1. Aim of the course:
The aim of the subject is to give an introduction to biostatistical methods, which can be used in different braches of medicine to solve biostatistical problems and to evaluate experimental results. In addition to providing a solid thoeretical foundation the course will also introduce the students to the art and science of performing the simplest calculations.
2. Short description of the course:
Mathematical introduction to the biophysics and biostatistics course (functions, plotting measurments data, fitting, determination of slope, area under the curve, integration). Counting techniques. Set theory, probability, conditional probability, Bayes theorem. Descriptive statistics (determination of mean, median, mode, standard deviation from data set, histograms, box-and-whisker plot). Discrete and continuous random variables; cumulative distribution function, density function. Binomial, Poisson and normal distributions. Sampling techniques and characterization of samples; biased and unbiased estimate, the central limit theorem. Hypothesis testing (z, t, F and chi2 tests). Clinical implications of conditional probability, epidemiologic investigations.
3. Type of the exam:
Colloquium. The final exam can be taken during the exam period of the second semester, but only for those students whose signing of the lecture book has already been accepted.
4. Requirements for the Biostatistics course:
4.1. Lectures:
Attendance to lectures is advised. If a student is present on every lecture, he/she receives 10 bonus points which is added to the result of part B of the final exam and/or the course test (see section 4.4). Attendance to the lectures will be checked randomly. The student will lose the 10 bonus points, obtainable for attendance to every biostatistics lecture, if he/she misses one of the lectures. No kind of certificate, including a medical certificate, is accepted for the absences. Students who complete the colloquium at the end of the second semester as part of the examination course will not be entitled to 10 bonus points, even if they have already listened to the subject and have a valid signature (see section 4.4).
The bonus points for students is valid only for the course in which they have been achieved, i.e. they are not valid for repeated courses or exam courses.
4.2. Seminars:
Attendance to seminars is mandatory. Students must not miss more than two (2) seminars. No kind of certificates, including a medical certificate, are accepted for the absences. Making up for missed classes is not possible.
4.3. Conditions for signing the lecture book:
Signing of the lecture book is denied if there are more than 2 absences from groupwise seminars.
4.4. Grade-offering course test and exam:
Students will write a grade-offering course test between weeks 12-13. The structure of this test will be identical to that of the final exam.
Usually exams will be held once a week during the exam period. The exam is written. The structure of the final exam:
- part A: minimum requirement questions and short calculations (descriptive statistics, binomial and Poisson distribution, normal distribution, etc.). Maximum score of part A is 40 points.
- part B: test questions (true or false questions, multiple choice questions, fill-in questions, open-ended questions ), assay questions, calculations, graphs. Maximum score of part B is 100 points.
- If the score of part A is less than 75% (30 out of 40 points), the student fails the grade-offering test or the final exam. Bonus points for lecture attendance are not added to the result of part A. If a student passes part A (i.e. the score is larger than or equal to 75%) on an exam or the grade-offering course test, the result is valid for his/her subsequent exam chances, i.e. it does not have to be retaken.
- If the result of part A is less than 75%, part B is not evaluated (except for a C chance exam). If the student passes part A, bonus points (10p) for lecture attendance are added to the score of part B (max 100p) resulting in a final score (max 110p), which does not contain the score of part A. Based on this final score the following grades are offered:
- FS<55 fail
- 55≤FS<65 pass
- 65≤FS<75 satisfactory
- 75≤FS<85 good
- 85≤FS excellent
Evaluation of the grade-offering test and the final exam is identical.
A grade of 2 or better achieved on the grade-offering test is valid for the final exam.
The bonus points for lecture attendance and the exemption from retaking part A of the exam are only valid for the course in which they have been achieved, i.e. they are not valid for repeated courses or exam courses.
5. Reading materials:
Wayne W. Daniel: Biostatistics, A foundation for Analysis in the Health Sciences, John Wiley&Sons
6. Exemptions:
Requests for exemptions from the biostatistics course have to be turned in to the Credit Transfer Committee. Such requests cannot be directly turned in to the Biomathematics Division or the Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology.
7. Information for repeaters:
For repeaters the attendance on seminars is not compulsory. Credits achieved in a semester cannot be transfered to other semesters. Therefore, students repeating the course are subject to the same rules and requirements as those taking the course for the first time.
8. Rules for C-chance exams:
If the result of the written part of a C-chance exam is at least a pass (2) according to the rules pertaining to A- and B-chance exams, the grade of the C-chance exam will be what is to be offered based on the rules of the A- and B-chance exams. Part B of the written part of a C-chance exam will be scored even if the score of part A is less than 75%. If the result of a C-chance exam is a fail (the score of part A is less than 75% or the grade of part B with the bonus points is a fail), the written part will be followed by an oral exam. In this case the grade of the C-chance exam will be determined by the result of the written test and the performance on the oral exam.
9. Rules for calculator:
Rules for calculator usage during course tests and the final examination In order to ensure a fair evaluation, to avoid disturbances in the testing room, and to protect the security of the test material the following types of calculators are NOT permitted: - calculators with built-in computer algebra systems (capable of simplifying algebraic expressions) - pocket organizers, handheld or laptop computers - any device capable of storing text. Calculators with a typewriter keypad (so-called QWERTY devices), electronic writing pads and pen-input devices are not allowed either. Calculators with letters on the keys (e.g. for entering hexadecimal numbers or variable names) are permitted as long as the keys are not arranged in QWERTY format. - calculators or other devices capable of communicating with other devices - calculators built into wireless phones - calculators with paper tape or models that make noise In general, students may use any four-function, scientific or graphing calculator except as specified above. Sharing calculators during tests is not allowed, and the test proctor will not provide a calculator.
Revison! - valid: from 4th of Sept, 2020
According to the current rules by the Dean the requirements for the subject Biostatistics are modified as follows:
4.1. Lecture:
Attendance to the lectures will not be checked therefore, the students will not receive 10 bonus points even if they are present on every lecture.
4.4 Mid-year (dissertation dissertation) and colloquium:
If the student passes part A, no bonus points for lecture attendance are added to the score of part B resulting in a final score (FS, max 100p), which does not contain the score of part A. Based on this final score (FS) the following grades are offered:
- FS<50 fail
- 50≤FS<60 pass
- 60≤FS<70 satisfactory
- 70≤FS<80 good
- 80≤FS excellent
Evaluation of the grade-offering test and the final exam is identical.
8. Rules for examination C:
There is no oral part of the C chance exam. The grade for the C exam is given according to the rules for the A and B exams, In this case the grade of the C-chance exam will only be determined by the result of the written test.