nature of biostatistics

Biostatistics

The application of statistical methods to the life sciences, including biology, medicine, and public health.

Descriptive Statistics

Summarizes and organizes data (e.g., mean, median, mode).

Inferential Statistics

Draws conclusions and makes predictions based on data.

Nominal Measurement

Categories with no ranking (e.g., blood type).

Ordinal Measurement

Ordered categories (e.g., pain severity: mild, moderate, severe).

Interval Measurement

Equal intervals but no true zero (e.g., temperature in Celsius).

Ratio Measurement

Equal intervals with a true zero (e.g., weight in kg).

Discrete Variable

A variable that takes only specific, countable values with gaps in between (e.g., number of students in a class).

Continuous Variable

A variable that can take any value within a range, including fractions and decimals (e.g., height, weight, blood pressure).

Example of a Discrete Variable

The number of cars in a parking lot (1, 2, 3… not 2.5).

Example of a Continuous Variable

The temperature in Celsius (e.g., 36.5°C, 37.2°C).

Nominal Variable

A qualitative variable with categories that have no inherent order (e.g., blood type: A, B, AB, O).

Ordinal Variable

A variable with categories that have a meaningful order but unequal differences (e.g., pain severity: none, mild, moderate, severe).

Interval Variable

A quantitative variable where the difference between values is meaningful, but there is no true zero (e.g., temperature in Celsius).

Ratio Variable

A quantitative variable with equal intervals and a true zero, allowing for meaningful ratios (e.g., weight in kg, height in cm).

Meaningful Multiplication and Division

This is allowed in the Ratio level of measurement (e.g., a weight of 20kg is twice as heavy as 10kg).