Designing Valid Statistical Studies

Designing Valid Statistical Studies

This course will teach you how to design studies to produce statistically valid conclusions. Topics covered in the course include: overview of validity and bias, selection bias, information bias, and confounding bias.

This course will teach you how to design studies to produce statistically valid conclusions. Topics covered in the course include: overview of validity and bias, selection bias, information bias, and confounding bias.

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Overview

This course covers issues that need addressed in order for a study to produce statistically valid conclusions. The course deals with statistical study designs that are not experiments and are used with observational data. Examples are drawn primarily from the epidemiology literature where the methodology of observational studies has been developed, and clinical trials are reviewed briefly, but those seeking a more in depth treatment should take additional courses in clinical trial design and analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete this class will understand various types of studies and how to optimize for validity vs. precision. They will study bias and confounding factors, matching and stratification, and learn how to control for extraneous factors. Students will learn what types of bias and extraneous factors can endanger studies, and how to avoid or adjust for them.

The first session covers different study designs, with an emphasis on designs that can be used with observational data. Clinical trials are reviewed briefly, but those seeking a more in depth treatment should take The Institute’s sequence of courses in clinical trial design and analysis.

  • Classify different study designs and specify when they might be used
  • Use randomization and matching to control extraneous factors
  • Distinguish between correction at design and correction at analysis
  • Distinguish and measure validity vrs. precision
  • Identify and minimize section bias, information bias, and confounding

Who Should Take This Course

Researchers who need to design, or review the designs of, statistical studies.

Instructors

dr-david-g-kleinbaum

Dr. David G. Kleinbaum

Dr. David G. Kleinbaum is Professor of Epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. He is internationally known for his textbooks in statistical and epidemiologic methods, and as an outstanding teacher. He has also taught over 175 short courses over the past 30 years throughout the world.
See Instructor Bio
dr-eli-rosenberg

Dr. Eli Rosenberg

Dr. Eli Rosenberg is a Professor of Epidemiology at the SUNY Albany School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and formerly at Emory University Rollins School of Public Health. He has taught short courses in epidemiologic methods over the past 5 years to a variety of audiences around the world. His federally-funded research program focuses on the conduct of epidemiologic studies of HIV prevention and HIV surveillance in the United States. 
See Instructor Bio

Course Syllabus

Week 1

Review Types of Studies, Validity

  • Methodologic issues
  • Clinical trial (brief overview)
  • Observational
  • Case-control
  • Cross-sectional
  • Validity vrs. precision
  • Internal vrs. external validity

Week 2

Bias and Confounding

  • Selection bias (brief overview)
  • Information bias (brief overview)
  • Confounding

Week 3

Controlling Extraneous Factors

  • At design stage
  • At analysis stage
  • Randomization
  • Matching

Week 4

Matching and Stratification

  • Matching and stratification will be discussed

Class Dates

2020

Feb 14, 2020 to Mar 13, 2020

2021

No classes scheduled at this time.

2022

No classes scheduled at this time.

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Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Introductory Statistics

We assume you are versed in statistics or have the equivalent understanding of topics covered in our Statistics 1 and Statistics 2 courses. but do not require them as eligibility to enroll in this course. Please review the course description for each of our introductory statistics courses, estimate which best matches your level of understanding of the material covered in these courses, then take the short assessment test for that course. If you can not answer more than half of the questions correctly, we suggest you take our Statistics 1 and Statistics 2 courses prior to taking this course.

The mathematics level in this course is basic algebra.

What Our Students Say​

Very good instructor! He interacted meaningfully with students throughout the week. Was open to all questions and displayed expertise of material. Iterative grading was helpful.

Kimberly Byrne
California Department of Transportation

This was one of the best Statistics.com courses I've taken. I'm basing this comment on the online active text and video components - very clear!

Silvia Bartolic
Instructor at The University of British Columbia in Sociology

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer or withdraw from a course?

We have a flexible transfer and withdrawal policy that recognizes circumstances may arise to prevent you from taking a course as planned. You may transfer or withdraw from a course under certain conditions.

  • Students are entitled to a full refund if a course they are registered for is canceled.
  • You can transfer your tuition to another course at any time prior to the course start date or the drop date, however a transfer is not permitted after the drop date.
  • Withdrawals on or after the first day of class are entitled to a percentage refund of tuition.

Please see this page for more information.

Who are the instructors at the Institute?

The Institute has more than 60 instructors who are recruited based on their expertise in various areas in statistics. Our faculty members are:

  • Authors of well-regarded texts in their area;
  • Advisory board members;
  • Senior faculty; and
  • Educators who have made important contributions to the field of statistics or online education in statistics.

The majority of our instructors have more than five years of teaching experience online at the Institute.

Please visit our faculty page for more information on each instructor at The Institute for Statistics Education.

Please see our knowledge center for more information.

What type of courses does the Institute offer?

The Institute offers approximately 80 courses each year. Topics include basic survey courses for novices, a full sequence of introductory statistics courses, bridge courses to more advanced topics. Our courses cover a range of topics including biostatistics, research statistics, data mining, business analytics, survey statistics, and environmental statistics.

Please see our course search or knowledge center for more information.

Do your courses have for-credit options?

Our courses have several for-credit options:

  • Continuing education units (CEU)
  • College credit through The American Council on Education (ACE CREDIT)
  • Course credits that are transferable to the INFORMS Certified Analytics Professional (CAP®)

Please see our knowledge center for more information.

Is the Institute for Statistics Education certified?

The Institute for Statistics Education is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). For more information visit: http://www.schev.edu

Please see our knowledge center for more information.

Visit our knowledge base and learn more.

FAQs + Knowledge Base

Related Courses

Epidemiologic Statistics

This course will teach you the underlying concepts and methods of epidemiologic statistics: study designs, and measures of disease frequency and treatment effect.
Topic: Statistics, Biostatistics | Skill: Introductory | Credit Options: CEU
Class Start Dates: Nov 6, 2020

Introduction to Statistical Issues in Clinical Trials

This course will teach you the basic statistical principles in the design and analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Topic: Statistics, Biostatistics | Skill: Introductory | Credit Options: CEU
Class Start Dates: Jun 12, 2020, Dec 4, 2020

Additional Course Information

Organization of Course

This course takes place online at The Institute for 4 weeks. During each course week, you participate at times of your own choosing – there are no set times when you must be online. Course participants will be given access to a private discussion board. In class discussions led by the instructor, you can post questions, seek clarification, and interact with your fellow students and the instructor.

At the beginning of each week, you receive the relevant material, in addition to answers to exercises from the previous session. During the week, you are expected to go over the course materials, work through exercises, and submit answers. Discussion among participants is encouraged. The instructor will provide answers and comments, and at the end of the week, you will receive individual feedback on your homework answers.

Time Requirements

This is a 4-week course requiring 10-15 hours per week of review and study, at times of your choosing.

Homework

The homework in this course consists of short answer questions to test concepts, guided exercises in writing code, and guided data analysis problems using software.

Course Text

The required course material is ActivEpi courseware, available free online at http://activepi.herokuapp.com . Click “Sign up” in the upper-right, enter the information requested, then confirm your registration via email.  Next, use the “log in” button to enter your email address and password, and click the “ActiveEpi Web” course.  This courseware contains everything you need to complete the course, but, if you wish, you may purchase a printed version of a companion guide here. The courseware is also available in CD form (Windows only) from the publisher, Springer, or other retailers such as Amazon.com (“ActivEpi CD”). 

Software

This course does not have a software requirement.

Course Fee & Information

Enrollment
Courses may fill up at any time and registrations are processed in the order in which they are received. Your registration will be confirmed for the first available course date unless you specify otherwise.

Transfers and Withdrawals
We have flexible policies to transfer to another course or withdraw if necessary.

Group Rates
Contact us to get information on group rates.

Discounts
Academic affiliation?  In most courses you are eligible for a discount at checkout.

New to Statistics.com?  Click here for a special introductory discount code.  

Invoice or Purchase Order
Add $50 service fee if you require a prior invoice, or if you need to submit a purchase order or voucher, pay by wire transfer or EFT, or refund and reprocess a prior payment.

Options for Credit and Recognition

This course is eligible for the following credit and recognition options:

No Credit
You may take this course without pursuing credit or a record of completion.

Mastery or Certificate Program Credit
If you are enrolled in mastery or certificate program that requires demonstration of proficiency in this subject, your course work may be assessed for a grade.

CEUs and Proof of Completion
If you require a “Record of Course Completion” along with professional development credit in the form of Continuing Education Units (CEU’s), upon successfully completing the course, CEU’s and a record of course completion will be issued by The Institute upon your request.

Supplemental Information

There is no supplemental content for this course.

Miscellaneous

There is no additional information for this course.

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Designing Valid Statistical Studies
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