MPH5041 Introductory biostatistics
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
MPH5041 Introductory biostatistics is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, offered in 2022 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Alfred Hospital and Suzhou (SEU). It has no prerequisites and unlocks 5 units, leading on to 19 units in all.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2022
- Semester 1, Semester 2
- Alfred Hospital, Suzhou (SEU)
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
This is the 2022 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before MPH5041
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After MPH5041
5 units list MPH5041 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Enrolment rules
Corequisite: Must be enrolled one of the following course codes:0046, 0160, 0702, 1884, 2311, 2312, 2314, 2868, 2870, 2872, 3198, 3403, 3416, 3420, 3421, 3422, 3440, 3807, 3862, 3873, 3874, 3896, 3900, M4006, M5007, M5017, M5018, M6008, M6023, M6024, M6025, M6026, M6027, M6028, M5030.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
This unit introduces students to biostatistics as applied to public health and management studies. Biostatistics is the science of describing, summarising, and analysing health-related data. It is essential to understand biostatistics in order to design, conduct, and interpret health-related research. The basic principles and methods used in biostatistics are covered in this unit. This includes the technical qualifications necessary for analysing and interpreting data on a descriptive and bivariate level.
Topics include classifying health data; summarising data using simple statistical methods and graphical presentation; sampling distributions; quantifying uncertainty in results from a sample; working with statistical distributions; comparing two or more groups/methods using confidence intervals and hypothesis tests (p - values); assessing the association between an outcome and an exposure using the chi-squared test; using risk comparisons (RR and OR); predicting an event or identifying risk factors for an event of interest where the event is measured on a continuous scale or a binary scale (yes/no).
Offerings in 2022
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Alfred Hospital | Block on |
| First semester | Alfred Hospital | On campus |
| First semester | Suzhou (SEU) | De |
| Second semester | Alfred Hospital | On campus |
| Second semester | Alfred Hospital | Online |
Assessment
- Structured written report 1 (1,500 words)15%
- Structured written report 2 (2,000 words)30%
- Structured written report 3 (2500 words) (45%) (Hurdle)Threshold hurdle45%
- Online test (MCQ) (30 minutes)10%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Classify data into appropriate measurement types.
- 2
Present data using relevant tables, graphical displays, and summary statistics, quantify uncertainty in study results.
- 3
Formulate research hypotheses into a statistical context in public health studies.
- 4
Estimate quantities of interest and evaluate hypothesis with appropriate statistical methods.
- 5
Accurately interpret statistical methods and results reported in health publications.
- 6
Analyse data using a specific software package.
Workload and teaching
- Lectures24 hours
- Tutorials24 hours
Sem 1 - DAY mode: 4 face-to-face contact hours (2 hours lecture and 2 hours tutorial) + 2 hours online guided discussion + 6 hours independent study per week.
Sem 1 - DE mode: 24 contact hours over 3 block days + 2 hours online tutorial + 2 hours online guided discussion + 6 hours independent study per week.
Sem 1 – OS-CHI-DE: 24 contact hours over 3 block days + 2 hours online tutorial + 2 hours online guided discussion + 6 hours independent study per week.
Sem 2 - DE mode: 2 hours online lectures (recorded) + 2 hours online tutorial + 2 hours online guided discussion + 6 hours of independent study per week.
Sem 2 - DAY mode: 4 face-to-face contact hours (2 hours lecture and 2 hours tutorial) + 2 hours online guided discussion + 6 hours independent study per week.
Learning resources
Required resources
See Moodle for details about required resources.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Andrew Forbes
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor MD Baki Billah
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for MPH5041?
MPH5041 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
What can I take after MPH5041?
MPH5041 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 5 units, including MPH5040, MPH5213, MPH5236, MPH5239 and MPH5289. Those lead on to 19 units in all.
When is MPH5041 offered?
In 2022, MPH5041 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Alfred Hospital and Suzhou (SEU), with an online option.
Does MPH5041 have an exam?
No. MPH5041 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.