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

Course

Credits 3.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

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

Contents:

In this course, you will learn to evaluate the validity of results obtained from observational research. You will deepen your understanding of selection error, information error, confounding, and effect measure modification. You will also learn more about observational design variants: nested case-control and case-cohort designs.
This online course largely overlaps with the course HNE31006 Study designs and interpretation in Epidemiology and Public Health

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:

Essential Epidemiology, Webb & Bain, Essential Epidemiology, 2nd or 3rd ed.