Public Health: Biostatistics I:App Rsch in PH (OL1)

About PH 6030 OL1

Biostatistics I (Applied Research Methods in Public Health) includes biostatistics, research designs, and qualitative approaches, and includes emphasis on evaluating research articles in public health. Pre/co-requisites: College-level Mathematics course; Bachelor's degree.

Notes

Open to graduate-level students; All other students require instructor permission; Must submit the request at: http://go.uvm.edu/phcourses Students will be notified if permission is granted; Contact student Advisor, Pallas Ziporyn at Pallas.Ziporyn@uvm.edu for any questions; Asynchronous online

Section Description

This course aims to help students develop the basic data analysis and statistical thinking skills
required to perform research in the field of public health. The course is designed for students with
a wide variety of skills and backgrounds relating to public health research, ranging for people
already working as researchers to individuals, who are very new to the field. Students who
successfully complete this course are prepared to take more advanced quantitative public health
courses, such as Biostatistics II

This introductory course includes multiple ways to learn this topic over six weeks: Brief instructor narratives and course content presented as Articulate Rise (AR), textbook readings, videos and PowerPoint presentations, group discussions and problem sets (also called practice problems) for a series of statistical topics relevant for public health research, healthcare and practice. The course uses the SPSS, a statistical software package, which is free to UVM students and that students will download during the first week of class. We occasionally point students towards Khan Academy or other videos and online resources.

This course is designed to enhance students’ understanding of commonly used statistical tests. To enhance and substantiate this understanding, commonly used tests are thoroughly covered and practiced. Hence, after completion of this course, we anticipate that students will be able to utilize these statistical tests as applicable and properly analyze quantitative published literature.

Course Objectives:
• Demonstrate a mastery of the statistical concepts and research methods that underlie
biostatistics for public health
• Be able to communicate clearly and effectively about the types of data that are used in
applied public health research
• Be able to describe the basic statistical tools that are used in applied public health
research, and which tools should be used with specific types of data or study designs
• Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public
health context
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using SPSS statistical software, as appropriate

Section Expectation

Credits: 3 credit hours
Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree and college-level mathematics course
Meeting Place & Time: Fully online course presented as a series of content modules

Required Text and/or Materials:
Essentials of Biostatistics in Public Health (4th edition) by Lisa Sullivan, PhD. (URL link:
https://ezproxy.uvm.edu/login?url=http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/vermontdana-
ebooks/detail.action?docID=30514386). According to the publisher, purchasing the textbook
gets students access to online resources called “Navigate 2 Advantage Access.” As per the instructor’s
email communication with the Dana library, only 9 students can access the electronic text via this link (please see above) simultaneously. However, hard copies of the textbook are available via Dana Library Reserve with a default loan period of 2 hours, with a maximum 3-day limit.

Software: The software packages needed for this course are SPSS version 26 or later
(available for free to students, and please refer to Module 1 for guidance), Microsoft Word and
Adobe Acrobat or equivalent software for reading and creating PDFs. For the best performance
of the UVM Brightspace system, we recommend students use Firefox or Chrome as the web
browser for course-related work. The PDF reader/maker software used enables students to
read materials available on Brightspace as well as to create PDFs of materials submitted to the course Brightspace website.

Other Materials: Additionally, students might consider obtaining other items, such as speakers,
headphones, or cell phones to hear and/or comment on audio or video recordings. However, it is
not required that students obtain any of these items.

Optional text and/or Materials: The required textbook comes with an access code
to accompany online material. This material includes an e-version of the
textbook, workbook exercises, and notes pages. Students might find the online material
useful and are encouraged to review it, but it is not required for the course

Evaluation

Grades for most Practice Problem Assignments will be based on completion and timely submission. However, for certain Practice Problem Assignments accuracy of work submitted will be evaluated. SPSS Assignments are graded based on timely submission, completion and accuracy. All quizzes are open book, notes and Brightspace materials and will be graded based on accuracy, timely submission and completion.

Important Dates

Courses may be cancelled due to low enrollment. Show your interest by enrolling.

Resources

• Parking
• PACE Course Pricing
• Textbooks
• Summer University Pricing
• Summer Housing