Syllabus

Download hardcopy of 2022 syllabus here

Instructor:

Instructor: Carol Bigelow, PhD
School of Public Health
402 Arnold House
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003
tel: 413/545-1319
email: cbigelow@schoolph.umass.edu

Course Description

This course his course is the first of a two semester sequence of biostatistics:  BIOSTATS 540 – Introductory Biostatistics and BIOSTATS 640 – Intermediate Biostatistics. Minimal mathematical background (algebra) is required.  No worries; logarithms and exponents will be reviewed as needed.  The goal of BIOSTATS 540 is basic statistical literacy. The goal of BIOSTATS 540 is basic statistical literacy. We will explore the ideas of variability in nature and the tools we use for its description.  The distinctions between systematic versus chance variability will be detailed. Concepts in simple random sampling and sampling distributions will be introduced.  You will learn selected methods of data summarization, estimation, and hypothesis testing.

Topics include:  data summarization and visualization, chance, sampling distributions, chance and  selected probability models (the Bernoulli, binomial, and normal), confidence interval estimation, statistical significance and its limitations, and the basics of statistical hypothesis testing.  I will also provide an introduction to chi square tests, simple linear regression and correlation.

ADA Accomodation

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is committed to making reasonable, effective and appropriate accomodations to meet the needs of students with disabilities and help create a barrier-free campus.

If you have a disability and require accommodations, please register with Disability Services to have an accomodation letter sent to me. Information on services and materials for registering are available on their website at www.umass.edu/disability.

If, because of a disability, you may require special arrangements in order to meet course requirements, please contact me as soon as possible at cbigelow@schoolph.umass.edu and we will make the necessary arrangements.

Policies on Classes and Work Missed for Extenuating Circumstances

Per University of Massachusetts Academic Regulations, “Students absent due to extenuating circumstances-including jury duty, military obligations, scheduled activities for other classes, the death of a family member, or verifiable health-related incapacity-remain responsible for meeting all class requirements and contacting the faculty member in a timely fashion about making up missed work. Faculty shall offer such students reasonable assistance in making up missed classes (i.e., making arrangements for attendance at labs or discussion sections which meet at other times; providing makeup exams or labs where feasible or offer mutually agreeable alternatives to make up work).”  If any extenuating circumstances prevent you from completing any work, please contact me as soon as possible (email:  cbigelow@schoolph.umass.edu) so that we can make alternative arrangement

Getting Started with Remote Learning

This semester I will be offering Zoom meetings.  If you are new to remote learning, please be sure to familiarize yourself with the following resources and technologies before the first week of class (Wednesday – Tuesday, September 7-13, 2022).

__1.  Public Course Website:  https://people.umass.edu/~biep540w/
__2.  UMass Amherst Blackboard Learn:  https://uma.umassonline.net/webapps/login/#
         Resource for Learning Blackboard Learn:
         (source:  Rowan University, Campbell Library)  Blackboard Tutorials for Students
__3.  UMass Amherst Zoom Login:  https://www.umass.edu/it/zoom
         Resource for Learning Zoom:
         (source:  https://support.zoom.us) Zoom Video Tutorials
         Tip:  Be sure to watch these two tutorials, here:  “Join a Meeting” and “Meeting Controls”

Course Units, Objectives and Outcome Competencies

Units. This course has 12 units.
1. Summarizing Data
2. Data Visualization
3. Probability: Basics
4. Probabilities in Epidemiology
5. Populations and Samples
6. Bernoulli and Binomial Distributions
7. Normal Distribution
8. Statistical Literacy - Introduction to Estimation and Hypothesis Testing
9. One Sample Inference
10. Two Sample Inference
11. Chi Square Tests
12. Simple Linear Regression and Correlation

Objectives.
By the end of this course, you should be able to perform, interpret, and communicate the findings of selected simple statistical analyses of biological and health data, including description, confidence interval estimation and hypothesis testing.

Outcome Competencies
The specific outcome competencies include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Explain why we need biostatistics;
2. Distinguish among the different measurement scales and explain why these distinctions matter;
3. Produce basic, numerical, summaries of data;
4. Produce basic, graphical, summaries of data;
5. Explain basic concepts of randomness and probability;
6. Compute and interpret basic statistics computed from 2x2 tables of epidemiological data;
7. Describe selected probability distributions: Uniform, Bernoulli, Binomial, Normal, Student-T, F, and Chi Square;
8. Computer and interpret confidence intervals and hypothesis tests in selected settings: single sample, single sample paired data, and two indpendent samples;
9. Interpret the results of statistical analyses found in selected, basic, public health studies; and
10. Interpret vital statistics and public health records.


Textbook, Software and Internet Resources

Textbook.
This course has NO required textbook. However, if you are looking for a reference, I recommend the book, Introductory Statistics for the Life and Biomedical Sciences, First Edition by Julie Vu and David Harrington. It's freely available. See below.

1) Recommended
Vu J and Harrington D
Introductory Statistics for the Life and Biomedical Sciences, First Edition
Version date: August 8, 2021
Download for free at:
https://openintro.org/book/biostat/

2) A very reader friendly resource, very basic, for those of you dreading this course
Triola MM and Triola MF
Biostatistics for the Biological and Health Sciences
Pearson Addison Wesley
2006
ISBN 0-321-19436-5

Software
We will be using R Studio and ArtofStat.  Again, you are not required to use R.

R Users:  I will provide everything you need to obtain and install R and RStudio before the course begins.  You do not need to do anything before the course starts.

ArtofStat Users:  Similarly, there is nothing you need to do prior to the course start. If you are interested in looking around, visit www.artofstat.com.  From the welcome page, click on Online Web Apps.  Scroll and explore.


Internet Resources

Fall 2022 Biostatistics Site
https://people.umass.edu/~biep540w/


Important Dates to Remember

First week of class	Wednesday-Tuesday September 7-13, 2022
Last Day to Drop with No Record	Monday September 19, 2022
Last Day to Drop with "DR"	Tuesday November 1, 2022
Last Class	Monday December 12, 2022
Final Exam Due	Monday December 19, 2022

 

 

 

 

Course Schedule (Units, Homeworks, and Exams)

Units and Homeworks (13 weeks). Please note. Sorry, I do not post materials ahead of schedule

Week	Dates	Unit	Homework Posting and Due Dates
1	Wednesday - Tuesday September 7-13, 2022	Course Introduction	No homework this week. Use this time to access artofstat.com or R and R Studio.
2	Wednesday - Tuesday September 14-20, 2022	1 - Summarizing Data	Posted Wednesday September 14, 2022 Due Friday September 23, 2022
3	Wednesday - Tuesday September 21-27, 2022	2 - Data Visualization	Posted Wednesday September 21, 2022 Due Friday September 30, 2022
4	Wednesday - Tuesday September 28 -October 4, 2022	3 - Basic Probability	Posted Wednesday September 28, 2022 Due Friday October 7, 2022
5	Wednesday - Tuesday October 5-11, 2022	4 - Probabilities in Epidemiology	Posted Wednesday October 5, 2022 Due Friday October 14, 2022
6	Wednesday - Tuesday October 12-18, 2022	5 - Populations & Samples	Posted Wednesday October 12, 2022 Due Friday October 21, 2022
7	Wednesday - Tuesday October 19-25, 2022	6 - Bernoulli & Binomial	Posted Wednesday October 19, 2022 Due Friday October 28, 2022
8	Wednesday - Tuesday October 26 - November 1, 2022	7 - Normal Distribution	Posted Wednesday October 26, 2022 Due Friday November 4, 2022
9	Wednesday - Tuesday November 2-8, 2022	8 - Statistical Literacy: Estimation and Testing	Posted Wednesday November 2, 2022 Due Friday November 11, 2022
10	Wednesday - Tuesday November 9-15, 2022	9 - One Sample Inference	Posted Wednesday November 9, 2022 Due Friday November 18, 2022
11	Wednesday - Tuesday November 16-29, 2022	10 - Two Sample Inference	Posted Wednesday November 16, 2022 Due Friday December 2, 2022
	Wednesday - Friday November 23-25, 2022		Happy Thanksgiving
12	Wednesday - Tuesday November 30 - December 6, 2022	11 - Chi Square Tests	There is no homework for unit 11
13	Wednesday - Tuesday December 7-12, 2022	12 - Simple Linear Regression	There is no homework for unit 12
	Final Exam Due		Monday December 19, 2022 Exam 3 (Final) due

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exams. Again, sorry. I do not exams ahead of schedule

Exam	Units Tested	Posting Date	Due Date
1	1 - Summarizing Data 2 - Data Visualization You will not be tested on Unit 3.	Monday September 26, 2022	Monday October 10, 2022 Late submission, with -10 points Wednesday October 12, 2022 Last day for submission (-20 points) Monday October 17, 2022
2	4 - Probabilities in Epidemiology 5 - Populations & Samples 6 - Bernoulli & Binomial 7 - Normal Distribution	Monday October 31, 2022	Monday November 14, 2022 Late submission, with -10 points Wednesday November 16, 2022 Last day for submission (-20 pointts) Monday November 21, 2022
3	8 - Statistical Literacy 9 - One Sample Inference 10 - Two Sample Inference You will not be tested on Unit 11 or 12	Monday November 28, 2022	Monday December 19, 2022 Last day for submission (-10 points) Wednesday December 21, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Expectations (Instructor, Teaching Assistants, and Students)

Instructor I will respond to emails and Blackboard messages and discusions every day, except Saturdays I will provide a regularly scheduled Zoom meeting office hour to be determined I will also be available for office hours by appointment, as appropriate.

Teaching Assistants (TAs) TAs will respond to emails and Blackboard messages and discussions every day, except Saturdays TAs will record homework submissions within one week of their due date TAs will respond to questions in homework submissions within one week of their due date

Students Attendance is not required Students will abide by the University policy on academic dishonesty Students will abide by the course policy on late submissions To earn full credit on the homeworks, students must submit 8 homework assignments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grade Determination

Course Score Determination
Your course grade will be determined from completion of 8 sets of homework (pass/fail) together with your scores
on 3 tests, as follows.

	Percent of Grade
Homeworks Your course lecture notes have embedded homework questions. To hear full credit for your homeworks, you must complete eight (8) homeworks. Please note. I provide you with the solutions. Thus, the "homeworks" are a participation activity, rather than an evaluation. Full credit (score of 100) will be given for attempting each question and submitting your work on time. Late submissions (score of 90 or 80) will also be accepted, according to the late policy described below.	25%, sub-total
Exams (all open book) Exam 1    Exam 2   Exam 3	75%, sub-total as follows:   Best test – 40% 2nd best  – 20% 3rd Best  – 15%

 

 

 

 

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Course Letter Grade Determination

A	95 and over
A MINUS	90-94
B PLUS	87-89
B	83-86
B MINUS	80-82
C PLUS	77-79
C	70-76
C MINUS	Below 70

 

For PHP Online Students - Policy on GPA and Course Repeat:
If you are an MPH or PHP online student, you must earn a grade of "B MINUS" or better in this course.
This corresponds to a course score of 80 or better .

All students must maintain a 3.0 GPA during their time as students in the program.  In addition, all MPH and PHP studens must receive a final grade of “B –“ or better in each of the following courses:

BIOSTATS 540 – Intrroductory  Biostatistics
EHS 565 – Environmental Health Practices
COM-HLTH 601 – Applications of Social and Behavioral Theory
HPP 620 – Introduction to the US Health Care System
EPI 630 – Principles of Epidemiology
HPP 624 – Research Methods

If a student fails to receive a B- or better in these courses, they will have to repeat the course.
If a student’s overall GPA falls below the 3.0 level, the student will be subject to academic measures pursuant to Section I.4 of the Graduate Student Handbook, including academic probation and/or academic dismissal.

Policy on Late Submissions
Updated 9/25/2022
This course has a policy on late submissions that aims to be fair to both those who do meet the course deadlines
and to those who, for whatever reason, need an extension.


Policy on Late Submissions - HOMEWORKS ONLY

On Time	Full Credit
1-2 Days Late	Full Credit
3-7 Days Late	Full Credit - 20 points
8+ Days Late	0 points (no credit)

Policy on Late Submissions - EXAMS

On Time	Full Credit for points scored
1-2 Days Late	Points scored - 10 points
3-7 Days Late	Points scored - 20 points
8+ Days Late	0 points (no credit)

Valuing, Recognizing, and Encouraging Diversity

I believe that promoting and valuing diversity in the classrom enriches learning and broadens everyone's
perspectives. I also believe in inclusion, tolerance, and respect for others as essential values. Where possible,
I will strive to create a sense of community and promote excellence inthe learning environment. WIth respect
to diversity, I will seek out and honor (1) the variety of life experiences you have had, and (2) the factors
that define your "diversity of presence", including: age, economic circumstances, ethnic identification,
disability, gender, geographic origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, social position.

Names and Pronouns

If you have not already indicated your chosen first name and pronouns in SPIRE, please let me know what
name and pronouns we should use for you. Email me at cbigelow@schoolph.umass.edu.

Title IX Statement

The University of Massachusetts/Amherst is committed to fostering a safe, productive learning environment.
Title IX and our School policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. Sexual misconduct - including
harrassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking - is also prohibited at our School.
UMass Amherst encourages anyone experiencing sexual misconduct to talk to someone about what happened,
so they can get the support they need and our School can respond appropriately. If you wish to speak
confidentially about an incident of sexual misconduct, want more information about filing a report, or have
questions about our School policies and procedures, please contact our Title IX Coordinator,
Debora D. Ferreira, Equal Opportunity Office (E), 413-545-3464 or by email to
equalopportunity@admin.umass.edu.

Please be aware. UMass Amherst is legally oblibgated to investigate reports of sexual misconduct, and therefore,
it cannot guarantee the confidentiality of a report, but it will consider a request for confidentiality and respect
it to the extent possible. If you want to talk with someone who is not a mandated reporter, you can contact the
Center for Women and Community at https://www.umass.edu/cwc, by telephone at 413-545-0883, or call the
24-hour hotline at 413-545-0800, the Center for Counseling and Psychological Help
(https://www.umass.edu/uhs/services/sane), tel 413-577-5000.

Please also be aware that I am also required by our School to report incidents of sexual misconduct and thus cannot
guarantee confidentiality. I must provide our Title IX Coordinator with relevant details such as the names of those
involved in the incident.

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Copyright Protection

Many of the materials created for this course are my own intellectual property. This includes, but is not limited to the syllabus,
lectures, and course notes. Except to the extent not protected by copyright law, any use, distribution, or sale of such materials
requires my permission. Please be aware that it is a violation of University policy to reproduce, for distribuiton or sale,
class lectures or class notes, unless the faculty member has explicitly waived copyright.