Basic principles of descriptive statistics in medical research

Descriptive statistics provides tools to explore, summarize and illustrate the research data. In this tutorial we discuss two main types of data - qualitative and quantitative variables, and the most common approaches to characterize data distribution numerically and graphically. This article presen...

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Main Authors: N. M. Bulanov, A. Yu. Suvorov, O. B. Blyuss, D. B. Munblit, D. V. Butnaru, M. Yu. Nadinskaia, A. A. Zaikin
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University) 2021-12-01
Series:Сеченовский вестник
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Online Access:https://www.sechenovmedj.com/jour/article/view/397
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author N. M. Bulanov
A. Yu. Suvorov
O. B. Blyuss
D. B. Munblit
D. V. Butnaru
M. Yu. Nadinskaia
A. A. Zaikin
author_facet N. M. Bulanov
A. Yu. Suvorov
O. B. Blyuss
D. B. Munblit
D. V. Butnaru
M. Yu. Nadinskaia
A. A. Zaikin
author_sort N. M. Bulanov
collection DOAJ
description Descriptive statistics provides tools to explore, summarize and illustrate the research data. In this tutorial we discuss two main types of data - qualitative and quantitative variables, and the most common approaches to characterize data distribution numerically and graphically. This article presents two important sets of parameters - measures of the central tendency (mean, median and mode) and variation (standard deviation, quantiles) and suggests the most suitable conditions for their application. We explain the difference between the general population and random samples, that are usually analyzed in studies. The parameters which characterize the sample (for example, measures of the central tendency) are point estimates, that can differ from the respective parameters of the general population. We introduce the concept of confidence interval - the range of values, which likely includes the true value of the parameter for the general population. All concepts and definitions are illustrated with examples, which simulate the research data.
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institution DOAJ
issn 2218-7332
2658-3348
language Russian
publishDate 2021-12-01
publisher Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University)
record_format Article
series Сеченовский вестник
spelling doaj-art-4f4deb26660948c7af6d792eec14f2242025-08-20T02:53:22ZrusFederal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University)Сеченовский вестник2218-73322658-33482021-12-0112341610.47093/2218-7332.2021.12.3.4-16208Basic principles of descriptive statistics in medical researchN. M. Bulanov0A. Yu. Suvorov1O. B. Blyuss2D. B. Munblit3D. V. Butnaru4M. Yu. Nadinskaia5A. A. Zaikin6Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University); University of HertfordshireSechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University); Imperial College LondonSechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University); University College LondonDescriptive statistics provides tools to explore, summarize and illustrate the research data. In this tutorial we discuss two main types of data - qualitative and quantitative variables, and the most common approaches to characterize data distribution numerically and graphically. This article presents two important sets of parameters - measures of the central tendency (mean, median and mode) and variation (standard deviation, quantiles) and suggests the most suitable conditions for their application. We explain the difference between the general population and random samples, that are usually analyzed in studies. The parameters which characterize the sample (for example, measures of the central tendency) are point estimates, that can differ from the respective parameters of the general population. We introduce the concept of confidence interval - the range of values, which likely includes the true value of the parameter for the general population. All concepts and definitions are illustrated with examples, which simulate the research data.https://www.sechenovmedj.com/jour/article/view/397statistics as topicnormal distributionmeanstandard deviationquantilesconfidence intervalhistogram
spellingShingle N. M. Bulanov
A. Yu. Suvorov
O. B. Blyuss
D. B. Munblit
D. V. Butnaru
M. Yu. Nadinskaia
A. A. Zaikin
Basic principles of descriptive statistics in medical research
Сеченовский вестник
statistics as topic
normal distribution
mean
standard deviation
quantiles
confidence interval
histogram
title Basic principles of descriptive statistics in medical research
title_full Basic principles of descriptive statistics in medical research
title_fullStr Basic principles of descriptive statistics in medical research
title_full_unstemmed Basic principles of descriptive statistics in medical research
title_short Basic principles of descriptive statistics in medical research
title_sort basic principles of descriptive statistics in medical research
topic statistics as topic
normal distribution
mean
standard deviation
quantiles
confidence interval
histogram
url https://www.sechenovmedj.com/jour/article/view/397
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