BIOSTATISTICS & EPIDEMIOLOGY LECTURE

PREPARED BY: ROZALINA R. ADONIS, RMT, MSMLS

Outline of Today’s Presentation
 Define and understand the importance of Biostatistics
 Differentiate basic concepts in Biostatistics
 Describe the phenomenon of variability
 Define data processing (Coding, Encoding, Editing)
 Describe the process of preparing a coding manual
 Definition of sampling
 Sampling design
 Conduct a simulated survey where data will be collected and presented, and generate
descriptive statistics.
BIOSTATISTICS
 It is the application of statistical principles
to questions and problems in medicine,
public health or biology
 The discipline of biostatistics provides tools
and techniques for collecting data and
then summarizing, analysing, and
interpreting it
  Inclinical research, it
provide formal
Why is biostatistics accounting of source of
Important?
variability
 Italso allows researchers
to draw reasonable and
precise inferences from
gathered information
 It
prevents fraud or
unintentional errors
 It
allows easier
understanding of data
POPULATION AND PARAMETER

 Population refers to a group of people or objects

in a particular area
 Population is identified by the topic or title of the
study
 A term associated with population is parameter
 Parameter is a property of the population that
can be expressed as a number
 E.g. population mean, population size/number,
population media
SAMPLE

 Sampleis the small group taken from a

population
 An
appropriate sampling process must be
applied to ensure randomness
A sample is biased when it over represent
or under represents some part of the
population
 STATISTICAL VARIABLES
Quantitative
Variables which are
results of standard Discrete
measurements and Variables that has no
counting meaning between
the two variables of
Qualitative interest
This are the information
obtained which differ in
kinds and in qualities such
as color of the eyes, Continuous
religious affiliation, gender Variables that has
and many others
meaning between
Statistical the two variables of
interest
Variables Independent
The variable that the
researcher changes

Dependent
Variable affected by
change in
independent
variable
DATA PROCESSING

 Data processing occurs when data is

collected and translated into usable
information
 Dataprocessing starts with data in its raw
form and converts it into a more readable
format (graphs, documents, etc.)
 Data Processing
Coding
Coding is the process of
assigning some symbols
(either) alphabetical or
numerals or (both) to the
answers so that the
responses can be
recorded into a limited
number of classes or
categories
Encoding Editing
The process of
The transfer of codes from
questionnaires to a checking and
computer
adjusting responses
in the completed
questionnaires for
omissions, legibility,
May be accomplished thru: and consistency
a. Online direct data entry
b. Optical scanning
c. Keyboarding
d. Voice recognition
DATA CODING
 Conversion of verbal/written information into
numbers or other symbols, called codes, which can
be more easily encoded, counted and tabulated
 Purpose: Permits rapid storage of data
Helps to avoid errors in encoding are
Statistical software can perform various
analyses on data
CODING MANUAL

 A document which contains a record of all codes

assigned to the responses to all questions in the data
collection
SAMPLING

 When you conduct research about a group of

people, it’s rarely possible to collect data from every
person in that group. Instead, you select a sample.
The sample is the group of individuals who will
actually participate in the research.
 Sampling design

Probability Sampling Non-probability Sampling

It involves random It involves non-random
selection, allowing you to selection based on
make strong statistical convenience or other
inferences about the whole criteria, allowing you to
group easily collect data
 PROBABILITY SAMPLING
In a simple random
sample, every member of
the population has an
equal chance of being
selected. Your sampling
frame should include the
whole population.
Stratified sampling involves
dividing the population
into subpopulations that
may differ in important
ways. It allows you draw
more precise conclusions
by ensuring that every
subgroup is properly
represented in the sample.
Systematic sampling is similar
to simple random sampling,
but it is usually slightly easier
to conduct. Every member
of the population is listed
with a number, but instead
of randomly generating
numbers, individuals are
chosen at regular intervals.
Cluster sampling also
involves dividing the
population into subgroups,
but each subgroup should
have similar characteristics
to the whole sample.
Instead of sampling
individuals from each
subgroup, you randomly
select entire subgroups.
 NON-PROBABILITY SAMPLING
A convenience sample
simply includes the
individuals who happen
to be most accessible to
the researcher.
This type of sampling, also
known as judgement
sampling, involves the
researcher using their
expertise to select a
sample that is most useful
to the purposes of the
research.
Similar to a convenience
sample, a voluntary response
sample is mainly based on
ease of access. Instead of the
researcher choosing
participants and directly
contacting them, people
volunteer themselves (e.g. by
responding to a public online
survey).
If the population is hard
to access, snowball
sampling can be used to
recruit participants via
other participants.