Statistics and Methodology

COURSE OBJECTIVE
In the courses ’Introduction to Biomedical Sciences’ and ’Research in Biomedical Sciences’ we laid the emphasis on generating structural statistical knowledge and skills in statistical reasoning. Statistics and Methodology is a course that broadens and especially deepens this knowledge, in which the statistical reasoning, as in the critical evaluation of methods and techniques, is placed central. Broadening knowledge will take place in the first part of the course, with a selection of new techniques like analysis of variance and (multiple) regression. In-depth elements will include power and methodological (in-)dependence of data, an introduction of the philosophical background of classical statistics, and the subjects systematic review and meta-analysis. Beyond this, the student will skill him/herself in the analysis and evaluation of (scientific) reasoning. Many subjects will be illustrated based on publications from the primary scientific literature.

COURSE CONTENT
General Linear models (one way analysis of variance, two way ANOVA, (multiple) linear regression and combination of regression with ANOVA)

-Systematic review and Meta Analysis

-Theory of argumentation;

-Analyses in SPSS (or possibly JASP) and Gpower

-Analysis and review of articles

TEACHING METHODS
At least 11*2 hours lecture, of which some may be Q&A-lectures. 16*2 hours of work shops. About half of those will consist of intensely supervised work on your own laptop using SPSS and Gpower: an integration of workshop and computer practical. (We would like to keep the possibility to change to JASP instead using SPSS.) For this integrated work format extra extensively supervised time is scheduled at the end of the first part of the course.

Assignments: For the peer review report a 20 minute feedback from a teacher or assistant is offered.

TYPE OF ASSESSMENT
Written, computer based, open questions examination, in which SPSS assignments are integrated (75%). The examination will be administered in two parts; after about a month, and at the end of the course.

Peer review report assignment (group assignment) (25%) A caesura of 5.5 is applied for both the examination and the assignment. For both parts one resit is possible.