University of Pennsylvania
Graduate Program in Public Health
MPH Degree Program
Course Syllabus
PUBH501 -Introduction to Biostatistics
Fall Semester 2010: Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Title: PUBH501 - Introduction to Biostatistics
Course Units: 1.0 cu Contact hours: 42
Catalog Description: This course is designed to provide a broad overview of
biostatistics methods as well as applications commonly used for public health
research. Topics covered include measurement and categorizing variables, use and
misuse of descriptive statistics, testing hypotheses, and applying commonly used
statistical tests. An emphasis will be placed on the practical application of data to
address public health issues, rather than theoretical and mathematical development.
Students will learn how to choose and apply statistical tools to data sources, when
and how statistical tools can be used to analyze data, and how to interpret others’
quantitative studies. Students will gain experience using online datasets and the
STATA statistical software package.
Placement: Fall Semester: Wednesday, 5:00-8:00 PM Lecture & Discussion
Course Director:
Jeane Ann Grisso, MD, M.Sc.
Professor of Public Health, Medicine, and Nursing
jgrisso@nursing.upenn.edu
Teaching Assistant: Steffanie Halberstadt
Biostatistics doctoral student
halberst@mail.med.upenn.edu
Room Assignments: 1413 Blockley Hall
Pre-requisites: Enrollment in a master’s or doctoral program. Undergraduates and nonmatriculated students with permission of the instructor.
Course Overview: This course aims to provide the student with basic skills in biostatistics and
common applications of biostatistics in public health research.
Co-requisites: none
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
 Explain, calculate, and interpret descriptive statistics including scales of
measurement, frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, measures of
dispersion, standard scores, and the normal curve;
 Read, construct, and analyze charts, graphs, and contingency tables;
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Understand the basic concepts of inferential statistics including probability,
confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing;
Know when and how to apply common parametric statistical tests;
Develop basic skills in critical review of the public health literature;
Gain experience using computer technology in the application of statistical
procedures
Develop a proposed research project including a plan for biostatistical analysis
Core Competencies:
1. Selects and defines variables relevant to defining public health problems
2. Recognizes how data illuminate ethical, political, scientific, economic and overall public
health issues
3. Collects, summarizes, interprets and communicates information relevant to a population
health issue
Teaching Methods: lecture and discussion groups
Evaluation Methods:
 MIDTERM AND FINAL EXAM- 25% each, total 50%
There will be a midterm exam in class on October 20th. The final will be a “take home” exam
and will be given out around December Dec. 15th. The two exams will count a total of 50% of
the grade.
 GROUP PROJECT AND TEACHING PRESENTATIONS – 30%
Each group will organize teaching presentations on one or two different statistical tests. Each
group will also develop a proposal for a group project and present their proposed project to the
class at the end of the semester.
 CLASS PARTICIPATION- 20%
Class attendance, participation, and homework will count for the remaining 20% of the grade.
Class Participation: Students are expected to come to class on time prepared with comments
and questions from their assigned readings and exercises. They are also expected to participate
actively in discussions and work in their groups to organizing a teaching session and develop a
proposed project.
Assigned Readings: Statistics: A tool for social research, Joseph F. Healey, Eighth edition
This text will be supplemented with hand outs.
Month
Sept.
Wed.
Day. Class Topics
15
Intro to class and biostatistics
Descriptive statistics
 Rates
 Ratios
 Percentages
 Graphs & Charts
Assignments
Healey (Chapters 1 & 2)
Sept.
Wed.
22
Healey (Chapters 3&4)
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Sept
Wed.
20
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Oct.
Wed.
Oct.
6
Measures of Central Tendency
Mean
Median
Mode
Skew
Measures of Dispersion
Range
Standard deviation
Variance
The Normal Curve
The concept
Z-statistic
Probabilities & areas under the curve
Inferential Statistics
Random sample
Standard error of the mean
Stratified sample
Cluster sample
NO CLASS- DR. GRISSO AWAY
Healey (Chapters 5&6)
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13
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Oct.
20
Oct
27
Confidence Level
Alpha error
Bias
Hypothesis Testing
Null Hypothesis:Alternative Hypothesis
Statistical significance
One-tailed, two-tailed
Sample Size: Type 1 error, Type 2 error,
Power
Healey (Chapters 7&8)
Hypothesis testing : Student’s t-test
Healey (Chapter 9)
Hand out
MIDTERM
Nov.
3
Analysis of Variance
Healey (Chapter 10)
Chi Square Test
Healey (Chapter 11)
Nov
Nov
10
17
Linear Regression
Healey Chapter 15)
Multivariate Regression
Healey (Chapters 16,
17)
Odds Ratios
Hand out
Logistic Regression
Nov
24
Survival Analysis
Hand out
1
8
Critical review of the literature
NO CLASS- THANKSGIVING
Presentations
Hand out
Dec
Dec
Dec
15
Presentations & Take Home Final Exam