HLTH 7008 Introduction to Biostatistics

This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://hbook.westernsydney.edu.au.

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 401077

Coordinator Paul Fahey Opens in new window

Description Most professions in the health sciences need to read and interpret statistics relating to individual health status, interpret health risks in communities, and engage in the evaluation of interventions, or impact of health policies or programs. Many public health practitioners are actively involved in surveillance, quantitative research and/or evaluation. This unit provides students with the fundamental skills they need to analyse and interpret results from quantitative data collections. Content includes descriptive statistics, undertaking comparisons between groups, quantifying associations between variables, and statistical power. The unit is highly applied with the main focus being on interpretation and appraisal of statistical results and conducting analyses using statistical software.

School Health Sciences

Discipline Health, Not Elsewhere Classified.

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 2 10cp

Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 7 subject

Restrictions

Students must be enrolled in a postgraduate program.

Assumed Knowledge

High school mathematics (arithmetic, formulas and algebra, reading graphs).

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Item Length Percent Threshold Individual/Group Task
Short Answer 2 hours 30 N Individual
Short Answer 2 hours 30 N Individual
Report 2 hours 40 N Individual

Prescribed Texts

  • Sullivan LM. Essentials of Biostatistics in Public Health (2nd ed). Jones & Bartlett, Sudbury, MA. 2012. ISBN-13: 978-0-7637-9531-3, ISBN-10: 0-7637-9531-3, OR
  • Sullivan, L. M. (2017). Essentials of biostatistics in public health (3rd ed). Jones & Bartlett, Sudbury. ISBN: 9781284108194

Teaching Periods