Biostatistics and Research Methodology Important Questions are most helpful for the B.Pharm 8th semester examination. You can also download the suggestions PDF.
Define: (a) Statistics, (b) Biostatistics, (c) Frequency distribution.
Write the applications of biostatistics.
Write the importance and limitations of statistics.
The following data gives the number of tablets not passing the weight variation test per batch of 30 tablets. Classify the data and prepare a frequency distribution table. 0, 1, 3, 4, 3, 7, 5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 1, 0, 5, 0, 3, 7, 7, 5, 2, 1, 0, 2, 1, 3, 5, 4, 3, 4, 2, 2, 5, 7.
Measure of Centre of Tendency
Define: (i) Arithmetic mean, (ii) Median, (iii) Geometric mean.
What is the relationship between mean, median, and mode?
“Arithmetic mean is one of the most suitable measures of central tendency.” Comment.
Write the merits and demerits of the mode.
In a moderately skewed distribution, the arithmetic mean is 35.6 and the mode is 38.9. Find the value of the median.
Calculate the mean, median, and mode from the following data:
Marks
35-45
45-55
55-65
65-75
75-85
85-95
No. of students
5
7
15
27
14
2
Calculate the mean and mode for the data given below on the number of paracetamol strips sold per day by a pharmacist over one week (7 days). 170, 190, 185, 140, 190, 175, 180
The weights of 10 capsules are given below (in mg). Calculate the mean and mode. 510, 520, 540, 530, 535, 525, 525, 510, 525, 530
A tablet machine mainly uses punches of the following lengths (in cm). Calculate the median length. 10, 10.5, 9.5, 9.8, 10.8, 10.2, 10.2, 9.7
The sale of cough syrup bottles per day in a pharmacy is as follows: 40, 55, 50, 30, 20, 15, 20, 30, 40, 30, 35, 40, 45 Calculate the mean, median, and mode.
How will you calculate the median? Explain the merits and demerits of the median.
How will you calculate the mode? Explain the graphical determination of the mode.
Explain the terms: (a) Harmonic mean (b) Arithmetic mean
Measure of Dispersion
What are the various measures of dispersion? Write the importance of each measure of dispersion.
Define range and variance.
“Standard deviation is one of the most reliable measures of dispersion.” Comment.
Calculate the standard deviation and coefficient of variation for the frequency distribution of pharmacology marks of 100 students out of 60 as given below.
Marks
0-10
10-20
20-30
30-40
40-50
50-60
No. of students
4
12
26
40
13
5
Covid-19 success rates in two hospitals in Mumbai (in percentage) are given below. Compare the variability of success in the two hospitals.
Hospital A
80
75
85
70
90
85
70
85
80
Hospital B
70
80
75
80
70
75
85
70
85
Calculate the standard deviation of the following data. 10, 12, 14, 18, 25, 30, 35, 40
Two automatic capsule filling machines, A and B, are used to fill an antibiotic drug of 500 mg. A random sample of 100 capsules from each machine is selected, and their weights are shown as follows.
Drug content (mg)
Machine A
Machine B
485-490
8
4
490-495
12
16
495-500
28
27
500-505
32
33
505-510
13
15
510-515
7
5
Justify the performance of the two capsule filling machines.
What is variance? Explain.
Write short notes on: (a) Mean deviation (b) Standard deviation
Differentiate between absolute and relative measures of dispersion.
Correlation
What is meant by correlation?
Explain the meaning and significance of correlation.
What are the special characteristics of Karl Pearson’s coefficient of correlation?
Give general rules for interpreting the correlation coefficient.
Write a note on positive and negative correlation.
Prove that Karl Pearson’s coefficient of correlation cannot exceed ±1.
How do you calculate the correlation coefficient between (a) Short-term change, (b) Long-term change, and (c) Cyclic change?
The index numbers of prices of all commodities in Mumbai and Chennai were as under. Do you think prices in Mumbai and Chennai are correlated?
Month and Year
Index Number (Mumbai)
Index Number (Chennai)
April 1999
1204
1169
March 1999
1222
1182
June 1999
1225
1182
July 1999
1228
1192
Regression
What is regression analysis? Explain.
Define: (i) Regression coefficient, (ii) Regression line.
What is regression? How will you differentiate regression from correlation?
Write the importance of multiple regression.
How will you calculate the standard error of regression? Explain its applications.
Write a note on: (i) Least Square Method (ii) Multiple Regression.
Calculate the regression equation from the following data:
xx
1
2
3
4
5
6
yy
1
4
8
12
16
20
Write the relationship between the coefficient of correlation and regression coefficients.
Probability
What is probability? Explain probability distributions.
Differentiate the following: (a) Discrete probability distribution and continuous probability distribution (b) Uniform distribution and normal distribution
Write the properties of (a) Binomial distribution and (b) Poisson distribution.
Explain the shape and properties of the normal distribution curve.
Sampling and Hypothesis
What is sampling? Write the importance of sampling in research.
Write the ideal characteristics of sampling.
Write the advantages and disadvantages of sampling.
Explain the different parameters involved in sampling design.
How will you determine the size of a sample?
Differentiate between: (a) Sample and Population (b) Null hypothesis and Alternative hypothesis (c) Type-I error and Type-II error.
Write the advantages and disadvantages of: (a) Multi-stage sampling (b) Quota sampling
Write notes on: (a) SEM (Standard Error of the Mean) (b) Snowball sampling (c) Sampling and non-sampling errors.
Parametric Test
What are parametric tests?
Explain in detail the importance of the ANOVA test in statistics and research.
Differentiate between Paired and Unpaired t-tests.
Explain the following: (a) One-sample t-test (b) One-way ANOVA
Write applications of the least significant difference test.
Non-parametric Test
What are non-parametric tests? Write their significance.
Write the advantages and disadvantages of non-parametric tests.
Explain the principle and applications of the Mann-Whitney U test.
How will you calculate the Kruskal-Wallis H-test value? How will you differentiate this test from one-way ANOVA?
Explain the applications of the Friedman test with suitable examples.
Write a note on: (a) Applications of the Kruskal-Wallis test (b) Wilcoxon Rank Sum test.
Introduction to Research
What is research design? Write the importance of research design in the planning of research.
Write different types of research design according to the type of research study.
List the main features of a good research design.
What is research? Write its importance in science and other fields.
Explain in detail different types of research.
Explain in detail the various stages of the research process.
What is Plagiarism? Write its importance in research.
Graphs
Define a graph? Write the importance of graphs in data presentation.
How will you draw a histogram? Differentiate between a bar graph and a histogram.
Write the importance of the following: (a) Cubic graph (b) Contour plot graph
Write the importance of the response surface plot in the design of experiments.
Draw the following: (a) Parts of figures including symbols (b) Line graph
Report Writing and Presentation
Explain in short the different types of research reports.
What is meant by a research report? Elaborate in detail the structure and content of a research report.
Write the importance and ideal features of research report writing.
Explain different techniques used for the presentation of data.
How do figures play a major role in data presentation?
Explain the different parts of tables.
Differentiate between graphs and diagrams.
Clinical Research Design
What is clinical research design? Write the importance of research design in the planning of research.
Write different types of clinical research design according to the type of research study.
Differentiate between the following: (a) Latin square design and Randomized block design. (b) Informal experimental design and Formal experimental design. (c) Cohort studies and Experimental studies. (d) Cohort studies and Case-control studies.
Explain the following terms in the view of experimental design. (a) Control group (b) Experimental treatment (c) Randomization of sample (d) Factor
List the main features of a good research design.
What are observational studies? Write their importance in science.
Explain in detail different types of observational research studies.
Blocking and Regression Modelling
What is a blocking system for two-level factorials?
Explain the confounding system for two-level factorials.
Write a note on: (a) Confounding system of factorial design. (b) Hypothesis testing and multiple regression model.
Explain the importance of hypothesis testing in a simple linear regression model.
Industrial and Clinical Trial: Statistical Softwares
Write the importance of the following statistical software in clinical trials. (a) R-software (b) IBM SPSS
Write the advantages and limitations of the following software: (a) Microsoft Excel (b) Minitab
Write basic applications of Microsoft Excel.
Write the importance of the design of experiments.
Design and Analysis of Experiments
What is DOE? Explain.
Explain the importance of factorial design in research.
Explain the factorial design with suitable examples.
How will you use response surface methodology in the optimization of product designs and processes?
Write a note on: (a) factorial design (b) Central composite design
How will you differentiate central composite design from Box-Behnken design?