STA60204

Introduction to Biostatistics

Nallammai Singaram
Nallammai.Singaram@taylors.edu.my
03-56295626
 Course Materials

• Main Text Book

oWayne W. Daniel, (2010) Biostatistics: Basic
Concepts and Methodology for the Health
Sciences, 9th Edition International Student
Version
• All course materials can be downloaded
from TIMeS
 Topic 1

• Lecture 1 Introductory Lesson

Learning Outcome:
• Know the two major types of statistics.
• Distinguish between descriptive and
inferential statistics
Definition - Statistics
o A study on how to collect, organize, analyse
and interpret numerical information from data.

o analysis and interpretation of data with a view

towards an objective evaluation
• of the reliability and
• conclusion(s)

o Biostatistics - “bio-” pertaining to living matters

or their products including structure, function,
inter-relationship and etc
Biostatistics

When data analyzed are

derived from biological
sciences and medicines
Examples:

• Data on blood groups, effect

of smoking on lung cancer,
survival rates of cancer,
effects of placebo on
headache, blood pressure,
heart rate, heights and
weights related to genetics,
etc.
Why need to learn biostatistics?
o Essential for scientific method of
investigation
• Formulate hypothesis
• Design a study to:
• Objectively test the hypothesis
• Collect reliable and unbiased data
• Process and evaluate data rigorously
• Interpret and draw appropriate conclusions

o Essential for understanding, appraisal and

critique of scientific literature
6
Types of Statistics
o Descriptive Statistics
• Collection, organisation, summarisation and
presentation of data
• Easy to understand and suitable for use

false crawl - Sometimes

turtles crawl back to the
water without digging a
nest and without laying
eggs.

JMP Blog
Types of Statistics
o Inferential Statistics
• Drawing conclusions from the data upon
analysis
• Make generalizations about a population by
analyzing the sample
Frenzy and postfrenzy swimming activity in loggerhead, green, and leatherback
hatchling sea turtles
Descriptive vs Inferential
o Descriptive o Inferential
Provide summary
indices for a given data,
e.g. arithmetic mean,
median, standard
deviation, coefficient of
variation, etc.
Produce statistical
inferences about a
population based on
information from a
sample derived from
the population.
However, need to take
variation into account.
9
Purpose of Descriptive & Inferential

o Descriptive Statistics o Inferential Statistics

• identify patterns • distinguish true

• leads to generating differences from

hypothesis random variation
• allows hypothesis
testing

Chp 1
STATISTICAL PROCESS

Collection of Data

Presentation of Data

Data Analysis

Interpretation
 Experimental Design
Sources Evaluate Formulate
of Data data/Observation Hypothesis
Routinely kept records State hypothesis
e.g. Hospital records Variability Type of variable
Surveys Summary statistics Role of variable
e.g. health survey Quantitative plot One-sided or two sided test
Experiments Outliers detection Decision rule/Significance level
e.g. test on patients Normality
External Sources Probability
e.g. published report Make Select and
Conclusion statistical calculate test
decision statistics
Reject or accept H0 P-value
Conclude and publish
Interpretation of the Significance level
your research paper
results
For a difference to be a difference, it
must make a difference.
Gertrude Stein (1874–1946)
Chp 1