Basic methods and reasoning in Biostatistics - February 2020

The course is fully booked! Please be informed that if you subscribe yourself for the waiting list you are not be able to participate in this course but in the course of September 2020 (7 - 11 September 2020). You will automatically get informed (the end of March) as soon you are able to register for the course in September.

The LUMC course ‘Basic Methods and Reasoning in Biostatistics’ covers the fundamental toolbox of biostatistical methods plus a solid methodological basis to properly interpret statistical results. The course is a mandatory part of the LUMC Graduate School Program and a prerequisite for any of the advanced biostatistical courses offered by the LUMC. This is a basic course, targeted at a wide audience. The course is given during a single week, followed by a final examination on the next Tuesday.

In the e-learning part of the course, we will cover the basic methods of data description and statistical inference (t-test, one-way ANOVA and their non-parametric counterparts, chi-square test, correlation and simple linear regression). For participants who are new to data analysis, the e-learning offers step-by-step guidance on how to perform these procedures in SPSS. Participants who are used to working with R, can do the exercises in R instead of SPSS. Participants who have already studied the e-learning topics in previous courses can use the e-learning as a refresher and work through the modules more quickly.

In the lectures, several statistical experts will discuss topics related to the reasoning part of biostatistics. Subjects covered are among others: study design, bias, multiple testing, good statistical practice, sample size calculation, pros and cons of p-values. For participants with more solid statistical backgrounds two elective lectures on advanced topics are offered: modern prediction techniques and bootstrapping.

• Every morning lectures start at 9.30.
• Every afternoon participants work individually in the electronic learning environment on their own PCs/laptops on their own workplace. For participants who do not have their workplace at the LUMC we book a separate room where you can work. An online forum is available for posing questions during these afternoons.
• On Tuesday and Friday morning 9.00-9.30, question about the e-learning are discussed live during a general question session.
• Please note that you have to sign the attendance list every day

Make sure you have either SPSS or R (according to your preference) installed on your computer to work through the exercises. You can find an SPSS trial version at https://www.ibm.com/analytics/spss-trials. R is a free software environment and can be downloaded from the R project website. Contact the ICT department if you need help with the installation.

Prerequisites

• Secondary school mathematics. No prior knowledge of biostatistics required.

Teaching environment

• Lectures and e-learning including practical sessions with SPSS or R.

Recommended book

• Aviva Petrie & Caroline Sabin (for reference purposes only; not used during course)
  Medical Statistics at a Glance.
  ISBN 0-632-05075-6

Exam

• The exam assesses your knowledge of the topics discussed in the e-learning part of the course
• The exam will take place on Tuesday 18 February 2020 in the main building, J1-82 and J1-84 during four exam time slots

Please note: after February 3rd it is not possible anymore to switch from exam time slot.

For more information

• Please see this introductory video about the course: video.

LUMC

Participation fee for employees LUMC/PhD Students    €  150

Participation fee outside LUMC                                      €  950

Bachelor/master students of the Leiden University are free of charge**  
**Participation is free of charge for bachelor and master students of the Leiden University but only when you fill in your student email address and your student number.

Please be informed that we can ask you to show your student pass at the registration desk.

Please note that a fee will be charged to LUMC students who do not attend courses or who are too late with cancelling their participation of the course.