The course aims to provide essential competencies for understanding and applying the principles of statistics in the field of medical sciences. It is designed to develop the ability to analyze quantitative data, interpret the results of scientific studies, and make informed decisions based on statistical evidence.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
Explain the fundamental concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics, including the definition and classification of variables, measures of central tendency and dispersion, and probability distributions. Describe the process of statistical inference, including hypothesis formulation, data collection and analysis, and hypothesis testing. Apply descriptive statistical methods to summarize and visualize data relevant to the medical field. Perform basic inferential statistical analyses to draw conclusions from empirical data. Critically appraise scientific articles, with particular emphasis on the interpretation of statistical results.
Course Prerequisites
No specific prerequisites beyond those required for admission to the degree program are expected, as the course is scheduled in the first year.
Teaching Methods
The course combines lectures with practical activities. Lectures are supported by the projection of course handouts, which are made available to students at the beginning of the course. Some lectures include collective "quick tests" followed by group discussion. Throughout the course, homework assignments are given, to be completed individually and then corrected in class, in order to prepare students for the exercises included in the final exam. Both the quick tests and the homework corrections allow students to self-assess their learning while also enabling the instructor to monitor the class's overall progress. The final lecture is devoted to the critical appraisal of a scientific article on a topic relevant to the degree program; the article is made available to students at least one week in advance. This activity is also preparatory to the exam, in which students will be asked to interpret the main results from a table taken from a scientific article.
Assessment Methods
The assessment consists of a computer-based written exam composed of multiple-choice questions, lasting 60 minutes. The exam will evaluate knowledge of the core concepts covered in the course, the ability to interpret the results of statistical tests, the correct application of descriptive statistical methods to practical problems, and the accurate interpretation of graphs and tables from scientific articles. The final grade will be expressed on a scale of thirty (out of 30).
Contents
Lectures will cover the following topics:
The scientific method and applications of statistics in the medical sciences The concept of variables, frequency calculation, and frequency distributions Descriptive statistics: measures of central tendency and symmetry, measures of dispersion, graphical representation of data The concept of probability and probability distributions, notable probability distributions Statistical inference, hypothesis testing procedures, p-value and its interpretation Critical appraisal of scientific articles, with particular emphasis on the interpretation of results
Course Language
French
More information
Students are encouraged to ask questions during lectures to clarify any doubts. The instructor is also available for individual meetings by appointment, to be arranged via email: emanuelemaria.giusti@uninsubria.it
