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Chapter 1. Biostatistics
Chapter 1. Biostatistics
• The field of statistics has two main areas: mathematical statistics and applied
statistics.
Data Information
Sample
— A sample is a set of data drawn from the
population.
— Potentially very large, but less than the population.
E.g. a sample of 765 voters exit polled on election day.
Key Statistical Concepts…
Parameter
— A descriptive measure of a population.
Statistic
— A descriptive measure of a sample.
1.7
Key Statistical Concepts…
Population Sample
Subset
Statistic
Parameter
Populations have Parameters,
Samples have Statistics.
1.8
Types of Statistics
1.11
Statistical Inference…
Statistical inference is the process of making an estimate,
prediction, or decision about a population based on a sample.
Population
Sample
Inference
Statistic
Parameter
1.13
Types of Data….
Quantitative data
Numbers representing counts or
measurements
Discrete
Quantitative
Data
Continuous
Definitions
Discrete
data result when the number of possible values is
either a finite number or a ‘countable’ number of
possible values
0, 1, 2, 3, . . .
Continuous
(numerical) data result from infinitely many possible
values that correspond to some continuous scale or
interval that covers a range of values without gaps,
interruptions, or jumps
2 3
Examples
Discrete
The number of eggs that hens lay; for
example, 3 eggs a day.
Continuous
The amounts of milk that cows produce;
for example, 2.343115 gallons a day.
Interval Scale
1.25
Nominal Measurement
Lowest Level
Sorting into categories
1 2
Rules of Nominal system
3.5
2.5
1.5
0.5
0
level level level