EPID6430

Epidemiology B - Research Design

Faculty of Health and Medicine School of Medicine and Public Health

10 Units 6000 Level Course

Available in 2014

Callaghan Campus	Semester 2
WebLearn GradSchool	Semester 2

Previously offered in 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004

Extends the points, analyses, and designs covered in EPID6420 Epidemiology A.

Objectives

Module 1: to understand the potential advantages and disadvantages of descriptive studies, including cross-sectional, and ecologic designs, and sampling methods.
Module 2: to understand the potential advantages and disadvantages of cohort studies and extensions such as nested case-control and case-cohort studies, to understand differential and non-differential misclassification, and time to event analysis.
Module 3: to understand the assumptions inherent in the case-control and case-crossover designs, and methods to avoid bias.
Module 4: to understand in more detail the sources of bias in RCT including concealment errors, randomisation techniques, type of RCTs and analysis.
Module 5: to understand the steps in writing a systematic review, and sources of bias; this includes funnel plots, basics of calculating pooled odds ratios, and exploring sources of heterogeneity.

Content

Module 1: Descriptive Studies
Module 2: Cohort Studies
Module 3: Case-Control Studies
Module 4: Randomised controlled trials
Module 5: Synthesis of Research Data: Systematic Reviews

Replacing Course(s)

n/a

Transition

n/a

Industrial Experience

Assumed Knowledge

EPID6420

Modes of Delivery

Distance Learning : IT Based
Distance Learning : Paper Based
External Mode
Internal Mode

Teaching Methods

Email Discussion Group
Lecture

Assessment Items

Essays / Written Assignments	Progressed Assignments 1 and 2 are worth 15% and Progressed Assignment 3 is worth 30%.
Examination: Take Home	Take Home Exam worth 40%

Contact Hours

Email Discussion Group: for 3 hour(s) per Week for Full Term

Timetables