Basic study design types and characteristics will be included. A broad range of topics in estimation and hypothesis testing will be covered. It will start with a review of descriptive statistics and introductory probability, then explore probability and sampling distributions, central limit theorem and confidence intervals. These topics will be followed by basic hypothesis testing framework, along with the appropriate power and sample size considerations. Large-sample hypothesis tests for means, proportions and variances will be covered as well as exploration of some exact tests.
Most homework assignments are to be completed using statistical software.
Students will gain experience in recognizing and evaluating the role of confounding in data derived from epidemiologic studies. Additional tutorial sessions, to be scheduled at a time convenient for the students, will include problem-solving exercises focused on study design and analysis. Written homework assignments and problem-oriented learning will occupy a central role in facilitating mastery of epidemiologic methods and issues. Teaching will emphasize the problem-oriented seminar method. It will also explore linear regression in some detail, including parameter interpretation, statistical adjustment, variable selection techniques and model fit assessment.