This course is offered in two modes: online and in person. Please select the correct class number for the relevant mode of delivery when enrolling.
This course will examine principles of biostatistics, in the context of real-world public health issues. The aim of the course is to help those without a specialised background to read and interpret biostatistical content in the medical and public health literature.
Topics, chosen by frequency of occurrence in the literature, will include:
- Introduction to sampling distributions, hypothesis tests and estimation
- Analysis of normal data, including t-tests and linear regression
- Analysis of binary data, including 2x2 tables, Mantel-Haenszel methods and logistic regression
- Analysis of count data, including comparing rates between two groups
- Poisson regression
Throughout the course, the emphasis will be on understanding the reasons why the techniques are appropriate, underlying assumptions, use of the statistical analysis package Stata and interpretation of results, rather than the mechanics of calculation. Each topic will draw upon one or two papers from the literature. Both online materials and drop-in help sessions in a computer lab will be used to facilitate learning and provide opportunities to explore specific topics in more detail.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Define and explain mathematical and biostatistical concepts covered in the course.
- Produce appropriate visual displays and summary statistics for datasets, and describe the shape and properties of the data from those outputs.
- Choose and implement appropriate statistical models and tests and interpret their outputs to make inferences from data; continuous outcomes, binary data, categorical data, count data.
- Produce appropriate diagnostic plots for statistical models and use these to critically assess the assumptions of the model against the data.
- Construct functioning scripted statistical analysis (in STATA or R) to load, wrangle, and analyse a dataset.
- Critically assess the statistical methods and evidence presented in published research studies.
Indicative Assessment
- Online quizzes (10) [LO 1,2,3]
- Assignment 1 (20) [LO 1,2,3,6]
- Assignment 2 (30) [LO 1,2,3,6]
- Take home exam (40) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including:
- Online delivery: Approximately 130 hours of self-directed study which will include reading, listening/viewing the online lessons and materials, exercises and other assessment tasks.
- In person delivery: Face-to face component which may consist of 1 x 1.5 hour computer laboratory per week. Approximately 112 hours of self-directed study which will include listening/viewing online lessons, preparation for tutorials, and other assessment tasks.
Inherent Requirements
No specific inherent requirements have been identified for this course.
Requisite and Incompatibility
You will need to contact the Nat Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health to request a permission code to enrol in this course.
Prescribed Texts
Betty R Kirkwood & Jonathan AC Sterne. Essential Medical Statistics (2nd Ed). Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd, 2003. ISBN-13: 978-0865428713Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4440 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $6720 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
