Ziel

Statistics is the discipline that deals with randomness and probabilities and how to extract information from data in the face of randomness. Each scientific discipline attempting to learn about real world phenomena deals with statistical issues. Biostatistics is the sub-discipline of Statistics that focuses on applications in medicine and public health.

In this module you learn how to transparently describe data that was collected for a given study. In addition you learn how to make inferences and draw conclusions that go beyond the current data set and make statements about the underlying population of interest. Furthermore, the information in the data set has to be condensed and presented in an understandable fashion. For this 

• you reduce data by calculating group level quantities (like means, risks etc)
• you quantify and interpret the amount of statistical uncertainty in your data, mostly by using 95% confidence intervals
• you make the first steps in using a statistical software (R) for data description, data transformation and simple statistical analyses
• you communicate appropriately the results obtained
• you translate specific questions into relevant statistical quantities of interest

Inhalte

Quantities of descriptive statistics and the fundamentals of statistical inference

• Uncertainty due to randomness
• 95% confidence intervals
• Calculating and transforming probability statements
• The interpretation of a p-value

Methoden

The module follows the concepts of the textbook «Essential medical statistics» (https://www.blackwellpublishing.com/essentialmedstats/) and is a mixture of lectures and solving practical problems on concrete examples and data sets (in-class and at home). With this you will develop a solid understanding of the main concepts of statistical inference biomedical sciences. The teaching material will be made available on a password-protected module homepage (http://basic-biostats.ispmbern.ch/).

Between the two module blocks you will need to work about 20 hours off-class on module tasks.

Leistungsnachweis

Written exam during the module

Vor- und Nachbereitung

12 Stunden Vorbereitung, 12 Stunden Nachbereitung
In total 20 hours of off-class work and module tasks between August 19 and August 24

ECTS-Punkte

3 ECTS-Punkte

Vorkenntnisse

required are:

• «Introduction to Epidemiology and Study Designs» (B101.20)
• «Konzepte und Methoden der Epidemiologie» (B102.30)

Veranstalter

Institut für Sozial- und Präventivmedizin der Universität Bern

Leitung

Prof. Dr. Marcel Zwahlen, Institut für Sozial- und Präventivmedizin der Universität Bern

ReferentInnen

Prof. Dr. Marcel Zwahlen, Institut für Sozial- und Präventivmedizin der Universität Bern

Datum

17 to 19 August and 24 and 25 August 2026

Ort

Bern

Kosten

CHF 2'100.- (incl. materials)

Anmeldeschluss

17.06.2026

Spezielles

• Teaching languages are English and German.
• Participants are requested to bring along their notebook (Windows or Mac) and a scientific calculator.