2021/22 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

MEDR5145M Statistical Methods in Health Research

15 creditsClass Size: 25

Module manager: Dr Darren Greenwood
Email: d.c.greenwood@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

Pre-requisite qualifications

As per student’s parent programme

Pre-requisites

MEDR5120M	Analytic Research
MEDR5130M	Intervention Research
MEDR5200M	Health Research Methods

This module is mutually exclusive with

MEDR5140M	Statis Inference in Health Res
MEDR5150M	Statis Modelling in Health Res

Module replaces

MEDR5140M (Statistical inference in health research) MEDR5150M (Statistical modelling in health research)

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module provides students with a thorough understanding and practical experience of common statistical methods encountered in health research. In particular the module will address the role of statistical methods in applied health research settings. It will include topics on: identifying appropriate statistical tests and modelling techniques to analyse data, assessing the validity of the assumptions behind statistical and modelling techniques, conducting statistical analysis using computer packages, presentation and interpretation of analysis, and critical appraisal of statistical tests and modelling as reported in medical journals.

Objectives

This module provides students with a thorough understanding and practical experience of common statistical methods encountered in health research. In particular the module will address the role of statistical methods in applied health research settings. It will include topics on: identifying appropriate statistical tests and modelling techniques to analyse data, assessing the validity of the assumptions behind statistical and modelling techniques, conducting statistical analysis using computer packages, presentation and interpretation of analysis, and critical appraisal of statistical tests and modelling as reported in medical journals.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:

- identify and appraise the appropriate statistical test or modelling technique to analyse data in a variety of situations;
- critically assess the validity of the assumptions behind this technique;
- effectively perform this technique in a statistical computer package;
- present their results appropriately;
- critically interpret the results of their analyses;
- critically appraise statistical tests and modelling reported in medical journal articles.

Skills outcomes
This module provides students with a critical awareness, through understanding and practical experience of statistical methods encountered in health research.

It will include topics on: identifying appropriate statistical tests and modelling techniques to analyse data, assessing the validity of the assumptions behind statistical and modelling techniques, conducting statistical analysis using computer packages, presentation and interpretation of analysis, and critical appraisal of statistical tests and modelling as reported in medical journals.

Methods will include t-tests, chi-squared tests, multiple regression, logistic regression and survival analysis. Emphasis will be placed on practical examples, presentation and interpretation of results.

Syllabus

The teaching style for this module will be active and participative. Where the module is taught entirely online we will replicate ‘group activities’ and students will be asked to complete online tasks and activities that mirror the pre-Covid19 teaching style.

In a series of seminars with activities and computer practicals, students will be introduced to a variety of different parametric and non-parametric statistical test and statistical modelling techniques, the conditions under which each is appropriate, how to check that these conditions are met, how to carry out these techniques for themselves in Stata, how to present and interpret their results and comment on others' reports containing such statistical methods.

Methods will include t-tests, chi-squared tests, multiple regression, logistic regression and survival analysis. Emphasis will be placed on practical examples, presentation and interpretation of results. Private study
Independent online learning will mainly follow on from the formal classes and will make use of a portfolio of materials placed on the VLE. Students will also be expected to work in their own time, researching taught and online course work, building up their knowledge using the guidance provided by formal taught and online components of the module.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Group learning	4	0.50	2.00
Practical	8	1.00	8.00
Seminar	4	1.00	0.00
Seminar	4	1.50	10.00
Independent online learning hours			5.00
Private study hours			125.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Independent online learning will mainly follow on from the formal classes and will make use of a portfolio of materials placed on the VLE. Students will also be expected to work in their own time, researching taught and online course work, building up their knowledge using the guidance provided by formal taught and online components of the module.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Formative assessment will involve monitoring students’ progress through discussion during and following seminars and activities, and through 1:1 interaction with students during or after computer practicals where individual feedback on each student’s work will be provided. Students will be encouraged to keep a reflective log and will have opportunity to reflect with tutors during class on progress. Where the module is taught entirely online this discussion, feedback and reflection will mirror the pre-Covid19 opportunities, taking the form of an online Discussion Forum, and teleconference drop-in surgeries both during the module and during time allocated for completing the assignments. Additional formative group-level feedback will be provided on the VLE following each computer practical, through short informal “how to” sessions.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Source Analysis	Structured reports (≈1500 words).	60.00
Critique	≈ 1000 words.	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/06/2021 16:22:53

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