Course Basics
Biostatistics for Public Health PH 7017 – 89065
Betty S. Lai, Ph.D.
Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Fall 2014
Class Day/Time:
Wednesdays, 1:00pm –4:25pm; Lectures will be from 1:00pm -3:25pm, and Recitation will
be from 3:35 pm – 4:25pm
Class Location:
34 Peachtree (Peachtree Street Building), Room 504
Prerequisite(s):
A college-level algebra course and a statistics or research design course are helpful.
Required Course Materials
Textbook: D’Agostino R, Sullivan L, Beiser A (2006). Introductory Applied Biostatistics.
CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning. Note that there is a Student Solutions Manual that
accompanies this textbook. You are not required to buy this manual, but if you would like
extra practice, you may find this manual to be useful.
Faculty Accessibility
A basic scientific calculator that can do squares, square roots, and logs. You will need this for
every class.
Instructor(s) of Record:
Betty S. Lai, Ph.D.
Office Location:
640L in 1 Park Place
Phone Number(s):
404.413.2336
Email:
blai@gsu.edu
Office Hours/Availability:
Please email me to set up an appointment. I am always happy to make an appointment to
discuss questions related to the course.
I. COURSE DECRIPTION: This course provides an introduction to biostatistics, covering topics of interest for public health fields
including: descriptive statistics, proportions, probability, estimation, hypothesis testing applications, framing research questions,
interpreting results, correlation and simple regression, and basic categorical data analysis.
II. COURSE OBJECTIVES/COMPETENCY/ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING: This course is designed to support
students in acquiring competence in the following three areas, as indicated in the GSU School of Public Health MPH Core
Competencies document.
MPH CORE 1. Formulate pertinent research questions and hypotheses in public health in statistical terms.
MPH CORE 2. Use statistical software, perform appropriate statistical analyses based on the research questions, research design, and appropriat
tenability of statistical assumptions.
MPH CORE 3. Interpret and communicate, via oral and written form to professional and lay audiences, the results of statistical analyses.
Course Objectives
Demonstrate the appropriate application of basic graphical
techniques commonly used to summarize public health data.
Describe basic concepts of probability, random variation, and the
normal and binomial probability distributions.
Demonstrate the appropriate use and computation of basic
descriptive and inferential statistics including point and confidence
interval estimation and hypothesis testing for population means,
proportions, and differences between means and differences between
proportions.
Be able to use a statistical software package to compute descriptive
Program
Competency
BSTP 2, 5
BSTP 1
BSTP 6, 7
BSTP 8
Assessment Method(s)
Homework, labs, exams
Homework, exams
Homework, presentation, exams
Homework, labs, exams
statistics and inferential statistics.
Demonstrate the appropriate use and application of methods for
testing associations, including simple correlation and contingency
table analyses.
Determine the appropriate statistical method to use in a given
context:
 Distinguish among the different measurement scales and use
this information to aid in the selection of statistical methods for
either descriptive or inferential purposes
 Identify common study designs and their associated research
questions and use this information to aid in the selection of
statistical methods for either descriptive or inferential purposes
Identify appropriate methodological alternatives to commonly used
statistical methods when assumptions are not met.
Interpret and appropriately report results from analyses of data.
BSTP 3, 6, 7
Homework, labs, presentation, exams
BSTP 3, 6,
7, 8, 9, 10
Homework, presentation, labs, exams
BSTP 9, 10
Homework, labs, presentation, exams
BSTP 6, 7,
8, 9, 10
Homework, labs, presentation, exams
III. COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS
Homework Assignments (2 points each): It is essential to apply the concepts and practice the skills covered in this class. The intent
of these assignments is to provide practice and help you identify areas of misunderstanding before the exams. Homework assignments
are due in class at the beginning of Recitation on the dates listed above. No late homework will be accepted except in cases of very
extreme and very well-documented emergencies. Late assignments will receive a score of zero. The grade for that homework will not
be changed. If you know you will be absent from a class, you can ask a (trusted) fellow student to hand in for you (note that all
homework assignments have already been described above). No e-mails or faxes will be accepted no matter when they are received.
For the homework, I encourage you to work in groups. However, each person must turn in their own hand-written work (SAS
homework will be printed copies of your syntax, results, and written interpretations). Homework will be graded based upon
effort demonstrated, using the following benchmarks:
2 = All problems completed. You have shown how you arrived at your answer and you have demonstrated effort to
understand the material. Problems are completed on clean paper (no jagged edges), heading completed, and stapled/clipped
together.
1 = Some problems completed. You have shown how you arrived at your answer and you have demonstrated effort to
understand the material. Or, problems are not completed on clean paper, there is no heading, or homework is not
stapled/clipped.
0 = No work turned in.
Team “Non Normal” Statistics Assignment (16 points): Please see the Team Non Normal Presentation Rubric for details on how
the presentation will be graded. If you miss your Team “Non Normal” Presentation day, you will receive a zero on this assignment.
Exams (100 points each): Exams will be based on both conceptual questions and computational problems. There will be 3 exams
total. You may use a calculator and may bring in one 8.5 x11 inch sheet of paper (front and back) from home. However, you MUST
show all of your work in completing each problem in order to receive full credit for the problem. PDAs, cell phones, handheld
computers, laptops, etc. are not permitted as calculators even if they are in calculator mode.
IV. GRADING POLICY
Points for
Each
7 Homework Assignments
2
Total
Possible
Points
14
1Team Non Normal
Assignment
16
16
3 Exams
100
300
Completion Dates
See homework assignments marked with a “*.” Those
assignments are due at the start of the next Recitation
section.
Each Team will sign up for Non Normal presentation time
slot. Please see the presentation rubric for details on
grading.
Exam times are noted on the syllabus.
Points earned from all assignments and exams will be summed in order to determine your final point total out of 330 possible points
for the semester. Final grades will be determined as follows:
Letter Grade
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
Percentage
97% or above
93-96%
90-92%
87-89%
83-86%
80-82%
77-79%
73-76%
70-72%
60-69%
59% or below
Withdrawal Periods and Grades of W and WF
During registration: When the registration system is open to students at the beginning of each semester, students may drop or add
classes using PAWS. When a class is dropped during this period, no grade is recorded and no record of the student’s being enrolled in
the class appears on the student’s transcript. Registration ends at the end of the first week of classes.
After registration and before the midpoint of the semester: During this period, students may make a voluntary withdrawal from a
class or classes using PAWS. Students will receive a grade of W or WF for any class dropped during this period depending on whether
or not they have exceeded their limit of withdrawals with a grade of W. Specifically, students will automatically be awarded a W if
they have not exceeded their limit and a WF if they have. Grades of W and WF appear on the student’s transcript. (Note: A grade of
WF is treated as an F for GPA calculation purposes.) NOTE: Students cannot make a voluntary withdrawal after the midpoint. For
more information, consult the Student Advisement Center or Office of Academic Assistance in your college.
Incompletes: A student will be given the grade I only if nonacademic circumstances beyond the student’s control prevent the student
from completing a small segment of the course—e.g., the final test. For a student to receive the grade of I, he/she must be doing
satisfactory work (an average grade of C or better) up to the point that he/she could not continue. Arrangements must be made with
instructor to remove the I within one semester.
V. ATTENDANCE AND CLASS PARTICIPATION POLICY: You should plan to arrive at or before the start of class. It is
extremely disruptive for students to enter the classroom once class has already started. Attendance at each class meeting is important
and is highly related to overall success in the course. Although class attendance is not graded, regular attendance and participation
are to your benefit. Important events take place during class time. In some cases, missing a class may mean a grade of 0 on an
assignment or exam. If you miss class, you are responsible for obtaining information about the course content and any other class
activities that took place during the missed class from one of your classmates. Be aware of all make-up policies.
How to be successful in this course:
1. Come to every class and be on time. If you miss class or come in late, you will be missing an important learning opportunity. In
addition, arriving late is disruptive to everyone.
2. Be attentive for the 2.5 hours we are in class. This means no checking email, searching the internet, texting, or otherwise
engaging in activities that take your attention away from what is happening in class.
3. Try all the suggested practice problems. Doing the practice problems is an important way for you to learn the material and
determine your level of understanding.
4. Keep up with reading and practice problems. Don’t try to cram. Read the chapter assigned before class.
5. Please ask questions. I am here to help facilitate your learning, which I can do only if I know what you need.
6. If you ever feel lost, you probably are. Ask for help sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be.
Optional online sources that you might find helpful:
 UCLA annotated outputs: http://statistics.ats.ucla.edu/stat/AnnotatedOutput/
 Excellent animations of statistical concepts: http://opl.apa.org/contributions/Rice/rvls_sim/main.htm
 Math review resource courtesy of University of Minnesota School of Public Health: http://www.sph.umn.edu/ce/tools/math/
SOFTWARE
The required textbook also provides SAS demonstrations for solving problems. Work related to using SAS will require SAS software.
You may visit open computer labs or access SAS through the VCN (see sheet on Desire 2 Learn for accessing the VCN). If you are
off campus, you will to connect to the VPN to access the VCN: http://technology.gsu.edu/technology-services/itservices/security/virtual-private-network/. Additional information about software at GSU can be found at
http://www.gsu.edu/help/software.html.
VI.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS AND MAKE-UP EXAMINATION POLICY:
Group presentations are due at the start of lecture, and homework assignments are due at the start of Recitation. I do not accept
emailed assignments or late assignments. You are expected to follow all submission guidelines included with the assignments;
failure to do so will result in the loss of points on that particular assessment.
If you miss an exam for ANY reason, you will receive a zero (0%) on the exam. Make-up exams generally will not be allowed. You
must have written, official, and verifiable documentation of an extreme emergency in order to be given a make-up exam, and it must
be made up within 7 calendar days of your return to school. Please note that specific dates for exams may be changed from those
shown on the proposed schedule. If there is a valid reason for missing an exam you know of ahead of time (e.g., a religious holiday or
an out-of-town university sponsored function), you must inform the instructor at least 1 week in advance and take the make-up before
the regularly scheduled exam.
VII. SYLLABUS DEVIATION POLICY:
The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary.
VIII. STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND POLICY ON ACADEMIC HONESTY:
All students at this University are expected to engage in academic pursuits on their own with complete honesty and integrity. Any
student found guilty of dishonesty in any phase of academic work will be subject to disciplinary action. The complete Academic
Honesty policy is located in the GSU Graduate Catalog, Section 1350: http://enrollment.gsu.edu/catalogs/. Students and faculty are
expected to review and conform to the university’s policy on academic honesty. Information on the Student Code of Conduct and
related policies and procedures are available at: http://codeofconduct.gsu.edu/
Special attention should be paid to the sections on plagiarism and multiple submissions:
Plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as, “appropriating and putting forth as one’s own the ideas, language, or designs of another” (The
Living Webster, 1975) – and it is strictly forbidden. Written and oral presentations must be a student’s own work. Students
plagiarizing or cheating in any form will face disciplinary action which could result in an “F” in this course and suspension or
expulsion from the University. Copying from written materials, presentations, websites, etc. without source acknowledgement and
referencing is plagiarism. Read it, appreciate it, learn from it, and make sure you source it – and then reflect it with your own
thoughts and words! If you are uncertain about what constitutes plagiarism, please contact the instructor.
Multiple Submissions. It is a violation of academic honesty to submit substantial portions of the same work for credit more than once
without the explicit consent of the faculty member(s) to whom the material is submitted for additional credit. In cases in which there is
a natural development of research or knowledge in a sequence of courses, use of prior work may be desirable, even required; however,
the student is responsible for indicating in writing, as a part of such use, that the current work submitted for credit is cumulative in
nature.
IX. DISABILITY ACCOMODATIONS POLICY:
Students who wish to request accommodation for a disability may do so by registering with the GSU Office of Disability Services.
Students may only be accommodated upon issuance by the Office of Disability Services of a signed Accommodation Plan and are
responsible for providing a copy of that plan to instructors of all classes in which an accommodation is sought. The Office of
Disability Services is located in the GSU Student Center, Suite 230.
XI. COURSE EVALUATIONS STATEMENT:
Your constructive assessment of this course plays an indispensable role in shaping education at Georgia State. Upon completing this
course, please take time to fill out the online course evaluation
XII. CAREER SERVICES:
The School of Public Health provides career services & student leadership opportunities (student clubs & organizations) to all current
SPH students and alumni. SPH Career Services can help students with resume writing, interviewing, job searching, internship
development, and professional networking. Students are invited to attend our career events and workshops, and individualized career
counseling appointments can be arranged. To see what career panels, career fairs, and events are available this semester, please visit:
http://publichealth.gsu.edu/students/career-resources/. The SPH Career Services office is co-located with the Office of Academic
Assistance in room 640 at One Park Place.
DIGITAL COMMUNICATION
When I send emails regarding class information, I will use your GSU student email address, so please regularly check email sent to
that address. I will not use any other email address for official class communications. When you send me an email, please put PH 7017
and your surname on the subject line.
Desire2Learn
Desire2Learn will be used to post class documents. You may access Desire2Learn from the GSU home page. Students are expected to
access the information posted on the class web pages. I will make an effort to inform the class when new information is posted to the
class website; however, you should check the Desire2Learn site regularly. The site will have the most recent syllabus and any changes
that occur as we go along, as well as other relevant class materials.
Courtesy: Courteous behavior is an essential component for creating a positive learning environment for everyone (students and
instructors). Turn off mobile phones and other devices when you come to class. Using cell phones or other similar devices during class
is disruptive and extremely discourteous, including laptops or classroom computers for any activities other than class work. If you
have an emergent need to use mobile phone or other device during class time, please unobtrusively leave the classroom to take care of
it. In addition, the following behaviors should be avoided: excessive tardiness, leaving and entering class frequently without
notifying the instructor of extenuating circumstances, and disruptive personal conversations with other class members. Violation of
these common courtesies is grounds for dismissal from the course. [Faculty Handbook, Sect. 401.Disruptive Student Behavior Policy.]
XII. COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS (Tentative Course Schedule, Topics, and Readings):
Date
Topic
Reading
Homework Assignments
Assignment
*Assignments in red are due at the start of the next
in Textbook
Recitation section (e.g., the assignment on 9/3 will but due
at the start of Recitation on 9/10). For SAS problems,
print your syntax and write out final answers.
8/27
Introduction and Summarizing Data
Ch.1
Purchase the book.
Learn to access SAS (Note: You must figure out how to
access SAS in order to be successful in this course).
9/3
Statistical Computing
Ch. 2
*Ch. 2: 3, 9, 10 and Ch. 2 SAS Problems: 1, 2, and 5
(Note: SAS Problems are printed after regular problems).
9/10
Probability
Ch. 3
*Ch. 3, Part 1: 1, 3, 4, 9, 14, 22, 23
(read pp. 87 – 108)
9/17
Normal Distribution and Z
Ch. 3
*Ch. 3, Part 2: 25, 26, 29, 35
(read pp. 108 – 125)
9/24
Sampling Distributions
Ch. 4
For extra practice only (you do not need to turn in these
Review for Exam 1
problems): Ch. 4: 1, 2, 5, 7, 9
Study for the exam!
10/1
Exam 1
10/8
Statistical Inference
10/15
Decision Errors
Hypothesis Testing for Differences in
Two Means (t-tests)
Mid-Semester Evaluation
Hypothesis Testing for Differences
between 3+ Means (ANOVA)
Correlation and Simple Regression
Review for Exam 2
10/22
10/29
Ch. 5
(pp. 173 – 190)
Ch. 5
(pp. 190 - 213)
Ch. 6
Ch. 9
Ch. 10
(to p. 487)
11/5
Exam 2
11/12
Categorical Data
Ch. 7
11/19
Statistics in Research Articles
--
11/26
NO CLASS
THANKSGIVING BREAK
Logistic Regression
Review for Exam 3
Exam 3
10:45AM – 1:15PM
Ch. 11
(to p. 522)
12/3
12/10
*Ch. 5: 3, 4, 6, 18, and 23
*Ch. 6 SAS Problems: 1 and 2
(Note: SAS Problems are printed after regular problems).
*Ch. 9 SAS Problems: 1 and 2
(Note: SAS Problems are printed after regular problems).
No practice problems for Ch. 10 from the book (I don’t
love those problems).
Study for the exam!
*Ch. 7: 3, 4, 9, 15, 24 and Ch. 7 SAS Problems: 1 and 3
(Note: SAS Problems are printed after regular problems).
Enjoy Thanksgiving break! :)
Study for the exam!