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Measurement Error

Can cause variations in clinical findings

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Variables that Express Characteristics

Demographic or Health-related Factors

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Discrete Values

Values within distinct increments.

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Continuous measurement scale

Measured with a scale.

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Nominal Scale

Without a meaning assigned size

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Ordinal scales

Based on the importance of rank

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Dichotomous scale

Two level variables

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Study Notes

Types of Errors

  • Systematic error distorts data in one direction, introducing bias.
  • Random error arises from inevitable inaccuracies in measurement, not introducing bias.

Variables and Measurement Scales

  • Continuous variables have a defined measurement scale where values can take any number within a range.
  • Nominal variables consist of categories without a measurement scale; numbers assigned have no meaningful size.
  • Ordinal variables are based on rank orders, where numbers convey a coherent meaning tied to their rank.
  • Dichotomous variables have only two levels (e.g., Normal/Abnormal, Male/Female).
  • Discrete variables have distinct, separate values, not allowing for fractional values.
  • Continuous variables allow for any value in a given range, represented by a measurement scale.

Characteristics of Specific Variables

  • Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) is an example of a continuous variable.
  • Skin color is categorized as a nominal variable.
  • The scale of 0-10 for pain is an example of an ordinal variable, indicating levels of severity.
  • Ratio variables have a true zero point, where 0 indicates an absolute absence of the measured characteristic (e.g., temperature in Kelvin).
  • Variables illustrating counts or ratios among groups (e.g., ratio of sick to healthy) are classified as ratio variables.
  • Qualitative variables (e.g., satisfaction with care) are described using features and words rather than numbers.

Clinical Medicine Variations

  • Variation in clinical medicine can stem from biological differences, presence or absence of disease, stages of disease, and measurement techniques.
  • Conditions like the method of measurement or measurement error can also contribute to variations seen in clinical findings.

Additional Notes

  • Examples of qualitative data features include the identification of blood groups, occupations, or food groups.
  • Variables that can express not just quantity but also characteristics often include demographic or health-related factors and can represent complex measurements.

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Description

Explore the concept of variation and distribution in clinical medicine, including possible causes of variation such as biological differences, disease presence or absence, stages of disease, measurement conditions, techniques, and errors. Learn about systematic and random errors in data measurement.

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