Course Description

Students will learn fundamental biostatistical and study design concepts routinely used in epidemiologic and clinical research, with a special emphasis on oral health research. Concepts will be reinforced through critical evaluation of peer-reviewed oral health research. Furthermore, basic data management, data analysis, interpretation and write up of results will be discussed. Training on using SPSS statistical software tools will be provided.

• Describe the role of biostatistics in the discipline of public health,
• Critique the scientific literature specifically the statistical component of oral health and public health research,
• Formulate a research hypothesis,
• Identify and explain various study designs and their appropriate utilization,
• Develop skills in data analysis using SPSS statistical software package,
• Organize, tabulate and summarize data using descriptive statistical techniques in SPSS,
• Contrast different scales of measurement and the appropriate statistical methods for each,
• Interpret graphical displays of quantitative information,
• Identify the appropriate statistical test for a given study design and type of data,
• Correctly reject or accept the null and alternative hypotheses using results (p-value or confidence interval) from statistical tests,
• Effectively interpret and communicate statistical results through written and oral communications.