spring 2016
TLM-3070 Quantitative Research Methods and Epidemiology - 5 ECTS

Application deadline

Singular Course Admission deadlines:

Applications from Nordic countries: 1 December for the spring semester and 1 June for the autumn semester.

Exchange students: 1 October for the spring semester and 15 April for the autumn semester.


Type of course

Theoretical and practical.

The course can be taken as a single course as long as the admission requirements for the Master Programme are satisfied.


Admission requirements

Bachelor Degree in Health related disciplines.

Code: 9371 (Singular Course - Master - Nordic countries)


Course content

The methods taught in this course represent the analytical core of clinical and epidemiological studies.

The course covers the following topics:

1) Scientific basics of quantitative research methodology.

2) Evidence, search for scientific literature, search tools.

3) Descriptive and analytical statistics, hypothesis testing.

4) Types of clinical and epidemiological studies.

5) Good clinical practice, study protocols.

6) Data handling, practical work with statistics software.

7) Work with selected good examples of published clinical and epidemiological trials.


Objectives of the course

Learning Outcomes:

The course will give the students knowledge in clinical and epidemiological research methodology.

After the course, the students should be able to:

1) Elaborate the state of the art regarding a specific clinical or epidemiological problem.

2) Relate their own work appropriately to the state of the art, knowing how to search and build on relevant literature (in principal).

3) Formulate a research question, define outcome variables, estimate expected effects, perform a power analysis, formulate a hypothesis.

4) Design a complete study protocol in order to provide valid answers to the research question, including: rationale, research hypotheses, study type, subject recruitment, inclusion/exclusion criteria, data acquisition, quality management, ethical considerations, etc.

5) Practically perform analyses in R statistics or SPSS, e.g. take example data from the lecture and redo computations for exercise (parameters, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, PNV, power analyses; hypothesis testing,etc.); download WHO health data, clean them in a spreadsheet program (e.g. Excel), and use them as data source to investigate e.g. associations between selected indicators.


Language of instruction and examination

All the courses, assignments and examinations are in English.

Teaching methods

The course consists of a combination of lectures, discussions, homework and practical exercises. In addition to physical attendance of lectures and seminars, part of the course is net-based, requiring active participation of students via Fronter. All assignments are submitted electronically in Fronter.

Assessment

2-weeks' take-home examination based on a specific assignment.

Norwegian grading system: A-E, with F as fail.

There will not be arranged a re-sit exam for this course.


Recommended reading/syllabus

The following book is recommended:

Aviva Petrie & Caroline Sabin - Medical Statistics at a Glance (John Wiley & Sons, 2009; 3rd edition; ISBN: 978-1405180511).

Additional material may be distributed during lectures.

Error rendering component

  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 5
  • Course code: TLM-3070
  • Tidligere år og semester for dette emnet