Biostatistics for Public Health Quizzes | Master Statistical Methods in Public Health

Question 1

Which of the following is a strength of cohort studies?

Accepted Answer

They can provide evidence of causality.

Answer

They are relatively inexpensive to conduct.

Answer

They can be used to study rare diseases.

Answer

They are not susceptible to selection bias.

Question 2

A researcher wants to estimate the prevalence of diabetes in a population. Which of the following sampling methods would be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Simple random sampling

Answer

Systematic sampling

Answer

Stratified sampling

Answer

Cluster sampling

Question 3

A researcher wants to conduct a study to determine the relationship between diet and obesity. Which of the following is the most appropriate research design?

Accepted Answer

Cohort study

Answer

Cross-sectional study

Answer

Case-control study

Answer

Experimental study

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a measure of central tendency used to describe the center of a distribution?

Accepted Answer

Standard deviation

Answer

Mean

Answer

Median

Answer

Mode

Question 5

A hypothesis test is conducted with a significance level of 0.05. If the p-value is 0.06, what is the appropriate conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Fail to reject the null hypothesis

Answer

Reject the null hypothesis

Answer

Insufficient information

Question 6

Which type of regression model is most appropriate for predicting a continuous outcome variable, such as blood pressure?

Accepted Answer

Linear regression

Answer

Logistic regression

Answer

Poisson regression

Question 7

In a public health study, the incidence rate is calculated as:

Accepted Answer

Number of new cases / Population at risk

Answer

Number of new cases / Total population

Answer

Number of existing cases / Total population

Question 8

The ethical principle of beneficence in public health research requires researchers to:

Accepted Answer

Maximize benefits and minimize harm to participants

Answer

Respect the autonomy of participants

Answer

Promote justice and fairness

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a measure of central tendency?

Accepted Answer

Standard deviation

Answer

Mean

Answer

Median

Answer

Mode

Question 10

Which type of regression analysis models the relationship between a single dependent variable and one or more independent variables?

Accepted Answer

Linear regression

Answer

Logistic regression

Answer

Poisson regression

Answer

Cox proportional hazards regression

Question 11

The incidence rate is calculated as:

Accepted Answer

Number of new cases in a population over a specified period / Population size at the start of the period

Answer

Number of existing cases in a population over a specified period / Population size at the end of the period

Answer

Total number of cases in a population over a specified period / Population size at the start of the period

Answer

Number of deaths in a population over a specified period / Population size at the end of the period

Question 12

The ethical principle that requires researchers to obtain informed consent from participants is known as:

Accepted Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Justice

Answer

Non-maleficence

Question 13

The concept of "population health" refers to:

Accepted Answer

The determinants of health in a population and the distribution of health outcomes.

Answer

The health status of a specific group of people

Answer

The overall health of a population

Answer

The distribution of health and disease within a population

Question 14

For a distribution with a long tail, which measure of central tendency is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Median

Answer

Mode

Answer

Range

Answer

Mean

Question 15

A study investigates the effectiveness of a new medication. The p-value obtained is 0.04. What statistical conclusion can be drawn?

Accepted Answer

Reject the null hypothesis

Answer

Accept the null hypothesis

Answer

Fail to accept the alternative hypothesis

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT an assumption of linear regression analysis?

Accepted Answer

Autocorrelation

Answer

Linear relationship

Answer

Homoscedasticity

Answer

Independence

Question 17

What is the primary purpose of a confidence interval?

Accepted Answer

To estimate a range of plausible values for a population parameter

Answer

To make predictions about a dependent variable

Answer

To verify a statistical hypothesis

Question 18

What is the essential difference between a population and a sample in statistical research?

Accepted Answer

A population encompasses the entire group under study, while a sample represents a subset drawn from the population.

Answer

Samples are always representative of their respective populations.

Answer

Populations are always larger than samples.

Question 19

What is the value of biostatistics in the context of public health?

Accepted Answer

To provide statistical evidence to support decision-making in public health policies and programs.

Answer

To ensure successful implementation of public health programs.

Answer

To assess the effectiveness of public health interventions.

Question 20

Which statistical test is typically used to compare the mean values between two independent groups?

Accepted Answer

t-test

Answer

ANOVA

Answer

Chi-square test

Answer

Regression analysis

Question 21

In hypothesis testing, what is the null hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

The hypothesis that there is no significant difference or effect

Answer

The hypothesis that the data is due to chance

Answer

The hypothesis that there is a significant difference or effect

Question 22

A study investigates the association between smoking and lung cancer. The researchers calculate an odds ratio of 3.0. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

Smokers are three times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers.

Answer

30% of lung cancer cases are attributable to smoking.

Answer

Smoking causes lung cancer in 3 out of 10 people.

Question 23

Which of the following is the MOST appropriate statistical test to compare the mean blood pressure of two independent groups of patients?

Accepted Answer

Two-sample t-test

Answer

Paired t-test

Answer

Chi-squared test

Question 24

A researcher wants to investigate the relationship between age and cholesterol levels. Which of the following graphical methods would be MOST suitable for visualizing this relationship?

Accepted Answer

Scatter plot

Answer

Pie chart

Answer

Bar chart

Answer

Histogram

Question 25

What does a p-value of 0.02 indicate in a hypothesis test?

Accepted Answer

There is a 2% chance of observing the results if the null hypothesis is true.

Answer

The alternative hypothesis is true.

Answer

The null hypothesis is true.

Question 26

What is the primary purpose of a confidence interval?

Accepted Answer

To estimate a range of plausible values for a population parameter.

Answer

To determine the probability of a specific outcome.

Answer

To test the significance of a statistical result.

Question 27

Which of the following is NOT a measure of central tendency?

Accepted Answer

Standard deviation

Answer

Median

Answer

Mean

Answer

Mode

Question 28

A study found a correlation coefficient of 0.8 between hours of exercise per week and BMI. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

There is a strong negative correlation between hours of exercise and BMI.

Answer

There is a weak positive correlation between hours of exercise and BMI.

Answer

Hours of exercise cause a decrease in BMI.

Question 29

What type of study design is characterized by the random assignment of participants to different treatment groups?

Accepted Answer

Randomized controlled trial

Answer

Cohort study

Answer

Cross-sectional study

Answer

Case-control study

Question 30

In a normal distribution, approximately what percentage of the data falls within one standard deviation of the mean?

Accepted Answer

68%

Answer

99.7%

Answer

95%

Answer

50%

Question 31

What is the purpose of regression analysis?

Accepted Answer

To model the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables.

Answer

To determine the difference between two groups.

Answer

To test the association between two categorical variables.