Biostatistics primer: part I

Nutr Clin Pract. 2007 Dec;22(6):629-35. doi: 10.1177/0115426507022006629.

Abstract

Biostatistics is the application of statistics to biologic data. The field of statistics can be broken down into 2 fundamental parts: descriptive and inferential. Descriptive statistics are commonly used to categorize, display, and summarize data. Inferential statistics can be used to make predictions based on a sample obtained from a population or some large body of information. It is these inferences that are used to test specific research hypotheses. This 2-part review will outline important features of descriptive and inferential statistics as they apply to commonly conducted research studies in the biomedical literature. Part 1 in this issue will discuss fundamental topics of statistics and data analysis. Additionally, some of the most commonly used statistical tests found in the biomedical literature will be reviewed in Part 2 in the February 2008 issue.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomedical Research / statistics & numerical data*
  • Biometry / methods*
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical*
  • Humans
  • Sampling Studies
  • Statistical Distributions*
  • Statistics as Topic*