Biostatistics

Biostatistics
Branch of basic sciences which
deals with the collection,
analysis and interpretation of
data in relation to vital events.

Research
Research is the systematic collection
analysis and interpretation of data to
answer a certain question or solve a
problem.

Vital Events
These are live births, deaths,
foetal deaths, marriages,
divorces, adoptions,
legitimations, recognitions,
annulments, and legal
separations.

Data
Consist of discrete observations
or attributes or events that carry
little meaning when considered
alone.

Data

Information

Variable
A variable is the characteristic of a
person, object or phenomenon that
can take on different values.
Variables can be of two types:

Numerical variables
Categorical variables

Variables
Numerical variable
If the values of the variables are expressed in
numbers they are called numerical variables e.g.
persons age, weight, or income.

Categorical variable
Values of these variables are expressed in categories
e.g. the colour ie red, green,blue or types of food
such as maize or wheat.

Types of variable
Variable
Categorical
(Qualitative)
Ordered
Unordered
categorical
categorical
e.g. Gender
Male, female
Blood groups
Ethnic groups
Food types

(Nominal)

Age group
Nutritional
Status
Social class
e.g. poor,
Good, excellent

(Ordinal)

Numerical
(Quantitative)
Continuous
Discrete
(1.2,1.35..)
(1,2,3)
Number of
people in
household
(whole Nos.)

Income
weight
height
distance
(in decimals)

Presentation of Data
(Tables Graphs Charts)

1.

Table

2.

Bar

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Simple
Frequency distribution table
Simple
Multiple (Clustered)
Component (Staked)

Histogram
Frequency polygon
Line diagram
Pie chart
Scattered diagram

Suggestion for the design & use

of Tables, Graphs & Charts
1. Choose the tool most effective for Data and
Purpose.
2. Point out one idea at one time.
3. Use black and white for exhibits that are to
be reproduced.
4. Use adequate, properly located lables.
5. Give your sources

Tables
General principles.
Tables should be simple, 2 or 3 tables are preferred
over a single large table
Table should be self explanatory

Codes, abbreviations or symbols should be explained clearly in

footnotes.
Each row and column should be labeled concisely and clearly
Specific units of measures for the data should be given.
Title should be clear, concise, & to the point
Total should be shown.

Title is commonly separated from the body of the

table by line or space

Distribution of students in Medical

College based on gender
Class

Male

Female

Total

1st Year

60

125

185

2nd Year
3rd Year

70
85

110
90

180
175

4th Year

121

122

241

Final Year

110

90

200

Total

446

537

981

Source: RMC office 1999

Bar Diagram (charts)

The bar chart has cells, all of the same column

width.
There are spaces between the column.
Ideally suited for presenting comparative data.
Arranged horizontally or vertically in
ascending or descending order.
Bars should be labelled at the bottom.

FREQUENCY GRAPH FOR

SYSTOLIC BP

40

Comparison between 3rd Year

Medical Students & PG Trainees
36

35
30

32
27

25

3rd Yr. Med. Std.

22

20

20

PG Trainees
18

15
9

10

3
0

0
Surgery

Med

Paeds

Gyne

Eye

ENT

4
1 1
Derma

0
Research

Histogram
A histogram is a graph used only for
presenting frequency distribution of
quantitative data. There is no space
between the cell, and equal class
interval

Frequency Polygon
If it is desired to present more than one set
of data in term of a frequency distribution,
the data should be presented in the form of
a frequency polygon.
A frequency polygon is constructed from a
histogram, I.e. the midpoint of the class
interval are connected by a straight line.

18
16
14
12

FREQUENCY POLYGON

10
8
6
4
2
0
147.32-- 150.59-- 153.86-- 157.13-- 160.4-150.59 153.86 157.13
160.4 163.67
FREQUENCY

163.67-- 166.94-166.94 170.21

Line diagram (time series graph)

Line diagrams are used to show the trends of
events with passage of time
e.g. Birth & Death rates over period of time

Pie Diagram (Chart)

0

The 360 of the circle of the Pie is divided into

sectors, so that areas of the sectors are
proportional to the frequency.
Pie diagram are useful to demonstrate
percentages.

Chart-I

126-130
10%
121-125
10%

131-135
3%

90-95
7%

96-100
7%

101-105
13%

116-120
13%

111-115
13%

106-110
24%

Sex Ratio
Female versus male percentage is shown by the
graphical representation:
Sex Ratio

Males 58%

Females
42%

Percentage in both Male and Female

Students
4%

Surgery
Med
Paeds
Gyne
Eye
Derma
Res
Not Sure

1%

9%

3%

36%

7%

18%
22%

Scattered Diagram
A scattered diagram represent the relationship
between two numerical variables measured on
the same subject, one variable is measured
along each axis.

SPOT MAPS

Statistics
Descriptive statistics
Inferential statistics
(Population, Sample, Element.)
(N

X)

Samples
Probability Sample (Permit use of inferential statistics)
1.
2.

Convenience samples
Quota samples

Non-probability Sample (only descriptive statistics)

Probability Sample
1.
2.
3.
4.

Simple random samples

Stratified random samples
Cluster samples
Systematic Samples

Probability
The probability of an event is a quantitative
measure of the proportion of all possible,
equally likely outcomes that are favourable to
the event.
It is denoted by p
Probability is usually expressed by decimal fraction,
not as percentage, and must lie between 0 (zero
probability) and 1 (absolutely certainty)

Measures of Central value (tendency)

These are descriptive measure of frequency
Distribution .
Purpose of descriptive measures is to describe
and summarize a series of data through a
single measure or a small number of measures
which can be easily understood .

Mean
Median
Mode

Mean
Sum of all values (x) divided by number
of observations. It is denoted by X
Easy to calculate
Gives an idea of central tendency
Influenced by extreme values
May not convey proper sense e.g. Mean
No. of children may turn out to be 5.77

Example
Following values
19 20 22 20 21 23
Total = 125
Mean = 125/6 = 20.8
If the values are
19 20 22 20 21 50
Mean = 152/6 = 25

Median
When the data is arranged in ascending or descending
order, the median is the value that divides the data into
two parts.

Advantages
It is not influenced by extremes value.
Disadvantages
Not a very precise measure.
Not amenable to further statistical evaluation.

Example
2 5 7 9 12 13 14
Median = 9
2 5 8 9 10 12
Median = (8+9)/2 = 8.5

Mode
The mode is the most frequently occurring
value among all the observations in a sample.
For example: (22 22 21 22 23)
Data may be :Amodal
Unimodal
Bimodal
Trimodal
Multimodal

Measures of Dispersion (spread)

Range
Percentile
Deviation
Mean Deviation
Variance
Standard Deviation

Range
The range is the difference between
the highest and the lowest figure in a
given sample
Example
4 5 6 9 10 12
Range = 8

Standard Deviation
It is a measure, which describe how much
individual measures differ, on average, from
the mean
It is denoted by SD
It is the most important measure of
dispersion around the mean and forms the
basis of most statistical analysis.

Calculation of standard deviation

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Add all observations

Calculate mean
Find deviation of each observation from mean
Square each deviation and add them
Divide this sum by number of observation - 1
Take square root

Root Means Square Deviation.

Thanx