Biostatistics Final Exam questions with
complete solutions
A subset of the population of interest is often referred to by what statistical term? - correct answer ✔✔A
sample of individuals
True or False? The data collected in a biostatistics study can be applied to any population regardless of
race, class, and socioeconomic status. - correct answer ✔✔False
Which is the most important factor in determining which populations a well-designed study's results can
be applied to? - correct answer ✔✔The inclusion and exclusion criteria for the study
True or False? A relative risk of 5.67 indicates that the group of individuals in a study exposed to the
particular variable of interest are 5.67 times more likely to experience the observed outcome being
studied. - correct answer ✔✔True
The measure of uncertainty in a biostatistician's calculation of a particular outcome that may result from
using a subset of the population to estimate the actual likelihood of the event occurring in the
population as a whole is referred to by what statistical term? - correct answer ✔✔A margin of error
True or False? Oftentimes it is more difficult to establish a relationship between a particular disease
outcome and a risk factor among older adults because they also have other risk factors for disease. -
correct answer ✔✔True
True or False? Biostatistics is defined as the application of statistical principles in medicine, public health,
or biology. - correct answer ✔✔True
Which of the following most appropriately describes how the data from a cross-sectional study can be
applied to a population? - correct answer ✔✔The data generated from a cross-sectional study is only
applicable to the original population of interest during the time that the study was conducted.
True or False? Randomization of clinical trial participants is important to ensure that clinical trial
participants in the treatment group and comparator group allow the study's results to be generalized to
, the population as a whole, and not just the subgroup of individuals that participated in the study
because of the balance promoted through the randomization process. - correct answer ✔✔False
Researchers have conducted a study and determined that the relative risk for developing a cold for
individuals taking vitamin C is 0.47 when compared to the number of participants in the study who
developed a cold while not taking vitamin C. This is an indication of which of the following? - correct
answer ✔✔This indicates that the individuals taking vitamin C were 53% less likely to catch a cold and
that taking vitamin C has a protective effect, making them less likely to catch a cold.
True or False? Intention-to-treat analysis for a study is only conducted among individuals who fully
complied with a study's protocols. - correct answer ✔✔False
A researcher is interested in determining the current prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in the United
States. Which type of study would be most useful in estimating the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in
the United States? - correct answer ✔✔A cross-sectional survey
True or False? Extremely rare side effects of medications studied in clinical trials are more likely to be
observed in cohort studies conducted during post marketing-surveillance because of the limited number
of participants in clinical trials. - correct answer ✔✔True
True or False? The application of treatment among participants in an experimental study is a key
difference between an experimental study and an observational study. - correct answer ✔✔True
Misclassification bias is most likely to be observed in which study type? - correct answer ✔✔A case-
control study
True or False? The wash-out period is included in a crossover trial so that any therapeutic effects of the
first treatment are removed, prior to the administration of the second treatment. - correct answer
✔✔True
A novice researcher noted that during summertime there is a positive association between the increase
in ice cream sales and the increase in the number of drownings; however, there is no logical explanation
for why ice cream sales would be responsible for the increased incidence of drowning. What
phenomenon likely explains this type of observation? - correct answer ✔✔Confounding
complete solutions
A subset of the population of interest is often referred to by what statistical term? - correct answer ✔✔A
sample of individuals
True or False? The data collected in a biostatistics study can be applied to any population regardless of
race, class, and socioeconomic status. - correct answer ✔✔False
Which is the most important factor in determining which populations a well-designed study's results can
be applied to? - correct answer ✔✔The inclusion and exclusion criteria for the study
True or False? A relative risk of 5.67 indicates that the group of individuals in a study exposed to the
particular variable of interest are 5.67 times more likely to experience the observed outcome being
studied. - correct answer ✔✔True
The measure of uncertainty in a biostatistician's calculation of a particular outcome that may result from
using a subset of the population to estimate the actual likelihood of the event occurring in the
population as a whole is referred to by what statistical term? - correct answer ✔✔A margin of error
True or False? Oftentimes it is more difficult to establish a relationship between a particular disease
outcome and a risk factor among older adults because they also have other risk factors for disease. -
correct answer ✔✔True
True or False? Biostatistics is defined as the application of statistical principles in medicine, public health,
or biology. - correct answer ✔✔True
Which of the following most appropriately describes how the data from a cross-sectional study can be
applied to a population? - correct answer ✔✔The data generated from a cross-sectional study is only
applicable to the original population of interest during the time that the study was conducted.
True or False? Randomization of clinical trial participants is important to ensure that clinical trial
participants in the treatment group and comparator group allow the study's results to be generalized to
, the population as a whole, and not just the subgroup of individuals that participated in the study
because of the balance promoted through the randomization process. - correct answer ✔✔False
Researchers have conducted a study and determined that the relative risk for developing a cold for
individuals taking vitamin C is 0.47 when compared to the number of participants in the study who
developed a cold while not taking vitamin C. This is an indication of which of the following? - correct
answer ✔✔This indicates that the individuals taking vitamin C were 53% less likely to catch a cold and
that taking vitamin C has a protective effect, making them less likely to catch a cold.
True or False? Intention-to-treat analysis for a study is only conducted among individuals who fully
complied with a study's protocols. - correct answer ✔✔False
A researcher is interested in determining the current prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in the United
States. Which type of study would be most useful in estimating the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in
the United States? - correct answer ✔✔A cross-sectional survey
True or False? Extremely rare side effects of medications studied in clinical trials are more likely to be
observed in cohort studies conducted during post marketing-surveillance because of the limited number
of participants in clinical trials. - correct answer ✔✔True
True or False? The application of treatment among participants in an experimental study is a key
difference between an experimental study and an observational study. - correct answer ✔✔True
Misclassification bias is most likely to be observed in which study type? - correct answer ✔✔A case-
control study
True or False? The wash-out period is included in a crossover trial so that any therapeutic effects of the
first treatment are removed, prior to the administration of the second treatment. - correct answer
✔✔True
A novice researcher noted that during summertime there is a positive association between the increase
in ice cream sales and the increase in the number of drownings; however, there is no logical explanation
for why ice cream sales would be responsible for the increased incidence of drowning. What
phenomenon likely explains this type of observation? - correct answer ✔✔Confounding
