Learn Statistics - Become Data Smart

By David Spade, PhD

Statistics involves the collection and analysis of data. The collection of sets of data is as ancient as the Exodus and is also mentioned in the Book of Numbers for census data collection. The field of statistics took birth in the 17th century as a means for countries to interpret demographic data.

In this course, students will be introduced to the concepts of contingency tables, types of variables, types of distributions, measures of central tendency and dispersion, regression models, probability, and hypothesis testing. For optimal comprehension, a high-school–level understanding of arithmetic and algebra is important.

In the 21st century, as data science is becoming increasingly prominent, data-collection and analysis skills continue to be much sought after. Furthermore, in the medical field, the paradigm of evidence-based medicine requires physicians to be literate in the interpretation and application of data published in scientific journals. Additionally, physicians are encouraged to become researchers and continue to add valuable and relevant data to the literature, making it more encompassing and capable of enhancing patient outcomes.