HAD5315H

HAD5302H Measurement in Clinical Research
HAD5316H – Biostatistics II: Advanced Techniques in Applied Regression Methods

This course will cover topics in measurement theory and application beyond the basic principles covered in HAD5302H, Measurement in Clinical Research. Specifically, it will cover the theory, application and interpretation of more advanced approaches and statistical techniques including exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, introduction to structural equation modeling, item response theory approaches (including Rasch analysis), measurement error, minimally clinically important differences, and benchmarks for acceptable states, and discrete choice experiments and conjoint analysis. The course mainly will be structured such that the first week will provide the theory and with the subsequent week(s) providing discussion of study design issues and interpretation of data output. Students will not be analyzing data.

The intent of the course is that students will understand the theory of the approach such that they can consider when the application is appropriate to use and critique published work from a methodological and interpretive perspective.

Students will be responsible for writing a structured synopsis/review (maximum two pages) on three topics, each worth 33.3% of the final grade. The review topics include: 1) confirmatory factor analysis/SEM; 2) measurement error and minimally clinically important differences; and 3) item response theory approaches. The articles to be reviewed will be provided to students two weeks prior to the review due date.