Health-Sciences - Course - Biostatistics

The focus is on the understanding of statistical reasoning in analysis of data and research. The course starts with a general discussion of the role of probability and statistics in scientific method. Basic study designs and sampling methods are outlined. Types and structures of data are discussed e.g. quantitative and categorical data and different measurement levels. Next step is basic description of data in tables, graphs and measures. The concepts of probability and inference are introduced with emphasis on hypothesis testing and confidence intervals. Parametric and non-parametric statistical tests are described and calculation of sample size is discussed. Different types of analysis are discussed such as comparing two or several groups and analyzing relationships between variables. Topics include: two-sample and paired t and chi-square tests, Correlation, Multiple regression and logistic regression, analysis of covariance, and an introduction to one-way and two-way analyses of variance: including assumptions, transformations, outlier detection, dummy variables, and variable selection procedures.