Data Organization and Display

Competency 6: Organize, prepare and display epidemiologic data

1. Define different types of data
   1. Identify differences in types of data (such as qualitative/categorical variables vs. quantitative variables)
2. Design a data management strategy
   1. Identify the key features of new variable generation during data collection
   2. Define the appropriate format and range of permissible values of a new variable
   3. Describe the goals and purpose of use of a database for information generation
   4. Define the types of databases available for data management
   5. Identify the features of a well-designed database
   6. Describe the importance of a data dictionary or codebook of variables
   7. Identify coding procedures for missing data
   8. Describe the importance of data entry checks and validation
   9. Identify the benefits of and strategies for proper documentation of the data management process
   10. Design an appropriate system of backing up and archiving data
3. Present data graphically
   1. Summarize and present data through use of frequency distributions, histograms, summary statistics
   2. Define and contrast the terms: validity, reliability, precision and accuracy correctly prepare tables with one, two and three variables
   3. Prepare arithmetic-scale line graphs, semilogarithmic-scale line graphs, frequency polygons, and scatter diagrams
   4. Construct bar charts, pie charts, spot maps, area maps, and box plots
   5. Generate epidemic curves from outbreak data
   6. Explain when to use each type of table, graph, and chart