BIOSTATISTICS MIDTERM 522 RUSH
EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The study of the distribution and determinants of heath-related states or events in specified
populations, and the application of this knowledge to the control of health problems -
ANS What is Epidemiology
Distribution - ANS Refers to person, place, and time
Determinants - ANS Physical, biological, social, cultural,
economic and behavioral factors that influence health
Health-Related States or Events - ANS Includes wellness,
illness, disease, injury, impairments, and disability
Specified Populations - ANS The characteristics of who is
healthy, who is at risk for the disease, and who acquires the disease
Control of Health Problems - ANS The goal of epidemiology is to identify factors associated
with the development of disease as well as factors that prevent illness
Epidemiology focuses on _______________ - ANS *Populations* & *Population Health*
Not focused on providing direct care to individuals
Copyright ©2025 BRIGHTSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,6 Core Epidemiological Functions - ANS Surveillance
Field Investigations
Analytical Studies
Evaluation
*Linkages*
Policy
Epidemiology is a ____________ science - ANS Quantitative
Study - ANS Refers to systematic surveillance, observation, experimentation... use of a
scientific approach
Two Major Branches of Epidemiology - ANS Descriptive Epidemiology: *distribution,
frequency, and pattern* of health-related states and events (the who, where, when/person,
place, time)
Analytic Epidemiology: *determinants* of health-related states and events (the why/causes)
Mission of CDC - ANS Protect the health of the nation
Variable - ANS Any characteristic that can vary; the thing being measured or observed
T/F: An operational definition defines how a variable will be measured, and includes the
equipment and procedures that are used in the measurement. - ANS True
The conceptual definition of a variable:
a. Explains what the variable means.
Copyright ©2025 BRIGHTSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, b. Specifies how a variable should be measured.
c. Describes the standards for measuring a variable.
d. Specifies the precision of the measurements. - ANS a. Explains what the variable means
Conceptual Definitions - ANS *Defines the variable*; dictionary definition
Operational Definitions - ANS Specifies how variable is measured; describes *operations
used to obtain measurement*
The dependent variable is:
a. The intervention being studied.
b. The outcome variable.
c. The variable manipulated by the researcher.
d. A characteristic of the person being studied. - ANS b. The outcome variable
Independent Variable - ANS Manipulated in a study to see if it affects the outcome(s) being
studied
Intervention/treatment
Usually only 1
Effects/causes the outcome of interest
T/F: A study can have more than one dependent (outcome) variable. - ANS True
Dependent Variable - ANS *Outcome*/response variable(s)
Copyright ©2025 BRIGHTSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3