BI-522: Applied Biostatistics

Course, prefix, number, & title: BI-522 Applied Biostatistics

Hours (Class, recitation, Laboratory, studio): 3

Credits: 3

Pre-requisites (if any): MA-336, HE-114, BI-503

Course Description in college catalog:

This survey course is designed to provide students with basic knowledge and skills to conduct statistical techniques applied to tests and measurements in public health. It will concentrate on the interpretation and comprehension of graphical and statistical techniques that are important components of research and public health practice. Students will be exposed to topics such as vital statistics, and the evaluation of tools to measure health attitudes, knowledge, and behavior. In addition, students will learn to use computer software for statistical analysis.

Academic programs for which this course serves as a requirement or an elective:

General Education Outcomes: Below is a listing of General Education Outcome(s) that this course supports.

1. Communicate effectively in various forms

2. Use analytical reasoning to identify issues or problems and evaluate evidence in order to make informed decisions

3. Reason quantitatively as required in various fields of interest and in everyday life

4. Apply information management and digital technology skills useful for academic research and lifelong learning

Course-specific student learning outcomes:

1. Discuss variables, levels of measurement, and their relationship to statistical analysis and learn to select the appropriate measures to use for a particular dataset.

2. Evaluate results of statistical analyses to public health research questions and apply specific descriptive and inferential techniques commonly used in public health research.

3. Evaluate statistically-oriented public health research articles.

4. Explain the concepts of a sampling distribution, type I and II errors, and statistical power.

5. Use statistical software to manipulate public health data.

Program-specific outcomes

Apply and synthesize basic quantitative and qualitative data, professional and scholarly literature.

Other program outcomes (if applicable).

1. Integrate knowledge and skills in the program of study

2. Make ethical judgments while recognizing multiple perspectives, as appropriate in the program of study

3. Work collaboratively to accomplish learning objectives

Methods by which student learning will be assessed and evaluated; describe the types of methods to be employed; note whether certain methods are required for all sections:

The understanding of the course material will be evaluated through multiple choice exams (50 minutes). Four exams will be given during the semester.  Each exam is worth the same percentage (15%). Make-up exams for absent students are given only under extreme circumstances and at the instructor’s discretion.  The student is responsible for trying to arrange a make-up exam and should contact the instructor as soon as possible.

In addition, 20 % of course grade will be based on Homework assignments , 15% of course grade will be based on a writing assignment on your selected research study topic and 5% of course grade will be based on in-class participation.

Homework Assignments & Problem Sets: It is essential that the student practice the skills covered in class sessions.  In addition, some material not covered in class will be presented in homework assignments. Three homework assignments will be assigned over the course, which concentrate on the interpretation of statistical results.  In addition, there will be two problem sets that require the use of SPSS to perform simple statistical calculations.  Problem sets will be collected and graded.

Final Project: One short paper, which involves the calculation of some simple statistical analyses for a public health-oriented data set in SPSS, and a write up describing these results, will be required.  Further information on the project will be provided.This assignment CANNOT be submitted late or re-submitted.

Method of Evaluation	% of Final Grade
4 Lecture Exams	60
Home Work Assignments and Problem Set	20
Final Project	15
In-class Participation	5

Academic Integrity policy (department or College):
Academic honesty is expected of all students. Any violation of academic integrity is taken extremely seriously. All assignments and projects must be the original work of the student or teammates. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any questions regarding academic integrity should be brought to the attention of the instructor. The following is the Queensborough Community College Policy on Academic Integrity: "It is the official policy of the College that all acts or attempted acts that are violations of Academic Integrity be reported to the Office of Student Affairs. At the faculty member's discretion and with the concurrence of the student or students involved, some cases though reported to the Office of Student Affairs may be resolved within the confines of the course and department. The instructor has the authority to adjust the offender's grade as deemed appropriate, including assigning an F to the assignment or exercise or, in more serious cases, an F to the student for the entire course." Read the University's policy on Academic Integrity opens in a new window.

Disabilities
Any student who feels that he or she may need an accommodation based upon the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Accessibility Services in Science Building, Room S-132, 718-631-6257, to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. You can visit the Office of Accessibility Services website.