Epidemiology: Understanding Disease Patterns and Risk Factors
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease or other health-related outcomes in human populations. It is also the application of that study to control health problems.
Etiology
- Etiology refers to all the determinants of a disease.
- These determinants can be physical, psychological, or behavioral.
- Rarely is there just one determinant.
Prevalence
- Period Prevalence: The proportion of cases over a length of time.
- Point Prevalence: The proportion of cases at one specific
Statistical Variables and Data Analysis Exercises
Exercise 1: Identifying Qualitative and Quantitative Variables
Indicate which variables are qualitative and which are quantitative:
- Favorite Food (Qualitative)
- Profession you like (Qualitative)
- Number of goals scored by your favorite team last season (Quantitative)
- Number of students in your Institute (Quantitative)
- The eye color of your classmates (Qualitative)
- IQ of your classmates (Quantitative)
Exercise 2: Identifying Discrete and Continuous Variables
Indicate which variables are discrete and which are
Read MoreStatistical Inference and Regression Analysis: Key Concepts
Statistical Inference and Regression Analysis
Statistical Inference: Drawing conclusions about a population based on information from a sample.
Standard Error: Measures the variability of the sample mean estimate, calculated based on the standard deviation of the sample and the sample size.
Hypothesis Test Decisions:
- Reject the null hypothesis
- Fail to reject the null hypothesis
Multiple Linear Regression
A regression model that estimates the relationship between two or more independent variables and a
Statistical Analysis: Variables, Data, and Inference
Variables and Study Groups
- Categorical variables
- Quantitative variables
- Explanatory variable
- Response variable
Study Groups –> Population
–> sample
Sampling and Data Collection
Sample:
- Statistical Inference
- Sampling Bias
- Random Sample
- Association vs. Causation
- Confounding Variables
Collecting Data:
- Experiment
- Observational Study
- Randomized Experiment
- Control Group
- Placebo
- Blind Experiment
- Double-Blind Experiment
- Randomized Comparative Experiment
- Matched Pairs
Describing
Read MoreStatistical Analysis and Hypothesis Testing in Research
Interpreting a Linear Regression Equation
-
Identify Variables
- Outcome Variable: The variable being predicted by the model (e.g., `Test Scores`).
- Explanatory Variable: The variable used to predict or explain changes in the outcome variable (e.g., `Hours Studied`).
-
Interpret Slope Coefficient
- Meaning of Slope: The slope coefficient indicates how much the outcome variable is expected to change for each one-unit increase in the explanatory variable. It reflects the nature and strength of the linear relationship.