NNEK16000U CANCELLED: Applied Biostatistics in Nutrition and Physiology

Volume 2016/2017
Education

MSc Programme in Human Nutrition

Content

Focus will be on standard descriptive methods and parametric statistical models, especially analysis of variance and regression models including models for repeated measurements. It will be a modern approach towards the use of statistical methods, reflecting current practice in the research activities at NEXS w.r.t. publication of scientific articles and reports. Construction of appropriate models will be a key theme, i.e., how to translate study designs into suitable model specifications. Estimation of relevant parameters such as means, differences, and slope coefficients will be covered. In particular, adjustment for covariates and confounders as well as structural effects due to the study design will also be covered. Assessment of uncertainty of estimates in the different models by means of confidence intervals and standard errors and, also, related approaches to hypothesis testing using p-values will also be an integral part of the course. Statistical methods will mainly be introduced and discussed through reading of selected parts of publications and other relevant literature. The course will be project-based such that participants mainly will work on own data in project groups. The statistical environment R will be used throughout the course.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

The participants will have acquired knowledge on applied statistical analysis of a number of key study designs used in nutritional and physiology research. The participant will know 1) how to approach model construction, 2) which quantities are relevant to estimate and report, and 3) how to take variation and uncertainty in data into consideration in the appreciation of obtained findings.

Skills

For a number of important study designs the participant will be able to carry out both descriptive summaries as well as to apply state-of-the-art statistical methodology for the quantification of intervention effects in randomized controlled trials and associations in exploratory studies.

Competences

At the level required for smaller journal articles and master thesis reports, the participant will know how to choose between and apply relevant statistical methods and, subsequently, to evaluate and interpret results obtained from applying these methods.

Course literature will be announced at study start on Absalon.

Lectures, group work with supervision and exercises.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Exam Preparation
  • 20
  • Lectures
  • 4
  • Practical exercises
  • 48
  • Preparation
  • 133
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 30 minutes
Written assignment, during course
Hand-in of written group project report during the course. Oral examination in the group report (20 min presentation and 10 min examination). Project report and oral exam both count 50% in the final grade.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Exam period

Internal grading. More assessors.

Re-exam

The re-exam will be like the ordinary oral exam. No new project report is required for the re-exam, but it must have been approved previously. If this is not the case then the project report must be submitted for approval two weeks before the student can sign up for the oral re-examination.

Criteria for exam assesment

Please see "Learning outcomes".