HNE-32403 Observational Designs and Assessment of Validity (DL)

Course

Credits 3.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

DL-Introduction Descriptive Epidemiology; DL-Introduction to analytical Epidemiology; DL-Integration of Evidence 1

Continuation courses:

The DL-MSc-specializations have a fixed schedule during the pilot-phase

Contents:

Note: This course has a maximum number of participants. The deadline for registration is one week earlier than usual. See Academic Year.(http://www.wageningenur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/Current-Students/Agenda-Calendar-Academic-Year.htm) -> Registration for Courses.
Note: The period mentioned below is the period in which this course starts. For the exact academic weeks see the courseplanning on www.wur.eu/schedule.

This course focuses on the aspects one has to take into account when wanting to evaluate the validity of observational studies.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- understand and explain the characteristics of observational study designs (i.e., cohort study, case-control study, nested case-control study, case-cohort study);
- understand and explain potential methodological threats with respect to internal and external validity (i.e., selection bias, information bias, confounding, effect measure modification) in these designs;
- critically evaluate studies used in epidemiology, taking methodological considerations into account.

Activities:

E-modules, knowledge clips, online group discussion, individual assignment (including producing video).

Examination:

remote proctored written exam (70%), assignments during the course (30%). For both a minimum mark of 5.5 is needed to pass.

Literature:

Webb & Bain, Essential Epidemiology, 2nd ed.