Chapter One: Foundations of Biostatistics

1/9
1.1 Introduction

There are many definitions for the terms statistics and biostatistics. The
following are two such definitions.
Statistics is a discipline concerned with (1) the organization and
summarization of data, and (2) the drawing of inferences about the
characteristics of some collection of persons or things when only a
portion of these characteristics are available for study.
Biostatistics is that branch of statistics that deals primarily with the
biological sciences and medical/health-related disciplines.

1.1 Introduction 2/9

1.2 Populations and Samples

There are conflicting ideas as to what constitutes a population. Consider

the following statements from two popular statistics texts
A population is a set of persons (or objects) having a common
observable characteristic.
Note that the word population refers to data and not to people.

1.2 Populations and Samples 3/9

1.2 Populations and Samples (continued)

In point of fact, we use the term population in two different ways. The
following definitions will be helpful in understanding the concepts of
populations and samples.
A popular population is a collection of persons or things in which we
have an interest. For example, the collection of persons living in
Florida who test positive for hepatitis C or the collection of deer in
some county of Michigan that carry the tick responsible for Lyme
disease might be two such examples.
A statistical population is a collection of some characteristic of a set
of persons or things in which we have an interest. Examples would
include the blood pressures of some set of students or an indicator as
to whether each student had experienced some form of sexual abuse
during her/his lifetime.

1.2 Populations and Samples 4/9

1.2 Populations and Samples (continued)

A sample is a subset of a population and may be consist of

persons/things or characteristics of persons/things depending on
whether the sample is from a popular or statistical population. Thus,
we may refer to a sample of 50 men over age 65 who suffer from
hypertension or to a sample of 50 blood pressures taken on 50 men
over age 65 who suffer from hypertension

1.2 Populations and Samples 5/9

1.2 Populations and Samples (continued)

Two related concepts are defined as follows.

When a characteristic is measured and recorded, the result is termed
data. Thus, if a series of blood pressures is recorded on a piece of
paper or in a computer file, the recordings are referred to as data.
A characteristic that takes on more than one value is termed a
variable. Thus, if a sample consists of 50 males, gender is not a
variable in this sample but rather is termed a constant. If the sample
is made up of males and females, then gender is a variable in this
sample.

1.2 Populations and Samples 6/9

1.3 Parameters and Statistics

Closely related to the concepts of populations and samples are the

concepts of parameters and statistics.
A parameter is any summarization of the elements of a population.
Thus, if the average of the blood pressures that make up a population
is calculated, the result is one example of a parameter.
A statistic is any summarization of the elements of a sample. Thus,
if the average of the blood pressures that make up a sample is
calculated, the result is one example of a statistic.

1.3 Parameters and Statistics 7/9

1.4 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics

The discipline of statistics may be conceived of in a number of different

ways. Among the most common of these is to characterize the discipline
as being made up of two (related) components.
Descriptive statistics is made up of various techniques used to
summarize the information contained in a set of data.
Inferential statistics is made up of various techniques used to
provide information about parameter values based on observations
made on the values of statistics.

1.4 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics 8/9

Summary Depiction
The relationship between populations and samples, parameters and
statistics, and descriptive and inferential statistics is depicted in this figure.

Population

(Parameter)

Inferential
statistics
Sample

x x
X 121 x
(Statistic)
x
Descriptive statistics
used to produce value
of x from data

Summary Depiction 9/9