NSG 522 Midterm Exam Review: Epidemiology and Biostatistics
What is the main focus of epidemiology? - correct answer The study of the distribution and
determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of
this knowledge to control health problems.
What are the key components of epidemiology as defined in the notes? - correct answer Study
(systematic surveillance, observation, experimentation), Distribution (person, place, time),
Determinants (physical, biological, social, cultural, economic, behavioral factors), Health-related
states or events (wellness, illness, disease, injury, impairments, disability), Specified populations
(characteristics of who is healthy, at risk, or acquires disease), Control of health problems
(identifying factors associated with disease development and prevention).
What are the core functions of epidemiology? - correct answer 1. Surveillance 2. Field
investigations 3. Analytic studies 4. Evaluation 5. Linkages 6. Policy
What is the significance of measurement in epidemiology? - correct answer Measurement is
essential for understanding the distribution and determinants of health-related states and
events.
What are the Five W's of Epidemiology? - correct answer What? When? Where? Who? Why?
What is emphasized in epidemiology regarding health? - correct answer Epidemiology focuses
on populations and population health rather than providing direct care to individuals.
What does the term 'determinants' refer to in epidemiology? - correct answer Factors that
influence health, including physical, biological, social, cultural, economic, and behavioral
aspects.
What is meant by 'specified populations' in epidemiology? - correct answer Characteristics of
individuals who are healthy, at risk for disease, or who acquire disease.
What is the goal of epidemiology? - correct answer To identify factors associated with disease
development and factors that prevent illness.
How is epidemiology described as a science? - correct answer Epidemiology is a quantitative
science that uses measurement to enhance understanding of health-related states and events.
What are the two main components of epidemiology? - correct answer Descriptive and
Analytic.
What does descriptive epidemiology study? - correct answer The distribution, frequency, and
pattern of health-related states and events, focusing on WHO, WHERE, and WHEN.
What is the primary focus of analytic epidemiology? - correct answer To examine the causes of
health-related states or events and quantify the association between exposures and outcomes.
, What is the difference between descriptive and analytic epidemiology? - correct answer
Descriptive epidemiology describes the distribution and frequency of health-related events (the
'who, where, and when'), while analytic epidemiology examines the determinants and causes of
those events (the 'why').
What is a variable in the context of epidemiology? - correct answer A variable is the thing that
is being measured or observed, which can assume different values.
What are the two types of definitions for variables? - correct answer Conceptual definitions
(which define the concept) and operational definitions (which specify how the concept is
measured).
What is an independent variable? - correct answer The variable that is manipulated or varied by
the researcher, thought to affect the outcomes of interest.
What is a dependent variable? - correct answer The outcome or response variable that is
presumed to be affected by an independent variable.
What are the principles of measurement in epidemiology? - correct answer Select the most
accurate method for measuring variables, develop detailed procedures for measurement, and
establish clear procedures for recording measurements.
What does reliability refer to in measurement? - correct answer The repeatability or
reproducibility of a measurement.
What does validity refer to in measurement? - correct answer The accuracy of a measurement,
meaning it measures what it was supposed to measure.
What are the levels of measurement for variables? - correct answer Categorical Variables
(Nominal and Ordinal) and Continuous Variables (Interval and Ratio).
What characterizes nominal level categorical variables? - correct answer Data are classified into
mutually exclusive categories with no ranking or ordering, such as gender or blood type.
What characterizes ordinal level categorical variables? - correct answer Data are classified into
mutually exclusive categories that can be ranked or ordered, such as letter grades or Likert
scales.
What are examples of ordinal variables? - correct answer Ranking in a race (first, second, third),
cancer stages (I, II, III), number of children (1, 2, 3).
What characterizes continuous variables at the interval level? - correct answer Equal intervals
between numbers, no meaningful zero, can be measured as decimals. Examples include
temperature in Fahrenheit and Centigrade, standardized tests like IQ, SAT, ACT.
What is the main focus of epidemiology? - correct answer The study of the distribution and
determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of
this knowledge to control health problems.
What are the key components of epidemiology as defined in the notes? - correct answer Study
(systematic surveillance, observation, experimentation), Distribution (person, place, time),
Determinants (physical, biological, social, cultural, economic, behavioral factors), Health-related
states or events (wellness, illness, disease, injury, impairments, disability), Specified populations
(characteristics of who is healthy, at risk, or acquires disease), Control of health problems
(identifying factors associated with disease development and prevention).
What are the core functions of epidemiology? - correct answer 1. Surveillance 2. Field
investigations 3. Analytic studies 4. Evaluation 5. Linkages 6. Policy
What is the significance of measurement in epidemiology? - correct answer Measurement is
essential for understanding the distribution and determinants of health-related states and
events.
What are the Five W's of Epidemiology? - correct answer What? When? Where? Who? Why?
What is emphasized in epidemiology regarding health? - correct answer Epidemiology focuses
on populations and population health rather than providing direct care to individuals.
What does the term 'determinants' refer to in epidemiology? - correct answer Factors that
influence health, including physical, biological, social, cultural, economic, and behavioral
aspects.
What is meant by 'specified populations' in epidemiology? - correct answer Characteristics of
individuals who are healthy, at risk for disease, or who acquire disease.
What is the goal of epidemiology? - correct answer To identify factors associated with disease
development and factors that prevent illness.
How is epidemiology described as a science? - correct answer Epidemiology is a quantitative
science that uses measurement to enhance understanding of health-related states and events.
What are the two main components of epidemiology? - correct answer Descriptive and
Analytic.
What does descriptive epidemiology study? - correct answer The distribution, frequency, and
pattern of health-related states and events, focusing on WHO, WHERE, and WHEN.
What is the primary focus of analytic epidemiology? - correct answer To examine the causes of
health-related states or events and quantify the association between exposures and outcomes.
, What is the difference between descriptive and analytic epidemiology? - correct answer
Descriptive epidemiology describes the distribution and frequency of health-related events (the
'who, where, and when'), while analytic epidemiology examines the determinants and causes of
those events (the 'why').
What is a variable in the context of epidemiology? - correct answer A variable is the thing that
is being measured or observed, which can assume different values.
What are the two types of definitions for variables? - correct answer Conceptual definitions
(which define the concept) and operational definitions (which specify how the concept is
measured).
What is an independent variable? - correct answer The variable that is manipulated or varied by
the researcher, thought to affect the outcomes of interest.
What is a dependent variable? - correct answer The outcome or response variable that is
presumed to be affected by an independent variable.
What are the principles of measurement in epidemiology? - correct answer Select the most
accurate method for measuring variables, develop detailed procedures for measurement, and
establish clear procedures for recording measurements.
What does reliability refer to in measurement? - correct answer The repeatability or
reproducibility of a measurement.
What does validity refer to in measurement? - correct answer The accuracy of a measurement,
meaning it measures what it was supposed to measure.
What are the levels of measurement for variables? - correct answer Categorical Variables
(Nominal and Ordinal) and Continuous Variables (Interval and Ratio).
What characterizes nominal level categorical variables? - correct answer Data are classified into
mutually exclusive categories with no ranking or ordering, such as gender or blood type.
What characterizes ordinal level categorical variables? - correct answer Data are classified into
mutually exclusive categories that can be ranked or ordered, such as letter grades or Likert
scales.
What are examples of ordinal variables? - correct answer Ranking in a race (first, second, third),
cancer stages (I, II, III), number of children (1, 2, 3).
What characterizes continuous variables at the interval level? - correct answer Equal intervals
between numbers, no meaningful zero, can be measured as decimals. Examples include
temperature in Fahrenheit and Centigrade, standardized tests like IQ, SAT, ACT.
