Biostatistics, Overview

W. Byron Brown Jr,

W. Byron Brown Jr

Stanford University, Stanford, CA

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W. Byron Brown Jr,

W. Byron Brown Jr

Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 15 July 2005

https://doi.org/10.1002/0470011815.b2a00002

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Abstract

Biostatistics is concerned with the development and use of statistical methods to solve problems and to answer questions that arise in human biology and medicine. Its development is traced through early work in vital and health statistics, and in heredity, with the important influence of R.A. Fisher on experimental design and statistical inference. Applications in clinical trials, epidemiology, psychometrics, and health services research are described. Current challenges include the impact of computers, Bayesian methods, the use of data banks, longitudinal studies, and research on the human genome. The organization of biostatistics as a professional discipline is discussed.

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