Biostatistics, statistical epidemiology and more

Science is defined as generalizable (reproducible and predictive) knowledge. Developing such knowledge from biological and medical experiments and observations, which in themselves do not generate more than limited and imperfect information requires careful inferential considerations. Biostatistics is the basis for these considerations. This scientific discipline makes it possible to study underlying biological effects that cannot be observed directly and to assess the uncertainty of the findings. Statistical epidemiology is the closely related methodology specialized in developing generalizable knowledge from non-experimental observation, the quantitative foundation for infectious and chronic disease epidemiology. Medical statistics deals with the application of biostatistics and statistical epidemiology in the narrower field of medical research.

Jonas Ranstam is an experienced medical statistician, and this is his personal website. It includes publications with general information on biostatistics and statistical epidemiology, PowerPoint presentations from lectures, computer scripts for statistical calculation and gives suggestions on how some computer software and hardware problems can be solved.

The website also includes a system for statistical computing: Jonas Ranstam’s R-server. A server running the software environment R with a special designed web interface. The system has currently routines for calculations within these areas: sample size calculation, randomization list development, hypothesis testing, confidence interval estimation and quality control. Suggestions for further development of this are welcome.