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.
Overview
This course covers issues that need to be 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.
- Introductory
- 4 Weeks
- Expert Instructor
- Tuiton-Back Guarantee
- 100% Online
- TA Support
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 vs. precision
- Identify and minimize selection bias, information bias, and confounding
Who Should Take This Course
Researchers who need to design, or review the designs of, statistical studies.
Our Instructors
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
Prerequisites
The mathematics level in this course is basic algebra.
The Statistics.com courses have helped me a lot, pushing me to the limit and making me learn much more than I expected I could. The knowledge I gained I could immediately leverage in my job … then eventually led to landing a job in my dream company – Amazon.
Karolis Urbonas
This program has been a life and work game changer for me. Within 2 weeks of taking this class, I was able to produce far more than I ever had before.
Susan Kamp
The material covered in the Analytics for Data Science Certificate will be indispensable in my work. I can’t wait to take other courses. Great work!
Stephen McAllister
I learned more in the past 6 weeks than I did taking a full semester of statistics in college, and 10 weeks of statistics in graduate school. Seriously.
Amir Aminimanizani
This is the best online course I have ever taken. Very well prepared. Covers a lot of real-life problems. Good job, thank you very much!
Elena Rose
The more courses I take at Statistics.com, the more appreciation I have for the smart approach, quality of instructors, assistants, admin and program. Well done!
Leonardo Nagata
This course greatly benefited me because I am interested in working in AI. It has given me solid foundational knowledge…After completing this last course, I feel I have gained valuable skills that will enhance my employability in Data Science, opening up diverse career opportunities.
Richard Jackson
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What is your satisfaction guarantee and how does it work?
-
Can I transfer or withdraw from a course?
-
Who are the instructors at Statistics.com?
Visit our knowledge base and learn more.
Additional Information
Time Requirements
About 15 hours per week, at times of your choosing.
Course Text
The required course material is ActivEpi courseware, available free online at https://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”).
Supplemental Information
Literacy, Accessibility, and Dyslexia
At Statistics.com, we aim to provide a learning environment suitable for everyone. To help you get the most out of your learning experience, we have researched and tested several assistance tools. For students with dyslexia, colorblindness, or reading difficulties, we recommend the following web browser add-ons and extensions:
Chrome
- Color Enhancer (for colorblindness)
- HelperBird (for colorblindness, dyslexia, and reading difficulties)
Firefox
- Mobile Dyslexic
- Color Vision Simulation (native accessibility feature)
- Other native accessibility features instructions
Safari
- Navidys (for colorblindness, dyslexia, and reading difficulties)
- HelperBird for Safari (for colorblindness, dyslexia, and reading difficulties)