HSCI 190 MODULE 1 PRACTICE SOLUTION
STUDY SHEET QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
ANSWERS
●● Descriptive Statistics
Answer: A way of summarizing and describing data so patterns become
apparent. It does not allow the researcher to generalize conclusions
beyond the data that has been collected. Includes the visualization of
data, measures of central tendency, and variability.
●● Inferential Statistics
Answer: A way of analyzing data to make general conclusions about the
way the world works. It can be used to address specific questions about
how the world works and includes concepts such as the standard error of
the mean (SEM), confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, t-tests,
ANOVAs, correlations, regressions, and non-parametric tests.
●● Examples of Statistics in our Everyday Lives
Answer: Political polls, weather forecasting, sports (e.g. batting
averages, free throw percentage), casinos, Netflix recommendations, and
social media advertising.
●● Biomedical Research
,Answer: Field of research that explores disease prevention and
treatment. Relies on statistics to provide information on the probability
of a certain outcome occurring (e.g. change in hormone level or
phenotype, or a certain dosage of drug resulting in a change in
symptoms or adverse event) and what factors may influence that
outcome.
●● Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
Answer: Many clinical care settings now use this to systems to track
patient information. The availability of large quantities of patient
information has generated new opportunities to collect and share health
data around the world using advanced techniques such as machine
learning.
●● Evidence-Based Medicine
Answer: The practice of using research-based evidence, clinical
expertise, and information about the patient's values and preferences to
make clinical decisions on patient care.
●● Study by Wakefield et al.
Answer: A study that suggested that the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella
(MMR) vaccine was correlated with autism spectrum disorder. Despite a
small sample size, questionable methodology, and speculative
conclusions, the paper received a considerable amount of attention from
the media and impacted many caregivers' decision to vaccinate their
children or not. After a number of studies disproved their findings, the
Lancet Journal retracted their paper. However damage was already done
, and MMR vaccination concerns, and concerns about vaccines in general,
remain prevalent today.
●● Forensic Statistics
Answer: Statistics are used to match biological samples to victims or
perpetrators. Can also be used to help investigators and juries identify
the likelihood of an event being a coincidence, or if something more
malicious took place.
●● Dr. Shipman
Answer: Statistical analysis was used to find evidence if there was foul
play behind the deaths of this doctor's patients. The information
collected in the public inquiry did not tell the statisticians how or why
this doctor's patients died, but told them that the time of death of his
patients was noticeably different than that of other local doctors. Further
investigation revealed that this doctor performed his home visits after
lunch when he was typically alone with patients. Based on this
information, it is now thought that this doctor committed over 200
murders from 1975 to 1998.
●● PPDAC
Answer: Problem, Plan, Data, Analysis, Conclusion
●● PPDAC: Problem
Answer: What is the problem/question?
STUDY SHEET QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
ANSWERS
●● Descriptive Statistics
Answer: A way of summarizing and describing data so patterns become
apparent. It does not allow the researcher to generalize conclusions
beyond the data that has been collected. Includes the visualization of
data, measures of central tendency, and variability.
●● Inferential Statistics
Answer: A way of analyzing data to make general conclusions about the
way the world works. It can be used to address specific questions about
how the world works and includes concepts such as the standard error of
the mean (SEM), confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, t-tests,
ANOVAs, correlations, regressions, and non-parametric tests.
●● Examples of Statistics in our Everyday Lives
Answer: Political polls, weather forecasting, sports (e.g. batting
averages, free throw percentage), casinos, Netflix recommendations, and
social media advertising.
●● Biomedical Research
,Answer: Field of research that explores disease prevention and
treatment. Relies on statistics to provide information on the probability
of a certain outcome occurring (e.g. change in hormone level or
phenotype, or a certain dosage of drug resulting in a change in
symptoms or adverse event) and what factors may influence that
outcome.
●● Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
Answer: Many clinical care settings now use this to systems to track
patient information. The availability of large quantities of patient
information has generated new opportunities to collect and share health
data around the world using advanced techniques such as machine
learning.
●● Evidence-Based Medicine
Answer: The practice of using research-based evidence, clinical
expertise, and information about the patient's values and preferences to
make clinical decisions on patient care.
●● Study by Wakefield et al.
Answer: A study that suggested that the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella
(MMR) vaccine was correlated with autism spectrum disorder. Despite a
small sample size, questionable methodology, and speculative
conclusions, the paper received a considerable amount of attention from
the media and impacted many caregivers' decision to vaccinate their
children or not. After a number of studies disproved their findings, the
Lancet Journal retracted their paper. However damage was already done
, and MMR vaccination concerns, and concerns about vaccines in general,
remain prevalent today.
●● Forensic Statistics
Answer: Statistics are used to match biological samples to victims or
perpetrators. Can also be used to help investigators and juries identify
the likelihood of an event being a coincidence, or if something more
malicious took place.
●● Dr. Shipman
Answer: Statistical analysis was used to find evidence if there was foul
play behind the deaths of this doctor's patients. The information
collected in the public inquiry did not tell the statisticians how or why
this doctor's patients died, but told them that the time of death of his
patients was noticeably different than that of other local doctors. Further
investigation revealed that this doctor performed his home visits after
lunch when he was typically alone with patients. Based on this
information, it is now thought that this doctor committed over 200
murders from 1975 to 1998.
●● PPDAC
Answer: Problem, Plan, Data, Analysis, Conclusion
●● PPDAC: Problem
Answer: What is the problem/question?
