Course Title: Biostatistics

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Biostatistics

Credit Points: 12

Course Coordinator: Dr Anthony Bedford

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 6119

Course Coordinator Email:anthony.bedford@rmit.edu.au

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

This course assumes that you have:
*Basic IT skills including web browsing, e-mail, Windows based program usage, and the ability to use a word-processor for report writing.
*Fundamental mathematical skills to a graduate high-school standard.
*A basic knowledge of medical terminology.

Course Description

This course aims to deliver you with the skills needed to analyse data specifically in a medical context. It covers both statistical and epidemiological techniques using a computer based approached, with all methods described from their foundation.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Upon completion of this subject you should be able to:
evaluate basic methods of investigating and collecting statistical information; 
evaluate and analyze basic statistical data; 
demonstrate an ability to analyze and interpret epidemiological, health monitoring and laboratory data using methods studied in the subject;
present data in a useful and clear manner using a computer statistics package ;
communicate the information gained from statistical analyses in an effective way; 
explain concepts, constructs and principles foundational to epidemiology ;
apply basic and advanced statistical methods to epidemiological data ;
read, interpret and communicate epidemiological findings in medical literature ;
use the internet and a computer statistics package effectively to obtain data and conduct statistical analysis.

Overview of Learning Activities

This course is delivered online using myRMIT studies. This will give you access to staff communication tools, blogs, the teaching schedule, lecture materials, suggested reading, the assignment and its data, laboratory material, assessment timelines and past exam papers. The course features case study videos, video demonstrations, labs and blogs all conducted online. This online material will make your individual study activity more flexible. Weekly exercises are given that are submitted online to check understanding and to provide additional information. You are encouraged to spend up to 4 hours per week working on the suggested exercises on their own from the prescribed text.

Overview of Learning Resources

You will be contacted regarding their software requirements. It is advisable that students have a scientific calculator.

You must make use of the course site on myRMIT studies, which includes announcements, course documents (lecture material, assignments), tests, lab work, past exams and a discussion board. 

Overview of Assessment

The assessment of this course is based on the following tasks: 

 Web tests conducted during the semester

Weekly exercises / assignment/s

Project