Research Methods/Epidemiology

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/B_OZMEPIDEM

Course Objective

To gain knowledge and understanding of research methods commonly used in human movement sciences and musculoskeletal physiotherapy sciences (epidemiology, regression analysis, research designs, prognostic research, diagnostic research, clinical effectiveness research designs, systematic reviews, statistics in experimental research).To be able to apply knowledge to formulate new research questions, to select appropriate research designs, to correctly select and perform statistical procedures using SPSS software, to interpret the output properly and to communicate the methods and findings correctly.To be able to use appropriate knowledge and tools to critically appraise the quality of scientific research in human movement sciences, musculoskeletal physiotherapy sciences and related fields.To reach a level of understanding of clinical epidemiology, experimental research and statistics that enables participation in the debate about strengths and limitations of specific research designs and statistical procedures, and that enables effective communication and collaboration with other clinicians, researchers, epidemiologists and statisticians.

Course Content

In this course, the student will become familiar with the research methodology and statistical analyses that are frequently used in human movement sciences and musculoskeletal physiotherapy sciences. The student will also learn how to use SPSS for statistical analyses and how to interpret and document the output in relation to research questions.

Teaching Methods

Preparation time lectures: 56 hours Online lectures: 16 hours Practical assignments: 44 hours Exam preparation: 46 hours Exams: 7 hours

Method of Assessment

Learning outcomes are assessed via one theoretical and two practical examinations. The theoretical examination (40% of total score) consists of short answer questions. In the practical examinations, with one practical examination accounting for 40% of total score and the other practical examination accounting for 20% of total score, students are requested to analyse datasets using SPSS software. All examinations are must-pass components (≥5.5/10).

Literature

Field (2018) Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (5th or 4th edition) Fletcher (2021) Clinical epidemiology (6th edition) De Vet (2011) Measurement in Medicine