-Review-

Applications of Statistics to Medical Science (1) Fundamental Concepts

Hiroshi Watanabe

Department of Mathematics, Nippon Medical School

The conceptual framework of statistical tests and statistical inferences are discussed, and the epidemiological background of statistics is briefly reviewed. This study is one of a series in which we survey the basics of statistics and practical methods used in medical statistics. Arguments related to actual statistical analysis procedures will be made in subsequent papers.

J Nippon Med Sch 2011; 78: 274-279

Keywords
statistical test, statistical inference, study design

Correspondence to
Hiroshi Watanabe, Department of Mathematics, Nippon Medical School, 2-297-2 Kosugi-cho, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 211-0063, Japan
watmath@nms.ac.jp

Received, July 12, 2011
Accepted, August 9, 2011