Statistical Methods in Public Health

Abstract

Statistics is the study of concept based on probability to answer research question scientifically and objectively using evidence-based approaches. Statistical concept includes identifying target population, deciding minimum desired sample size, sampling approaches for selecting sampling unit from sampling frame, collecting quality data, classifying, and summarizing data, and analyzing data for generalizing results from the sample to population. Greater emphasis to evidence-based approaches is required to measure important indictors of health to find solution of public health problems. Evidence-based approaches need principles of scientific reasoning, and statistics fulfills this need by providing objective assessment. The aim of this chapter is to give public health researchers a basic understanding of the key terms, methods, and procedures of statistics in exploring answers to public health problems. Basic concepts of populations, samples, sampling, probability and random sampling, variables and their types, and data summarization techniques are explained. The concepts of probability distributions, sampling variability, standard errors, and confidence intervals are discussed to extend or generalize findings from the sample to target population. Comparative analysis is discussed via describing test statistics concept, hypothesis testing steps, null and alternative hypothesis, two types of error, level of significance, and p value. Under comparative analysis comparing proportions or percentages, comparing means, analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation, and regression is explained. Overall, the emphasis of the chapter is on acquiring an understanding of the appropriate use of statistical concepts in addressing public health issues.KeywordsStatisticsPublic healthVariablesDataPopulationSampleSamplingDescriptiveProbability distributionsStandard errorConfidence intervalsInferentialHypothesis testingCorrelationRegression