Course syllabus for Biostatistics

Biostatistik

Specific entry requirements

At least the grade E at the courses in Introduction to biomedical science and General and organic chemistry, and at least the grade pass at the parts Basal metabolism and Biochemical laboratory methods (3+2 credits) of the course Medical biochemistry, and the part Cell biology (6 credits) of the course Cell biology and genetics within the Study Programme in Biomedicine.

Outcomes

The aim of the course is to give the students knowledge of basic statistical concepts and tools, so that they can evaluate research results concerning relevance, both their own and results published in scientific literature.

On completion of the course the student should be able to:

Regarding knowledge and understanding

• explain the concept of random variation in biological phenomena and how it is related to scientific observation studies and experimental studies,
• describe appropriate statistical methods to quantify random and systematic effects in biological data,
• discuss (at elementary level) the relevance of statistical inference for empirical research.

Regading skills and ability

• choose and apply fitting statistical methods for simple issues within research by means of computer programs in statistics,
• communicate statistical results in a way that suits for oral presentation and scientific publication,
• understand and discuss statistical findings of basic complexity in relevant scientific literature.

On completion of the course the student should demonstrate:

Regarding assessment ability and attitudes

• ability to assess scientific hypotheses based on empirical proofs,
• consciousness about ethical dilemmas in connection with planning of both observation studies and experimental studies.

Content

The contents of the course is divided into two parts. Part 1 is an introduction to general statistical concepts and in part 2, these general concepts are used for specific statistical methods.

Part 1: General concepts
Data types: nominal, ordinal and continuous variables. Descriptive measures. Graphical presentation. Randomness in biological observations. Statistical thinking around randomness. Data from experiments and observational studies. Probability concepts. Probability distributions: normal and binomial. Parameter estimation: mean and proportion. Quantification of statistical uncertainty: standard error, confidence intervals and hypothesis test. Elementary hypothesis testing: Z-tests, t-tests. Elementary considerations concerning power and samples size.

Part 2: Specific methods
Correlation and simple linear regression. Statistical models. Verification and mitigating of model assumptions. Robust (non-parametric and distribution free) methods. Analysis of kontingenstabeller.

Teaching methods

Teaching will be in the form of whole-group teaching (lectures, discussions) and practical activities in small groups (supervision, computer exercises).

Examination

The examination consists of written examination.

Compulsory attendance
Attendance is required at the course introduction, supervision sessions and group assignments. For participation in the written final examination, all compulsory parts must be approved. The course director decides if and in that case how absence may be compensated. Before the student has participated in compulsory parts, or compensated absence in accordance with the course director 's instructions the student's results will not be registered in LADOK.

Limited number of examinations or practical training sessions
Students who have not passed the regular examination are entitled to participate in five more examinations. If the student has failed six examinations/tests, no additional examination or new admission is provided.

The number of times that the student has participated in one and the same examination is regarded as an examination session. Submission of a blank examination is regarded as an examination. An examination for which the student registered but not participated in, will not be counted as an examination.

Transitional provisions

The course has been cancelled and was offered for the last time in the spring semester of 2015.

Other directives

The course language is English.

Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board of Higher Education.

Oral evaluation in the form of course council meetings will be carried out during the course.

Literature and other teaching aids

Study material handed out during the course serves as principal reference material, accompanied by the course literature. Additional material will be referenced on the internet.

• Dalgaard, Peter, Introductory statistics with R, 2. ed. : New York : Springer, cop. 2008 - xvi, 363 s. ISBN: 978-0-387-79053-4 (pbk. : alk. paper), LIBRIS-ID: 11305121,
• Rosner, Bernard, Fundamentals of biostatistics, 5. ed. : Pacific Grove, CA : Duxbury, Grove, CA - xix, 792 s. ISBN: 0-534-37068-3 (alk. paper), LIBRIS-ID: 5037511,