Statistical Reasoning in Public Health I (140.611)

First Term, 2009-2010


Course time: Tuesday and Thursday, 10:30 - 11:50 am
Course room: Becton-Dickinson Auditorium (W1020, Wolfe Street Building)
Related Web Pages: Course Schedule :  up to date course schedule, as well as .pdf copies of everything handed out in class.
Homeworks/Exam Solutions:  Also includes a comprehensive set of review questions and solutions. Homework/exam solutions posted after due date/exam date.
Narrated Streaming Lectures This page contains links for the narrated slides used in the distance ed version of the class, plus practice exercises!
Lecture Recordings:  relive the class experience via your IPOD! Digitized versions of in class lectures.
Instructor: John McGready
Teaching Assistants: Taki Shinohara and Vidya Venugopal .
Office hours: John McG :     12:15-1:30 pm, Tuesday and Thursday: Room W4007 Wolfe St
Taki:               12:15-1:15 pm, Wednesday: Room W4007 Wolfe St
Vidya:              5:00-6:00 pm, Tuesday: Room W4007 Wolfe St
Brief Course Description: This introductory course is intended to provide students with a broad overview of biostatistical methods and concepts used in the public health sciences. The emphasis is on interpretation and concepts rather than calculations or mathematical details.
Prerequisites: Basic algebra skills, and an interest in understanding biostatistical methods at a conceptual level.
Course Readings: Readings via e-reserves
CLICK HERE:  to access course ereserves.
Reference Textbooks
Practical Statistics For Medical Research, Douglas Altman. (1991)
Introduction to the Practice of Statistics, David Moore, George McCabe. (2003)
Statistics, David Freeman, Robert Pisani, Roger Purves. (1998)
Intuitive Biostatistics, Harvey Motulsky. (1995)
Fundamentals of Biostatistics,Bernard Rosner. (2000)
Principles of Biostatistics, Marcello Pagano , Kimberlee Gauvreau. (2000)
All of the above textbooks are on reserve at the Lilienfeld Library (Hampton House, 9th floor)
Grades: Grades will be based on four homework assignments (16.7% each for the best 3 of 4 assignment scores, 50% total), 2 quizzes (12.5% each, 25% total) and 1 final examination (25%) .
The homework portion of your course grade will be based on the highest 3 of 4 assigment scores! Homework assignments must be handed in on time. Homeworks must be typed or word-processed. You may discuss ways to approach homework with other students or TAs. However, each homework project must be your own independent work. Homeworks may be handed in at lecture on the due date or by due date and time in the collection box located across from the Biostatistics main office, Room E-3527. Solutions will be posted to the course webpage shortly after the due date and time.
Quizzes and Final Exam
These will be closed book. Quiz 1 and Quiz 2 will each count for 12.5% of the final grade, and the final will count 25%. The quizzes will be about 40-45 minutes, and you will have up to 90 minutes to complete the final exam.
Missed Quizzes : There are no make-up quizzes. If you miss a quiz for a medical or other serious reason, please give notice to John McGready.