STUDY DESIGN: WRITING A STUDY PROPOSAL (2400)ORGANISER: Professor Ian Roberts DATES: 9 January 2012 to 8 February 2012 (9:00am Monday to 12:30pm Wednesday)
AIM
To enable participants to design a study and write a proposal on a contemporary issue in epidemiology and public health.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this module students should be able to:
- define a research question;
- make a systematic review of the relevant research evidence and understand the steps needed to avoid systematic and random error;
- choose an appropriate and ethical epidemiological study design;
- understand key methodological issues including inclusion and exclusion criteria, sample size and outcome assessment;
- prepare a detailed protocol encompassing (i) to (iv).
CONSTITUENCY
This module presumes an understanding of the material covered in Term 1 modules in Basic or Extended Epidemiology and Statistics for Epidemiology and Population Health. Students who have not attended these modules need to contact the Module Organiser to discuss their eligibility. It is intended for those working in either developing or developed countries. It offers participants an in-depth and highly specific consideration of key issues in the evaluation of the effectiveness of public health interventions.
CONCEPTUAL OUTLINE
This module will focus on the main methodological issues involved in putting together a research proposal. Because a systematic review of the existing research evidence is a prerequisite for the scientific and ethical design of a new research study, it will include systematic review methodology.
TEACHING STRATEGY
Teaching methods will involve lectures and group work. The group work will focus on the development of a research proposal that will form the basis of the assessment.
LEARNING TIME
The module is made up of 150 Notional Learning Hours – 20 hours contact time, 60 hours directed self-study, 30 hours self-directed learning, and 40 hours assessment, review and revision.
ASSESSMENT
Participants will be expected to prepare a detailed written protocol.
FEE
£1,600 including access to LSHTM library and learning resources, study materials and assessment.
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