NATURE OF BIOSTATISTICS

Question 1

• It is a science dealing with the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of
  numerical data.
• It is an art of summarizing data so that non-statistician can understand it.
• It is a tool in decision making to formulate good judgment.
• It can mean a METHOD or DATA.

Answer 1

Statistics

Question 2

• Data reduction technique
• Tool for analyzing research projects and clinical trials
• Tool for objective appraisal and evaluation of programs
• Tool in decision making process and policy making

Answer 2

Uses of Statistics

Question 3

Biostatistics

Answer 3

BIO means life.
* STATISTICS means data.
* It is a special branch of statistics which deals with quantitative and qualitative aspects of
vital phenomena

Question 4

data required in the planning, administration, and evolution of health
programs

Answer 4

Health Statistics

Question 5

distribution & determinants of health-related states and events

Answer 5

epidemiology

Question 6

study of human population

Answer 6

study of human population

Question 7

functioning of health care system and health affecting behaviors

Answer 7

health economics

Question 8

heredity, genes and functions

Answer 8

genetics and genomics

Question 9

Branches of Statistics

Answer 9

1. Descriptive Statistics
2. Inferential Statistics

Question 10

 Methods of summarizing and presenting data
 Computation of measures of central tendency and variability
 Tabulation and graphical presentation
 Facilitate understanding, analysis, and interpretation of data

Answer 10

Descriptive Statistics

Question 11

 Methods of arriving at conclusions and generalizations about a target population based on
information from a sample
 Estimation of parameters and hypotheses testing

Answer 11

Inferential Statistics

Question 12

all members of a specified group

Answer 12

Population

Question 13

subset of a population

Answer 13

Sample

Question 14

measure of a characteristic of a population

Answer 14

measure of a characteristic of a population

Question 15

value of a characteristic that remains the same from person to person, from time to time or from place to place

Answer 15

Constant

Question 16

characteristics takes on different values

Answer 16

Variable

Question 17

1. According to Source
    Primary Data
    Secondary Data
2. According to Functional Relationship
    Primary Data
    Secondary Data

Answer 17

Type of Data

Question 18

descriptions or labels to distinguish one group from another

Answer 18

Qualitative

Question 19

can be measured and ordered according to quantity or amount and expressed numerically

Answer 19

Quantitative

Question 20

assume a finite or countable number of values

Answer 20

Discrete

Question 21

infinity or other possible values

Answer 21

Continuous

Question 22

 Simply used as names or identifiers of a category
 Always qualitative
 Does not represent any amount or quantity

Answer 22

Nominal

Question 23

 Simply used as names or identifiers of a category
 Always qualitative
 Does not represent any amount or quantity

Answer 23

Nominal

Question 24

 Represents an ordered series of relationships
 May be qualitative or quantitative

Answer 24

Ordinal

Question 25

 Does not have a true-zero value starting point  Always quantitative

Answer 25

Interval

Question 26

 Modified interval level which includes zero as a starting point  Always quantitative

Answer 26

Ratio

Question 27

systematic procedure to ensure that the information/data gathered are complete, consistent and suitable for analysis.

Answer 27

Data Processing

Question 28

* CODING * ENCODING * EDITING

Answer 28

DATA PROCESSING

Question 29

conversion of verbal/written information into numbers which can be more easily encoded, counted and tabulated.

Answer 29

data coding

Question 30

actual value or information given by the respondent

Answer 30

Field Code

Question 31

recorded as range of values rather than actual values

Answer 31

Bracket Code

Question 32

assigned to a list of categories of a given variable

Answer 32

Factual Code

Question 33

applicable for questions with multiple responses

Answer 33

Pattern Code

Question 34

Rules in Code Construction

Answer 34

 Number of rules must be kept to minimum (<8)  Codes should be exhaustive and mutually exclusive  Adopt coding convention for questions with similar answers

Question 35

 No response  Not applicable questions

Answer 35

Coding Problems

Question 36

document which contains a record of all codes assigned to the responses to all questions in the data collection form

Answer 36

Coding Manual

Question 36

document which contains a record of all codes assigned to the responses to all questions in the data collection form

Answer 36

Coding Manual

Question 37

Minimum information that must be included in a coding manual

Answer 37

 Variable name  Variable description  Coding instructions

Question 38

Entering the data/responses in a spreadsheet  MS Excel  MS Access  Epi Inf

Answer 38

Data Encoding

Question 39

 Inspection and correction of any errors or inconsistencies in the information collected  During data collection, encoding, before data analysis

Answer 39

Data Encoding

Question 40

 Reviewing the accomplished data collection forms  Decoding of abbreviations or special symbols  Making callbacks/messages for verification/clarification of incomplete answers

Answer 40

Field Editing

Question 41

 Checking of inconsistencies and incorrect entries after receiving the questionnaire from the field  Checking of encoded data

Answer 41

. Central Editing

Question 42

 Make corrections as early as possible  Reduce non-response or incomplete answers  Eliminate inconsistencies, incorrect info.  Make the entries clear, legible and comprehensive  Prepare data for analysis

Answer 42

Importance of Data Editing

Question 43

 Check for duplicate entries  Check the totals of each variable if the same as with the sample size  For qualitative data, check if categories are consistent with what is specified in the coding manual  For quantitative data, check the minimum and maximum if they are logical given the possible values of variable

Answer 43

What to check when editing data?