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Reinventing Biostatistics Education for Basic Scientists

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  • Tracey L Weissgerber
  • Vesna D Garovic
  • Jelena S Milin-Lazovic
  • Stacey J Winham
  • Zoran Obradovic
  • Jerome P Trzeciakowski
  • Natasa M Milic

Abstract

Numerous studies demonstrating that statistical errors are common in basic science publications have led to calls to improve statistical training for basic scientists. In this article, we sought to evaluate statistical requirements for PhD training and to identify opportunities for improving biostatistics education in the basic sciences. We provide recommendations for improving statistics training for basic biomedical scientists, including: 1. Encouraging departments to require statistics training, 2. Tailoring coursework to the students’ fields of research, and 3. Developing tools and strategies to promote education and dissemination of statistical knowledge. We also provide a list of statistical considerations that should be addressed in statistics education for basic scientists.How is biostatistics education failing to meet the needs of basic scientists, and what can we do to fix this? This Perspective discusses strategies for making biostatistics an integral part of postgraduate and continuing education for basic scientists, ensuring that courses teach the specific skills needed to design, analyze, and critically evaluate basic science research.

Suggested Citation

  • Tracey L Weissgerber & Vesna D Garovic & Jelena S Milin-Lazovic & Stacey J Winham & Zoran Obradovic & Jerome P Trzeciakowski & Natasa M Milic, 2016. "Reinventing Biostatistics Education for Basic Scientists," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-12, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pbio00:1002430
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002430
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Heidi Spratt & Erin E. Fox & Nawar Shara & Madhu Mazumdar, 2017. "Strategies for Success: Early-Stage Collaborating Biostatistics Faculty in an Academic Health Center," The American Statistician, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 71(3), pages 220-230, July.
    2. Tracey L Weissgerber, 2021. "Learning from the past to develop data analysis curricula for the future," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(7), pages 1-3, July.
    3. Wei Zhuang & Luísa Camacho & Camila S Silva & Michael Thomson & Kevin Snyder, 2022. "A robust biostatistical method leverages informative but uncertainly determined qPCR data for biomarker detection, early diagnosis, and treatment," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(1), pages 1-29, January.
    4. Margarita Rubio & María Sánchez-Ronco & Rosa Mohedano & Asunción Hernando, 2018. "The impact of participatory teaching methods on medical students’ perception of their abilities and knowledge of epidemiology and statistics," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(8), pages 1-12, August.

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