WELCOME RESEARCH I

(Introduction to Research)

RESEARCH I

- Research Methodology - 2 units

- 2 hours a week

- 1 semester

General Description

• The learner is introduced to research, its relevance, purpose and benefits in Medicine and Allied Health

• Research methodology is taught through the application of basic concepts and principles of Biostatistics and Epidemiology.

General Learning Objective

• To enable the students to acquire basic knowledge and develop attitudes and skills in the statistical and epidemiological analysis of health-related data and apply the principles of Biostatistics and Epidemiology in the care of the family and the community, as well as in the field of research.

FEU-NRMF VISION

• F idelity

• E xcellence

• U niversality

• N ationalistic

• R esponsible

• M orally upright

• F amily oriented

MISSION

• Excellence in medical and paramedical education

• Quality health care services

• Relevant research

Evaluation Method

• Exercises and Quizzes

• Preliminary and Final Examinations

• Research Proposal (Oral Presentation and Written Paper)

• Attendance and Class Participation

BIOSTATISTICS

• A term coined from two words: “Bio” and “Statistics”

• Bio – life

• Statistics – refers to the science dealing with the collection, organization, analysis and interpretation of numerical data

DEFINITIONS

• Biostatistics – refers to the application of statistical methods to the life sciences like biology, medicine and public health

• Public Health Statistics – quantitative data needed as basis for the planning, monitoring and evaluation of health services. Includes: vital and health statistics

DEFINITIONS

• Vital Statistics – refers to data on vital events (number of births, deaths and marriages)

• Health Statistics – cover a wide variety of numeric information including data on morbidity, hospital and clinic statistics, service statistics

Two Branches of Statistics

• 1. Descriptive statistics – refers to the different methods applied in order to summarize and present data in a form which will make them easier to analyze and interpret.

e.g. Tabulation, Graphical presentation, Computation of averages, measures

Two Branches of Biostatistics

• 2. Inferential Statistics – refers to methods involved in order to make generalizations and conclusions about a target population, based on results from a sample.

e.g. Estimation of parameters, Testing of hypothesis

Constant

vs.

Variation

CONSTANT

• A phenomenon whose value remains the same from person to person, from time to time, or from place to place

e.g. no. of minutes in an hour

VARIABLE

• A phenomenon whose values or categories cannot be predicted with certainty

e.g. age of gestation, weight

TYPES OF VARIABLES

1. Qualitative

- one whose categories are simply used as labels to distinguish one group from another

e.g. gender, place of residence

TYPES OF VARIABLES

2. Quantitative

- one whose categories can be measured and ordered according to quantity or amount or whose values can be expressed numerically.

e.g. population size, birth weight

QUANTITATIVE Variable

1. Discrete

- if it can assume only integral values or whole numbers

2. Continuous

- if it can attain any value including fractions or decimals

Why is Biostatistics needed as a science?

Phenomenon of Variation

SCALE of MEASUREMENT

1. Nominal – “label” or categories

e.g. Gender – male, female

2. Ordinal – “ranked” or “ordered”

e.g. Qualitative – mild, moderate, severe

Quantitative – 1st, 2nd, 3rd

SCALE of MEASUREMENT

3. Interval – the exact distance between two categories can be determined but the zero point is arbitrary.

e.g. temperature

4. Ratio – zero point is fixed

e.g. weight in kg. height in cm

APPLICATIONS of Biostatistics

• Information-based. Biostatistics is a tool in the decision-making process

• Conduct of clinical trial, surveys, etc – Application of statistical techniques in the design and evaluation of research projects

APPLICATIONS of Biostatistics

• Problem identification, needs assessment, allocation of limited resources and evaluation of programs – An integral part of the basic foundation upon which the expertise of health administrators, planners and public health practitioners in general, rests.