BIOSTATISTICS

 BIOSTATISTICS

                              PART 1

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO BIOSTATISTICS

The word statistics usually conveys to a lay man an impression about numerical facts. But to a scientific worker it means the methodology of Collection, compilation and interpretation of numerical facts. The numerical facts, which one comes across in health or biological sciences, such as, pulse rate, haemoglobin percentage level, number of births and deaths taking place in a year etc., are all affected and controlled to a large extent by a number of factors such as biological, environmental, social and so on. Hence, whenever the meaning of certain numerical figures is to be understood and their cause and effect in terms of different factors is to be elicited, certain analytical procedures are to be followed. In order that these numerical facts convey certain useful meaning, they are to be collected in a scientific manner.

The methodology of such collection and meaningful interpretation of numerical facts is known as “Statistics’". In broader sense, the science of Statistics deals with the methodologies of collection of numerical facts as well as with the analysis of variability present in the observation and also subjecting the factual descriptions to objective tests to validate their reliability.

The principles of Statistical Methodology are same in whichever branch of Science they are applied. However, different nomenclatures are adopted depending upon the usage and application in different fields of Science.

Mainly, a medical professional or a bio-scientist is interested in the following branches:

Bio-statistics: This branch deals with the methodologies of collection, elucidation and interpretation of numerical facts relating to the biological sciences. Medical Statistics is a part of this broader science.

Health Statistics: This branch in particular deals with the methodology of collection, compilation and interpretation of numerical facts concerned with the health and ill health of the human population. Some of these are births, diseases or deaths in the background of various factors controlling them. However, when numerical facts dealing with only births, deaths, marriages, divorces, etc. are considered, the branch of statistics is known as ‘Vital Statistics’. Some people used to call Vital Statistics as the ‘Book Keeping’ of the humanity and the present day Health Statistics has developed out of these Vital Statistical methods. This subject, in fact, is a branch of wider science known as “Demography ” which deals with the study of human population.

Statistical Methodologies play an important role in research. Before going through these methodologies, it is apt to understand some concepts of research.

The Role of Statistics in Decision Making

Statistics maybe described as the technology of the scientific method. It consists of a set of tools that are used to facilitate the making of decisions whenever conditions of uncertainty prevail. These tools are used in many fields other than business, for example, biology, medicine, agriculture, psychology, and education. Certain fields require special techniques. But the same basic principles and concepts apply to all fields. Statistics is a set of tools whose proper use helps in decision making. Only rarely should these tools be used as the sole basis for a decision. Statistics presents the decision-maker with relevant facts and, in many cases, provides an estimate of the probability and/or the monetary consequences of making a wrong decision. In biological researches the concepts, techniques, and results of statistics are indispensable components of decision making.

Meaning and Characteristics of Statistical Research

Research is a careful investigation or inquiry, especially through scientific methods, aimed at searching new facts or verification of established facts under various situations, in any branch of knowledge. Scientific research is a systematic and objective attempt to provide answers to certain questions. The purpose of research is to discover and develop an organised body of knowledge through application of scientific procedures.

Numerous definitions of the term “Research” are available. The appropriate definition would be, “an honest, exhaustive, intelligent searching for facts and their implications with reference to a given problem, which may lead to development of theories, concepts, generalisations and principles”. The ultimate outcome of any research should be to define authentic and verifiable knowledge leading to definite contributions in the field studied.

Thus, all research should generally aim at gaining new knowledge emphasizing on the general principles, investigated in a systematic and accurate manner through valid procedures of data collection, analysis and interpretation.