Biostatistics

• • Fundamental statistical concepts and methods
  • - Types and levels of measurement of quantitative data and measures of central tendency and variability
  • - Probability distributions
  • - Hypothesis testing
  • - Statistical confidence: confidence intervals, p-values, statistical vs practical significance
  • - Common statistical tests: comparison of means (between two or more dependent or independent groups), proportions
  • - Variability and statistical inference; power and sample size; bias, confounding and adjustment
  • Application to public health practice
  • - Key measures of association in public health: relative risk, attributable risk, odds ratios
  • - Inferential statistics: correlation, linear regression, logistic regression, analysis of variance
  • - Use of statistical software to analyse quantitative datasets: common statistical tests
  • - Writing up statistical analyses: interpretation, requirements for expressing statistical results
  • - Critical appraisal of statistical methods in public health research: common tools and approaches

In order to enrol in this subject, you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:

Additional requirements

• Software requirements - An agreement has been negotiated with the software provider to provide a one calendar year SPSS licence for $45. Information on how to access this software will be made available at the first lecture. Students are reminded to regularly work through the SPSS practice analysis each week so that the assessment tasks can be completed in a timely fashion.

Understanding, using and interpreting statistics is crucial to public health research and practice, particularly in monitoring health outcomes and decision-making processes about interventions. This subject will develop students’ knowledge of fundamental statistical concepts, such as descriptive and inferential statistics, common statistical tests and statistical methods commonly used in public health. This will include hypothesis testing, estimation, associations, modelling relationships and prediction using different methods such as logistic regression. Throughout the subject, students will consolidate their understanding of statistical theory through its application to practice. While there are some formulae and computational elements to the subject, the emphasis is on interpretation and concepts. Besides the theoretical material, this subject will also enable students to run basic analyses using common statistical software. Using this software, students will analyse simulated public health datasets and then interpret the results obtained. Statistical understanding and analytical expertise developed by students during the subject will then be applied to practice through critical appraisal statistical methods used in public health research

A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. In order to successfully complete this unit, students need to complete and submit three graded assessment tasks and obtain an aggregate mark of greater than 50%. ACU-PUBH620 involves assessment tasks designed to introduce students to the broad range of activity involved in biostatistics. In Assessment Task 1 , students are required to demonstrate their understanding by analysing a public health dataset. In Assessment Task 2, students are required to apply their biostatistical skills by preparing statistical methods and analysis for a peer reviewed journal article. Finally, in Assessment Task 3 students will critique and interpret the statistics in current published journal articles and reflect on how biostatistical knowledge will shape their practice in public health. All assessment tasks will be submitted electronically.

• Analysis of simulated public health dataset - 2 Parts (20%)
• Preparation Statistical methods and analysis for peer-reviewed journal artical (40%)
• Biostatistics reflective practice and critique exercises (40%)

For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).