Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Biostatistics
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
Introduction
The biostatistics course is oriented to enable students of the Biomedicine Degree to know the basic concepts of biostatistics, to understand it when they see them applied, to be able to apply them by themselves and to know when to do it.
With this, students will be able to elaborate the biostatistical part of a research project and critically evaluate the analyses performed for research articles in their field.
The methodology used in this course will consist of lectures, case methods and laboratory practices with computer.
Pre-course requirements
None.
Objectives
• Understand the concepts and basic statistical and epidemiological methods in health sciences
• To enable the student to perform basic biostatistical techniques with computer software specific for biostatistics.
• To train students for the critical reading of scientific articles.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
General skills
- Teamwork and responsibility.
- Ability to adapt and decision making.
Specific skills
- Acquisition of skills for the critical reading of the scientific literature.
- Train students to be able to formulate research hypothesis and evaluate scientific information.
- Basic training to develop research projects and presentations of scientific results at conferences.
Syllabus
1. Introduction. Basic concepts of statistics. The role of statistics in research.
2. Probability. Basic concepts of probability. Random variables. Main probability distributions.
3. Descriptive statistics. Univariate descriptive: tables, statistics and graphs. Bivariate descriptive.
4. Statistical inference. Estimators. Confidence intervals. Hypothesis testing. Univariate inference.
5. Bivariate inference. Comparison of means. Comparison of proportions. Correlation.
6. Statistical models. Linear regression. Logistic regression. Survival analysis.
7. Design of experiments. Factorial designs.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The subject will be taught face-to-face through theoretical classes, problem sessions and practical sessions with the computer.
The theory of the subject will be presented in a rigorous way avoiding, however, an excess of formalization, which could mask the real purpose of the subject: to teach the fundamentals of statistics to biomedicals. For this reason, emphasis will be placed on conceptual clarity. In addition, students will learn the application of these concepts using statistical software.
Training activities
- Lecture, exercise resolution and computer practice: 60 h (Presenciality: 100%)
- Preparation and performance of evaluable activities: 30 h (Presenciality: 0%)
- Autonomous work of study and exercises: 60 h (Presenciality: 0 %)
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
The evaluation has three parts:
1. Continuous assessment (25%) based on the presentation of oral and/or written work.
2. Assessment by examination of the learning of statistical software (30%).
3. Assessment by means of a theoretical test (45%).
In order to pass the course, the student must obtain an average mark of more than 5 and a minimum score of 4.5 in each of the three components of the course evaluation.
Students who do not pass the course in the ordinary exam will have an extraordinary exam in July, which will consist of a practical exam (30% of the mark) and a theoretical exam (70% of the mark). Students who have passed either part (practical and theory exams) will keep their marks for the extraordinary exam.
Important considerations:
Plagiarism, copying or any other action that could be considered cheating will result in a zero in this evaluation section. Doing so in, the exams will result in immediate failure of the subject.
In the second sitting, the grade of "Honours" cannot be obtained, so the maximum grade will be "Excellent".
No changes will be accepted in the timetable, dates of exams or in the evaluation system.
Exchange students (Erasmus and others) or repeaters will be subject to the same conditions as the rest of the students.
Bibliography and resources
Basic bibliography
Martínez-González MA, Sánchez-Villegas A, Faulín Fajardo FJ. “Bioestadística amigable”.
Peña D. “Fundamentos en Estadística”.
Sentís J, Pardell H, Alentà H, Cobo Valeri E, Canela i Soler J. Manual de bioestadística.
Daniel W. “Bioestadística: base para el análisis de las ciencias de la salud”.
Cobo E, Muñoz P, González JA, Bogorra J. “Bioestadística para no estadísticos: principios para interpretar un estudio científico”.
Box GEP, Hunter WG, Hunter JS. “Estadística para investigadores: introducción al diseño de experimentos, análisis de datos y construcción de modelos”.
Davies, TM. “The book of R. A first course in programming and statistics”.
Evaluation period
- E2 23/06/2023 A09 18:00h