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Flashcards in Biostats Deck (14)
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1
Q

What percentage of the populations falls within 1, 2, and 3 standard deviations of the mean of a normal distribution?

A

1 - 68
2 - 95.5
3 - 99.7

2
Q

What is a positively-skewed distribution?

A

One in which the mean is greater than the median, such that the distribution has a longer tail on the right (at greater values)

3
Q

What is a negatively-skewed distribution?

A

One is which the mean is less than the median, such that the distribution has a longer tail on the left (at lower values).

4
Q

What is the customary alpha-criteria for determining statistical significance?

A

P-values less than 0.05.

In this case, the null hypothesis that there is no difference is rejected, and the alternative is left: that there is a relationship.

5
Q

What measure can be used to evaluate cohort studies?

A

Relative risk

This is found by dividing the incidence rate of the exposed group by the incidence rate of the control/unexposed group

6
Q

What is incidence?

A

The number of new cases in a given period of time divided by the total susceptible population

7
Q

What is prevalence?

A

The total number of cases in a slice in time divided by the total population

8
Q

What is the crude mortality rate?

A

The number of deaths from all causes divided by the total population

9
Q

What is the rate of increase of a disease?

A

The number of new cases of a disease minus the number of deaths (or cures) from the disease, divided by the total population.

10
Q

How are incidence and prevalence related?

A

Prevalence = incidence * duration

11
Q

How do you calculate a 95% confidence interval?

A

CI = sample mean +/- Z*(SD/n^-2)

the confidence interval reflects the probability that the confidence interval will contain the true parameter.

12
Q

What is the difference between a confidence interval and “crude”/”simple” standard of deviation?

A

The (95%) confidence interval is an inferential statistic that can be used to decide where the true mean might be, whereas the standard deviation is a descriptive statistic, and cannot be used to make any assumptions about the true mean

13
Q

What is the relationship between a test’s sensitivity and specificity, and the positive and negative predictive values?

A

Tests with 100% sensitivity (no false negatives) will have a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100%; tests with 100%; tests with 100% specificity (no false positives) will have a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100%.

14
Q

What are nominal data?

A

Things counted in groups or categories