Welcome to STAT7311 Basic Biostatistics, one of the core courses in your MPH programme at IIUM. This course will help you build the foundation for applying statistical principles in public health research and practice. It combines lectures, practical sessions, and independent learning, and is designed to be interactive and hands-on.
This course is guided by the vision of the Kulliyyah of Medicine (KOM): Medicine with a Soul. Knowledge in medicine must be grounded in competence, compassion, and conscience, reflecting our responsibility to serve humanity and uphold the trust (amanah) of knowledge.
Competence in biostatistics means the ability to plan, collect, analyse, and interpret data, and to use the resulting information for knowledge development and decision-making. This must always be accompanied by integrity, ensuring that every step in handling data is done honestly, transparently, and responsibly.
Biostatistics is not merely about numbers; it is about using data ethically to understand reality, reduce suffering, and improve well-being. In Islam, knowledge is amanah and must be applied with sincerity and conscience. Data represent the lived realities of people and communities, not abstract figures, and the way we collect, analyse, interpret, and report them carries moral weight. Decisions based on data can protect life, preserve health, and ensure justice.
The Qur’an encourages reflection, observation, and fairness in judgement. In applying biostatistics to public health, we support the maqasid al-shariah (objectives of Islamic law): safeguarding life, intellect, lineage, property, and faith. Students are encouraged to approach data with honesty, integrity, and conscience, ensuring that every analysis contributes to the well-being of society and the advancement of humanity.