1 Introduc�on to Biosta�s�cs

Introduction to biostatistics.
Course contents:
Introduction to the basic concepts and terminology of Biostatistics, types of variables, populations, target
populations, and sampled population: Role of sampling in biostatistics, Sample size estimation.
Contingency table analysis, Fisher’s exact test, 2x2 tables, rates and ratios; incidence, prevalence, Odds
Ratio, Relative Risk, Rate Ratio, Sensitivity, and specificity. Distributional behavior of biological variables
(Binomial, Poisson, and Normal), Role of transformation for analysis of biological variables, Probit and
Logit transformations, and their analysis.
Recommended Books:
1. Sullivan, M.L. (2018). Essentials of Biostatistics in Public Health. 3rd edition. Jones and Bartlett
Learning, Burlington, MA, USA.

Lecture 1.
What is Statistics?
The word Statistics which comes from the Latin word status, meaning a political state, originally meant
information useful to the state, for example, information about the size of the population and armed forces.
But this word has now acquired different meanings.
In the first place, the word statistics refers to "numerical facts systematically arranged". In this
sense, the word statistics is always used in the plural. We have, for instance, statistics on patients' heights,
statistics on road accidents, statistics on diseases, statistics on births, statistics on bacteria, etc. In all these
examples, the word statistics denotes a set of numerical data in the respective fields. This is the meaning
the man in the street gives to the word Statistics and most people usually use the word data instead.

“Statistics is the grammar of Science.”

~Karl Pearson

Statistics is all those resources and information that are used to decide uncertainty. It is used for
optimum planning from macro to micro level. Every individual makes everyday decisions in their life while
a country also decides to run the country by allocating its limited resources efficiently which is only possible
when the country takes better planning. The optimum planning is possible only when you have accurate
data and analyze it accordingly, so it converts to information.
2 Introduc�on to Biosta�s�cs

Data Sta�s�cal Methods Informa�on

Definition of Statistics:
Statistics is a branch of mathematics that deals with the collection, analysis, interpretation, and
presentation of numerical data1. Statistics can be used to summarize, describe, and infer information
from data.
What is Biostatistics?
Biostatistics is a branch of statistics that deals with data relating to living organisms. Biostatisticians
use their quantitative skills to design, analyze, and interpret biological experiments and studies, especially
in the fields of medicine, health, and biology. Biostatistics can help answer questions such as how effective
a new drug is, what factors influence the spread of a disease, and how genes affect health outcomes.
Biostatistics is an interdisciplinary field that requires knowledge of mathematics, statistics, biology, and
computer science. Biostatisticians often collaborate with researchers from other disciplines to solve
complex problems and make scientific discoveries.
Importance of Biostatistics

• Derive conclusions about populations from samples. One major importance of biostatistical
methods is that they help researchers derive far-reaching conclusions about a population using
sample data1. For example, biostatisticians can use a sample of patients to estimate the
effectiveness of a new drug or treatment for the whole population.
• Design and evaluate experiments and studies. Another importance of biostatistical methods is that
they help researchers design and evaluate experiments and studies in a rigorous and efficient way2.
For example, biostatisticians can help determine the optimal sample size, randomization method,
and statistical test for a clinical trial or a survey.
• Discover new knowledge and insights. A third importance of biostatistical methods is that they help
researchers discover new knowledge and insights from data2. For example, biostatisticians can use
advanced techniques such as machine learning, network analysis, and genomic data analysis to
identify patterns, associations, and causal relationships among biological variables.
• Biostatistics provide a comparison of different treatments such as it shows that which one Panadol
or Ponstan is most effective in the treatment of headaches.
• Biostatistics is used to test the claim or hypothesis about a population for example a pharmaceutical
company claims that their drug cures headaches in five minutes Now this claim of the company
can be tested by statistical methods.
Characteristics or Statistics.
The definition stated above indicates that statistics is subjective. It may therefore be desirable to know the
characteristic features of statistics to appreciate and understand its general nature. Some of its important
characteristics are given below:
3 Introduc�on to Biosta�s�cs

• Statistics deals with the behavior of aggregates or large groups of data. It has nothing to do with
what is happening to a particular individual or object of the aggregate.
• Statistics deals with aggregates of observations of the same kind rather than isolated figures.
• Statistics deals with variability that obscures underlying patterns. No two objects in
the universe are exactly alike. If they were, there would have been no statistical problem.
• Statistics deals with uncertainties as every process of getting observations whether controlled or
uncontrolled, involves deficiencies or chance variation. That is why we have to talk in
terms of probability.
• Statistics deals with those Characteristics or aspects of things that can be described numerically
either by counts or by measurements. ·
• Statistics deals with those aggregates that are subject to several random causes, e.g. the
heights of persons are subject to several causes such as race, ancestry, age, diet, habits,
climate and so forth.
• Statistical laws are valid on the average or in the long run. There is no guarantee that a certain
law will hold in all cases. Statistical inference is therefore made in the face of uncertainty.
• Statistical results might be misleading and incorrect if sufficient care· in collecting, processing
and interpreting the data is not exercised or if the statistical data are handled by a person who
is not well-versed in the subject matter of statistics.

Answer yourself.

1. What is the significance of studying biosta�cs in your department?

2. Which decisions have you made in your life? Have you used any
sta�s�cs?