Overview
Design of studies to address different types of research questions. Survey methods, experimental and observational studies, measurement, control of confounding and bias, evaluation of competing designs, determination of study size.
The reliability of the findings from a research study depends critically on the design of the study. An understanding of the principles of study design is important for all consumers of scientific research, and essential for all those who will be carrying out scientific research. The aim of this paper is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to translate a research aim into specific study objectives, construct a study design to address the objective(s), and write a plan for the statistical analysis. Students will also learn skills in critical evaluation of published research papers.
About this paper
| Paper title | Design of Research Studies |
|---|---|
| Subject | Statistics |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $981.75 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- (PSYC 210 or STAT 210 or STAT 241) or (STAT 110 or STAT 115 and 54 points at 200 level or above)
- Restriction
- STAT 251, STAT 424
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Science
- Eligibility
Students are expected to have either completed STAT 210 or to have an understanding of introductory statistics plus 200-level knowledge of another discipline.
- Contact
- Teaching staff
Professor Katrina Sharples
Dr Conor Kresin
- Paper Structure
Main topics:
- Understanding research questions, aims and objectives
- Validity and reliability in measurement
- Sources of variation and correlation
- Confounding, mediation and effect modification
- Survey design
- Design of experiments
- Observational studies and causal inference
- Co-design
- Ethics
- Research frameworks for Māori engagement
- Textbooks
Textbooks are not required for this paper.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Ethics, Research, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
The aim of this paper is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to translate a research aim into specific study objectives, construct a study design to address the objective(s), and write a plan for the statistical analysis.
Specifically, on completion of this paper students will be able to:
- Distinguish different types of studies and identify appropriate designs for addressing different types of research questions
- Describe the roles of confounders, mediators and effect modifiers in a study design and analysis and determine an appropriate estimand to address the research question
- Identify the relevant sources of variation and correlation and the units of replication
- Identify potential sources of bias in a study and design a study to minimise bias
- Design and plan the analysis for:
- a complex survey
- an experiment
- an observational study
- Carry out a statistical evaluation of a study design, including power and sample size determination
- Describe the ethical considerations in the design, conduct, analysis and reporting of a research study
Timetable
Overview
Design of studies to address different types of research questions. Survey methods, experimental and observational studies, measurement, control of confounding and bias, evaluation of competing designs, determination of study size.
The reliability of the findings from a research study depends critically on the design of the study. An understanding of the principles of study design is important for all consumers of scientific research, and essential for all those who will be carrying out scientific research. The aim of this paper is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to translate a research aim into specific study objectives, construct a culturally appropriate study design to address the objective(s), and determine a suitable statistical analysis.
About this paper
| Paper title | Design of Research Studies |
|---|---|
| Subject | Statistics |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2025 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- (PSYC 210 or STAT 210 or STAT 241) or (STAT 110 or STAT 115 and 54 points at 200 level or above)
- Restriction
- STAT 251, STAT 424
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Science
- Eligibility
Students are expected to have either completed STAT 210 or to have an understanding of introductory statistics plus 200-level knowledge of another discipline.
- Contact
- Teaching staff
- Paper Structure
Modules:
· Research questions, causation and models
· Measurement
· Surveys
· Experiments
· Observational studies
· Māori research
· Ethics
- Teaching Arrangements
Teaching arrangements: There will be 3 lectures and one tutorial per week. Tutorials are structured and involve group work that forms part of the assessments so attendance is strongly encouraged.
- Textbooks
Textbooks are not required for this paper.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Research, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course students will be able to:
1. Distinguish different types of studies and identify appropriate designs, including consideration of co-design, for addressing different types of research questions
2. Describe the roles of confounders, mediators, and effect modifiers in a study design and analysis, and determine an appropriate estimand to address the research question
3. Identify the relevant sources of variation and correlation, and the units of replication
4. Identify potential sources of bias in a study and design a study to minimise bias
5. Describe the ethical considerations (western and tikanga), the role of culturally informed co-design in the design, conduct, analysis and reporting of a research study
6. Design and plan the analysis for:
a. a complex survey
b. an experiment
c. an observational study
7. Carry out a statistical evaluation of a study design, including power and sample size determination.
- Assessment details
Assessment consists of:
· 5 fortnightly Assignments each contributing 3% of the final grade. One of these (Assignment 5) will be a group project on co-design of research.
· A group project, designing a research study, due at the end of the course, which will contribute 10% of the final grade.
· One 1 hour open book mid-semester test contributing 15% of the final grade.
· A final exam, 3 hours long contributing 60% of the final grade.