Biostatistics

Code:

MA214

Acronym:

BIOE

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Mathematics

Instance: 2017/2018 - 2S (of 05-02-2018 to 23-03-2018)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Population Studies
Course/CS Responsible:	Aquatic Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LCMA	34	Plan 2012 to 2017	2	-	5	49	135

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The main objective of this training program is that students acquire both theorethical and practical knowledge in basic biostatistics, through a process where they have to solve problems and the teacher function as guider in their individual pathway. The exposition to small biological problems will explore both theoretical and practical aspects of biostatistics, including verbal and written communication. Topics of Biostatistics include types of data, descriptive statistics, probability distributions and inference.

Learning outcomes and competences

Students should be able to convert data into information, gaining skills in quantitative reasoning and writing.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Descriptive Statistics: types of biological data; exploring data: variables and distributions, relationships. 2. Probability and sampling distributions. 3. Introduction to inference: estimation and hypothesis testing. 4. Statistical Inference with Quantitative Data: one sample t test, paired sample t test, independent sample t test. 5. Statistical Inference with Categorical Data: inference about a population proportion, comparing two proportions, qui-square test of independence, qui-square test of goodness-of-fit. 6. Linear Regression. 7. Analysis of Variance: one-way and two-way analysis of variance.

Mandatory literature

Baldi Brigitte 070; practice of Statistics in the life science. ISBN: 1-4292-7272-4
Zar Jerrold H.; Biostatistical analysis. ISBN: 978-0-13-206502-3
Sokal Robert E.; Biometry. ISBN: 978-0-7167-2411-7

Teaching methods and learning activities

The teaching methods include the traditional face-to-face classes and an e-learning component. In the lecture sessions, the concepts of each module are introduced and reinforced by means of the resolution of small biomedical/biological problems. These face-to-face classes are combined with a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The use of an e-learning platform in Biostatistics allows the delivery of static and dynamic content to the students and also the on-line participation and evaluation. Weekly assignments are made at group level and consist in a small biological problem with a data file and a submission deadline. In the resolution of these weekly assignments, in a format similar to a short scientific paper, students have to report effectively both statistical and biological concepts, involved in their assignments. The examination is carried out in computers.

Software

SPSS

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	75,00
Participação presencial	0,00
Trabalho escrito	25,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	86,00
Frequência das aulas	49,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

Students should attent at least 3/4 of the classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final grade: 0.75xE + 0.20xTG + 0.05*C E – Final exam (minimum 7.5); TG – Weekly assignments in the current academic year; C - Contributions.

Classification improvement

Final grade: 0.75xE + 0.20xTG + 0.05*C E – Final exam (minimum 7.5); TG – Weekly assignments in the current academic year; C - Contributions.