University of Maryland College Park School of Public Health HLTH 300 Biostatistics for Public Health Practice Semester: Spring 2014 Classroom: BLDG3 III 2206/BLDG3 III 2225 Time: M 9:00am 11:50am/2:00pm 4:50pm Instructor: Dr. Raul Cruz Cano Office: BLDG3 III 5129 Phone: (301)405 0560 Email: raulcruz@umd.edu Website: http://brac.umd.edu/~raulcruz/ Office Hours: M 1:00 pm 2:00pm /5:00 pm 6:00 pm Required Texts and Other Readings: Required textbook: Elementary Statistics in Social Research, 12 th Edition by Jack Levin, James Alan Fox, and David R. Forde, 2013 Pearson Publications, ISBN 13: 978 0 205 84548 4 Additional Materials Required: Scientific calculator. Course Description: This course is an introduction to Biostatistics. Statistics uses probability, logic, and mathematics to make sense of the social world. This course focuses on social and behavioral data to understand health topics. Throughout this course, students will be exposed to a variety of statistical techniques so they can develop a basic understanding of how to appropriately analyze data to answer public health research questions. Course Learning Objectives: Upon completing this course, the student will be able to: 1. Distinguish between data and inferences from data. 2. Choose and apply appropriate analytic approaches to answer real world research questions. 3. Communicate the findings from statistical analyses. 4. Utilize descriptive statistics appropriate to the measurement scale. 4.1. Understand basic mathematical and measurement concepts. 4.2. Construct and compare frequency distributions. 4.3. Compute and interpret measures of central tendency and variability. 5. Apply inferential statistics appropriate to the type of data and study design. 5.1. Describe and apply concepts of probability and probability distributions. 5.2. Understand and conduct hypothesis testing. 5.3. Select and use the appropriate inferential test depending on scaling of data, experimental design, number of groups, and violation of assumptions. 6. Systematically evaluate results for accuracy, limitations, and relevance to public health. Program Competencies Addressed in this Course: The following competencies are addressed in this course: 1. Apply appropriate research principles and methods in health education
2. Describe and compare public health data 3. Correctly analyze and interpret public health data Course Requirements: Because statistics is not an easy subject, this course requires students to learn difficult concepts and demonstrate proficient application of the skills required by the Mathematics Fundamental Studies requirement. To be successful, students will need to be able to do some basic algebra and other basic mathematical operations. It is important to note that the material students will learn is cumulative. Thus, students want to be careful not to fall behind. Therefore, I have built in assignments and quizzes throughout the semester to ensure students are keeping up with the material. Lectures: Material covered on quizzes and exams will be presented during class. Students are expected to attend every class. If a student misses a class, he/she will be missing exposure to key concepts. PowerPoint slides will be available online; however, students will not be successful in the course, if they are not in class to hear the lectures and do the practice problems with classmates. Quizzes: There might be multiple pop quizzes throughout the semester. They will be administered in class without notice and will be based on readings from the text. Homework Assignments: There are ten homework assignments that correspond to chapters in the textbook. Exams: There will be four exams during the semester, and they will be administered in class. Students will need to bring their own calculator to the exams. Course Policies: Absence Policy: In accordance with university policy, if you are absent for a single lecture due to illness or some form of personal or family emergency, this absence will be considered excused, and I will accept a note from you, attesting to the date of the illness/incident, along with an acknowledgement that the information is true. Whenever feasible, you should contact me in advance. Multiple or prolonged absences, and absences that prevent attendance at a major scheduled grading event like a quiz or exam or test, will require written documentation from an appropriate health care provider/organization. Make up exams will be given only when the student has a University recognized absence. If an exam is to be missed for a legitimate reason the student must contact me prior to the exam. If an exam is missed due to unforeseen circumstances on the day of the exam, the student must contact me within 24 hours of the missed exam. Official documentation of the excuse must be provided. If a student misses an exam for any unauthorized reason he/she will receive a grade of zero for that exam. For complete information on the university s absence policy see: http://www.president.umd.edu/policies/v100g.html 2
Religious Observances: The University System of Maryland policy provides that students should not be penalized because of observances of their religious beliefs; students shall be given an opportunity, whenever feasible, to make up within a reasonable time any academic assignment that is missed due to individual participation in religious observances. It is the student s responsibility to inform me in advance of any intended absences for religious observance. Special Accommodations / Disability Support Services: If a student has a documented disability and wishes to discuss academic accommodations for test taking or other needs, please obtain documentation from Disability Support Service (301 314 7682). In case of illness or personal difficulties, please let me know as soon as possible. Students can also contact Learning Assistance Services (301 314 7693) and/or the Counseling Center (301 314 7651) for assistance. Academic Integrity: The University's code of academic integrity is designed to ensure that the principle of academic honesty is upheld. Any of the following acts, when committed by a student, constitutes academic dishonesty: CHEATING: intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in an academic exercise. FABRICATION: intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise. FACILITATING ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to violate any provision of this code. PLAGIARISM: intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one's own in any academic exercise. For more information see: http://www.shc.umd.edu/code.html. The Honor Pledge is a statement undergraduate and graduate students should be asked to sign on examinations, papers, or other academic assignments. The Pledge reads: I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this assignment/examination. The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. Students are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very important for students to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit http://www.shc.umd.edu. Statement on Classroom Disruptions/Code of Conduct: The success of this class is dependent not only on my abilities as an instructor to communicate new and complicated ideas, it is also dependent on our ability as a class to work together to create an environment conducive to learning. As a department and university, we expect the faculty and students to be prepared for class, be respectful, and to be actively engaged in the classroom activities. Unfortunately, disruptive behaviors in the classroom cheat other students of opportunities to learn. The University of Maryland s Code of Academic Integrity defines classroom disruption as behavior a reasonable person would view as substantially or repeatedly interfering with the conduct of the class. Examples include coming late to class, repeatedly leaving or entering the classroom, making loud or 3
distracting noises, persisting in speaking without being recognized, using cell phones and blackberries, reading outside materials, sleeping, and conducting side conversations. If a student engages in repeated participation in any of these activities in lecture or discussion, the student will be asked to leave. Inclement Weather / University Closings: In the event that the University is closed for an emergency, I will communicate to students regarding schedule adjustments, including rescheduling of exams and assignments due to inclement weather and campus emergencies. Official closures and delays are announced on the campus website (http://www.umd.edu) and snow phone line (301 405 SNOW), as well as local radio and TV stations. Email The Official University Correspondence: Verify your email address by going to www.my.umd.edu. All enrolled students are provided access to the University s email system and an email account. All official University email communication will be sent to this email address (or an alternate address if provided by the student). Email has been adopted as the primary means for sending official communications to students, so email must be checked on a regular basis. Academic advisors, faculty, and campus administrative offices use email to communicate important and time sensitive notices. Students are responsible for keeping their email address up to date or for redirecting or forwarding email to another address. Failure to check email, errors in forwarding email, and returned email (from full mailbox or unknown user errors for example), will not excuse a student from missing University announcement, messages, deadlines, etc. Email addresses can be quickly and easily updated at www.my.umd.edu or in person at the Student Service Counter on the first floor of the Mitchell Building. For technical support for University email visit www.helpdesk.umd.edu or call OIT at 301 405 1400. Grading Procedures: Grades will be based on the exams, quizzes, and assignments. Exams (15% each, 4 total) 60% Quizzes/Homework Assignments (Each will be equally weighted) 40% 100% Final letter grades will be assigned according to the following system: A+ = 97+ A = 93 96 A = 90 92 B+ = 87 89 B = 83 86 B = 80 82 C+ = 77 79 C = 73 76 C = 70 72 D+ = 67 9 D = 63 66 D = 60 62 F = below 60 If a student has questions or concerns about grade(s) and believes I should review the grade, the student 4
should submit a written request over email to me that describes concerns in detail. This request must be submitted within one week of the date that grades for that assignment are disseminated. Emails: Due to the volume of emails that the professor receives, please use the subject line HLTH 300 whenever you send an email. If you do not get a response, it may have gone to junk mail so please check. Available Support Services: Learning Assistance Services offers the Academic Success Workshop series to help students become successful active learners. Workshops focus on helping students manage their time, and improve their approach to studying and learning in UMD at Shady Grove. Additional information about tutoring services available at the University of Maryland can be found at: http://www.tutoring.umd.edu/ Additional Literature, Websites and Other Resources: There are numerous good statistical resources on the internet that can help you review topics covered in class. Some websites I find particularly helpful are: http://faculty1.coloradocollege.edu/~mduncombe/web/statoverview.htm http://onlinestatbook.com/rvls.html Course Outline / Course Calendar DATE TOPIC READING HW DUE 1/27/2014 Introduction to Statistics Chapter 1 2/3/2014 Health Data and Data Distributions Chapter 2 HW#1 2/10/2014 Measures of Central Tendency Chapter 3 HW#2 2/17/2014 Measures of Variability Chapter 4 HW#3 2/24/2014 Exam 1 (Chapters 1 4) 3/3/2015 Probability and The Normal Curve Chapter 5 HW#4 3/10/2015 Samples and Populations/ Confidence Chapter 6 HW#5 l 3/24/2014 Exam 2 (Chapter 5 & 6) 3/31/2014 Hypothesis Testing and T tests Chapter 7 HW#6 4/7/2014 ANOVA Chapter 8 HW#7 4/14/2014 Chi Square Analyses Chapter 9 HW#8 4/21/2014 Exam 3 (Chapters 7 9) 4/28/2014 Correlation Chapter 10 HW#9 5/5/2014 Regression Chapter 11 HW#10 5/12/2014 Review HW#11 Final Exam Day Final Exam (Chapters 1 11) 5