Health and Nutrition Sciences

Location: 4123 Ingersoll Hall

Phone: 718.951.5026
www.brooklyn.cuny.edu

Syllabus
Course Information:

 HNSC 3300 Introduction to Biostatistics for the Health Sciences. 

 Fall 2020 Semester
 Section NET[21225]

Class Day:

 Asynchronous

Instructor:

 Gary Kwok, Ph.D.

 E-mail: gary.kwok@brooklyn.cuny.edu | gkwok1985@gmail.com
 Office Hours: Via Zoom on Fridays: 12:00-1:00pm and by appointment

Course objectives:

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After taking this course students should: (1) be familiar with how inferences are made using data from
research studies; (2) be able to understand and interpret statistical results of nutrition and health
research studies; (3) be able to perform basic descriptive and inferential statistics using a calculator,
spreadsheet software and statistics software.

Textbook and Lab Manual:

Navarro, DJ., David R. Foxcroft, DR., and Faulkenberry, TJ. (2019). Learning Statistics with JASP: A Tutorial
for Psychology Students and Other Beginners. Retrieved from
https://tomfaulkenberry.github.io/JASPbook/index.html

Readings:

 Complete assigned readings before class

 The main course readings will be listed and are accessible for free from Learning Statistics with
JASP website you
 Optional background material will be provided covering math and algebra for students who
need extra help
 Optional advanced material will be provided for students who wish to go beyond what is
covered in class

Important - Notes:

 It is essential for students to take notes and keep materials used when doing the assigned
readings
 A notebook and folder that they collect additional materials are highly encouraged

Blackboard:

Using Blackboard is a requirement for this class. Class materials and announcements will be available on
the class Blackboard page. Please try to make sure that your email is correctly listed and set Blackboard
to send you class announcements automatically.

Course Syllabus (subject to revision)

Week Date Topic Assignment

1 Week of Chapter 1: Why do we learn statistics? -
Aug 26

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 Week Date Topic Assignment
2 Week of Chapter 1: Why do we learn statistics? -
Aug 31
3 Week of Chapter 2: A brief introduction to Assignment 1 (due 9/18)
Sep 8 research design
4 Week of Chapter 3: Getting started with JASP Install JASP and Watch: here, here, here, here,
Sep 14 here (but stop around 10 minutes), and here
(stop around 10:30 mark). Optional video
here.
5 Week of Chapter 4: Descriptive statistics Watch here, here, here, and here; Assignment
Sep 21 2 (due 10/2)
6 Week of Chapter 5: Drawing graphs Watch here; Assignment 3 (due 10/9)
Sep 29
7 Week of Chapter 6: Introduction to probability (No reading, but very dense reading)
Oct 5
8 Week of Chapter 6: Introduction to probability -
Oct 13
9 Week of Chapter 7: Estimating unknown quantities Assignment 4 (due 10/23)
Oct 19 from a sample
10 Week of Chapter 8: Hypothesis testing (No reading, but very dense reading)
Oct 26
11 Week of Chapter 8: Hypothesis testing -
Nov 2
12 Week of Chapter 9: Categorical data analysis Watch here; Assignment 5 (due 11/20)
Nov 9
13 Week of Chapter 10: Comparing two means Watch here, here, here; Assignment 6 (for
Nov 16 both Chapter 10 and 12; due 12/11)
14 Week of Thanksgiving Week -
Nov 23
15 Week of Chapter 12: Comparing several means Watch here; Assignment 6 (for both Chapter
Nov 30 (one-way ANOVA) 10 and 12; due 12/11)
16 Week of Chapter 11: Correlation and linear Watch here, here, and here, ; Assignment 7
Dec 7 regression (due 12/14)

Grading:

Students’ understanding of the course material will be evaluated through the assignments. Students
who fail to submit the assignment by the designated deadline will receive a score of zero for that
assignment. Please do reach out if you foresee any delay submissions.

Requirement Percentage of Grade

Assignment #1 10.0%
Assignment #2 17.5%
Assignment #3 12.5%
Assignment #4 15.0%
Assignment #5 10.0%
Assignment #6 25.0%
Assignment #7 10.0%

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JASP:

 JASP will be our main statistic program and there will be homework assignments using JASP
 Make sure you have read the chapter and watch the tutorials early to have it installed in your
computer

Grades:

 Final grades will be available after they are submitted

 Students may have grades available a few days early by submitting a course evaluation
 The last day to withdraw without receiving a “W” grade is September 15
 The last day to withdraw and receive a “W” (but not an “F”) is Dec 13

University policy on academic integrity:

 The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating
and plagiarism.
 Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for
avoiding both.
 The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for
policy implementation can be found at www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies.
 If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms
that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member must report the
violation.
 Please read the section entitled “Academic Regulations and Procedures” in the Brooklyn College
Undergraduate Bulletin or Graduate Bulletin for a complete listing of academic regulations of
the College.

Accommodations for students with disabilities:

 In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations students must first be

registered with the Center for Student Disability Services.
 Students who have a documented disability or suspect they may have a disability are invited to
set up an appointment with the Director of the Center for Student Disability Services, Ms.
Valerie Stewart-Lovell at (718) 951-5538.
 If you have already registered with the Center for Student Disability Services, please provide
your professor with the course accommodation form and discuss your specific accommodation
with him/her.

Student bereavement policy:

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 1. Students who experience the death of a loved one must contact the Division of Student Affairs,
2113 Boylan Hall, if they wish to implement either the Standard Bereavement Procedure or the
Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure (see #3 and #4, below). The Division of Student
Affairs has the right to request a document that verifies the death (e.g., a funeral program or
death notice).
2. Typically, this death involves that of a family member, in parallel to the bereavement policy for
faculty and staff. However, it is up to the discretion of the Division of Student Affairs to
determine if a death outside of the immediate family warrants implementation of the student
bereavement policy.
3. Standard Bereavement Procedure:
 Upon approval from the Division of Student Affairs, the student is allowed one week,
commencing from the day of notification to the Division of Student Affairs, of excused
absence.
 Should the student feel that he/she needs additional days, these should be discussed
with individual course instructors and/or the Division of Student Affairs.
 The Division of Student Affairs will contact the student's faculty and academic staff of
the student's courses.
 Faculty and academic staff will be advised that extensions must be granted to the
student for the period of one week of excused absence.
 Further extensions may be negotiated with the student when he or she returns to
campus.
 Students are encouraged to discuss options with their instructors.
4. Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure:
 Students may be allowed to withdraw from the semester in which the death occurs.
 The Bereavement Leave of Absence is for one semester only.
 Students who have opted to take the Bereavement Leave of Absence and have already
attended classes for the semester of the leave will be allowed to re-enter the following
semester without having to reapply to the college.
 Students who wish to take the leave of absence prior to the beginning of the semester
will be required to reapply for the following semester.
 Students who are in good academic standing will be given the opportunity to
successfully complete the credits for the semester in which they return.
 Students will consult with the Division of Student Affairs, on a case-by-case basis, as to
whether they should withdraw from their courses during this leave of absence or to
request incompletes from the faculty member.
 Given that there may be a potential impact on financial aid, students who receive
financial aid and who take the Bereavement Leave of Absence, upon arrangement with
the Division of Student Affairs, will meet with a financial aid adviser prior to taking this
option.
5. As an option, and in consultation with the Division of Student Affairs, students may take the
Leave of Absence Bereavement after the Standard Bereavement.
6. Reference to the Student Bereavement Policies will be noted on course syllabi.
7. Students requesting a religious accommodation should contact the Division of Student Affairs as
well. The chief student affairs officer, or a designee, and the student will engage in an interactive
process with the goal of finding an acceptable accommodation.

Nonattendance because of religious beliefs:

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  The New York State Education Law provides that no student shall be expelled or refused
admission to an institution of higher education because he or she is unable to attend classes or
participate in examinations or study or work requirements on any particular day or days because
of religious beliefs.
 Students who are unable to attend classes on a particular day or days because of religious
beliefs will be excused from any examination or study or work requirements.
 Faculty must make good-faith efforts to provide students absent from class because of religious
beliefs equivalent opportunities to make up the work missed; no additional fees may be charged
for this consideration.
 If classes, examinations, or study or work requirements occur on Friday after 4 p.m. or on
Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations, or study or work requirements will be made
available on other days, where possible and practical.
 The faculty and the administration will not allow any adverse or prejudicial effects to accrue to
students availing themselves of this regulation.
 If students have complaints about the application of this policy, they are entitled to bring action
or a proceeding for enforcement of their rights in the Supreme Court of Kings County.

Useful links:

2018-2019 Undergraduate Bulletin [PDF]

2018-2019 Graduate Bulletin [PDF]