Introduction to Biostatistics – Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions introduced in the Biostatistics lecture, designed to help students master fundamental statistical concepts, data types, and measurement scales.

Statistics

The study of techniques for collecting, classifying, summarizing, analyzing, and interpreting numerical data.

Biostatistics

The application of statistical methods to biology, medicine, epidemiology, and other health-related fields.

Descriptive Statistics

Procedures for the collection, presentation, and description of sample data.

Inferential Statistics

Methods for making decisions or drawing conclusions about populations based on sample data.

Data

Observations obtained by counting or measuring items; the raw material of statistics.

Variable

Any characteristic of an individual or entity that can assume different values for different cases.

Constant

A fixed numerical value that does not vary among individuals or observations.

Qualitative Data

Non-numeric data that categorize individuals by attribute or quality, e.g., sex or occupation.

Quantitative Data

Numeric data obtained by counting or measuring, e.g., height, weight, blood pressure.

Dichotomic Variable

A qualitative variable with exactly two categories, such as male/female.

Polynomic Variable

A qualitative variable with more than two categories, such as education level (primary, secondary, university).

Discrete Data

Quantitative data that result from counting and take whole-number values, e.g., number of children.

Continuous Data

Quantitative data that result from measurement and can take fractional values, e.g., weight or temperature.

Nominal Scale

Measurement scale that classifies data into mutually exclusive, unordered categories, e.g., healthy/ill.

Ordinal Scale

Scale that ranks categories in a meaningful order but with unequal or undefined intervals, e.g., grades A–D.

Interval Scale

Numeric scale with equal intervals and an arbitrary zero point, e.g., Celsius temperature.

Ratio Scale

Numeric scale with equal intervals and a true, non-arbitrary zero, allowing meaningful ratios, e.g., height, weight.

Sampling Methods

Techniques used to select a subset of a population for study.

Measure of Central Tendency

Statistic that describes the center of a data set (mean, median, mode).

Measure of Dispersion

Statistic that describes the spread of data (range, variance, standard deviation).

Demographic Rate

A statistical measure describing population events, such as birth or death rates.

Frequency Distribution

A table or graph showing how often each value occurs in a dataset.

Data Collection

The systematic process of gathering information for analysis.

Data Presentation

Organizing data into tables, charts, or graphs to facilitate understanding.

Scale of Measurement

Classification of variables based on how they are measured: nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio.

Statistical Analysis

The application of statistical procedures to examine and summarize data.

Interpretation

Explaining the meaning of analyzed data and drawing conclusions or decisions.

True Zero Point

A zero on a ratio scale that represents an absolute absence of the measured attribute.

Arbitrary Zero Point

A zero on an interval scale that is chosen for reference and does not represent true absence.