Clinical&Translational Science: Analyze Clin&Translational Res

Seminar emphasizing basic and analytical skills for clinical and translational research. Prerequisite: CTS 6200 or Instructor permission.

Grad level or instructor permission required. Open to PACE students; Online synchronous (fully remote)

CTS 6200 is designed for fellows, junior faculty, CTS degree candidates, and others wishing to develop basic analytical skills for clinical research, translational research, or critical reading skills. The course covers basic data considerations and descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, and bivariate analyses. The course assumes no prior statistical experience and mathematics will be kept to minimum, requiring no higher comprehension than high school algebra. Course objectives: Upon completion of the course, the student will: 1. Generate and interpret descriptive statistics for a given dataset 2. Apply fundamental probability and measurement concepts to hypothesis testing, statistical power, and confidence intervals. 3. Determine the appropriate analytical technique given a specific research question, hypothesis, and dataset. 4. Assess if specific statistical assumptions are satisfied, and if not, determine the appropriate alternative analysis. 5. Interpret the results of the analysis 6. Be prepared to take a course on regression and multivariable analysis

Classes will provide a small group interactive seminar approach. Student analyses of sample datasets will be completed on a weekly basis. Prior to class participants will complete a homework assignment. Homework assignments may include answering questions, solving problems, and reading papers. Each class session will consist of a question and answer period, review of the previous homework, and other analyses conducted as a lab. This will comprise the first 90 minutes of class. The last hour will be a lecture on new material. There will be a take-home midterm part way through the semester and a take-home final to be completed before the final session. In addition, students will work on projects (see description below) during the second half of the semester. The final class sessions will be presentations of the projects and review of the final examination. Projects: Students will work in pairs to analyze a dataset of their choice or one provided by us. Students will define variables, determine appropriate statistical tests to compare two groups on a number of variables, and present the findings to the class. The course is not meant to educate learners in the use of a statistical program. Any statistical program may be used to complete the course assignments, however the course will be taught using Stata. Students conducting research with the CTS department should be aware that Stata is the only program supported by this unit. Also, Stata will be the software used in the multivariable course (CTS 6250) in the spring. There is no required text.

Student performance will be evaluated in four areas of the course: - 25% Participation and Discussion - 25% Midterm - 25% Project - 25% Final examination (cumulative) Students are expected to attend class, read all assigned materials in advance of class meetings, generate weekly analyses, and participate in class discussions. Weekly analytical homework, readings, and journal articles will be presented and assigned each class period. Homework will be discussed in class but not graded.