PH 7031 – Epidemiologic Methods II
(CRN: 88943)
Matthew Magee
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Faculty Accessibility
Course Basics
Fall Semester 2014
I.
Class Day/Time:
Thursdays, 1:00 to 3:30 PM
Class Location:
34 Peachtree Building (Peachtree Street Building), Room 504
Prerequisite(s):
PH 7021 Epidemiologic Methods I
Required Course
Materials
Rothman, K. Epidemiology: an introduction. Oxford University Press,
2012. (ISBN-10: 0199754551)
Instructor(s) of
Record:
Matthew J Magee, PhD MPH
Office Location:
Rm. 710 One Park Place
Phone Number(s):
404-413-1797
Email:
mjmagee@gsu.edu
Office Hours:
Office hours by appointment
Course Description:
The methodological issues important to the design of epidemiologic studies of both infectious and
noninfectious disease will be covered at an intermediate level. The material to be covered is intended to
broaden and extend the student’s understanding of the elements of study design, data analysis, and
inference in epidemiologic research, including issues related to causation, bias and confounding. The
primary aims of the course are to provide a working knowledge of the fundamentals of epidemiology as
well as to serve as a foundation for more advanced study of epidemiologic methods. The course will
provide the student with a rigorous approach to critical reading of the medical literature. Each week
articles reporting on research using varied designs and methods will be reviewed in order to illustrate
the application of epidemiologic principles. By the end of the course, the student will be able to critique
an article and identify its strengths and weaknesses. The course will consist of lectures. This course is
formally PH7270 Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods.
II. Course Objectives / Competency / Assessment of Student Learning:
Course Objectives
1. Understand how scientific research methods are used to create and test epidemiologic
hypotheses.
2. Understand key assumptions, limitations, and methods of assessing causality using
epidemiologic methods.
3. Identify appropriate analytic strategies for various study designs.
4. Calculate measures of disease frequency and measures of disease association using SAS, and
provide interpretation of these measures.
5. Use analytic reasoning and quantitative methods to adjust for error in observational studies.
Competencies
This course is designed to support students in acquiring competence in the following three areas, as
indicated in the School of Public Health Graduate Student Handbook (see MPH Core Competencies).
 Interpret and communicate, via oral and written form to professional and lay audiences, the
results of statistical analyses. (MPH Core Competency #3)
 Calculate and interpret common epidemiologic measures to draw appropriate inferences. (MPH
Core Competency #4)
 Critically evaluate strengths and weaknesses of epidemiologic methods. (MPH Core Competency
#5)
Assessment of Student Learning
Course Objectives (see above)
Program Competency
Objective 1. Hypotheses
EPID 1, 3, 6
Objective 2. Causality
EPID 2, 3, 5
Objective 3. Analytic strategy
EPID 4 and 5
Objective 4. Calculation, Interpretation
EPID 2, 5, 6
Objective 5. Adjusting for error
EPID 2, 5, 6
Assessment Method(s)
In class discussions, problem sets, and
analysis exercises
In class discussions, problem sets,
article presentations, midterm, & final
Analysis exercises, midterm, & final
In class discussions, analysis exercises,
and final
Analysis exercises, midterm, and final
III. Course Assignments and Requirements
This course assumes substantial and informed student participation. General discussion of theory and
practice is encouraged and expected of all students. At a minimum, being informed requires class
attendance, completion of assigned readings and homework, and preparation for exams. Class
attendance and thoughtful participation are important and will be reflected in part in the final grade.
Please notify the instructor of an absence before the class.
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Course assignments will contribute to the final grade as follows:
1. Problem Sets (2)
20%
2. Analysis exercises (2)
20%
3. Participation: Quizzes, short homework, article presentations, attendance
15%
4. Midterm
20%
5. Final
25%
1. Problem Sets (20%)
 Two problem sets will be assigned that require calculations and short answers.
 Students may work together on problem sets.
2. Analysis exercises (20%)
 Two data analysis projects are planned to prepare students to generate tables and multivariable
models for presentation of epidemiologic data at research conferences or in manuscripts.
 A class dataset will be provided for the analyses, or students may use their own data.
 Instruction for analysis exercises will be performed with SAS; however, students may use any
software program to complete the assignments.
3. Participation: Quizzes, short homework, article presentations, attendance (15%):
 In-class quizzes may be announced or unannounced.
 Short homework assignments will be given at the end of class and may cover concepts from the
lecture or relate to the analysis exercises (see assignment 2).
 Each student will be assigned to a group that is responsible for presenting a journal article and
leading class discussion. Journal articles must be chosen in consultation with the instructor at
least 8 days prior to the presentation.
 Attendance will be taken (unannounced) periodically through the semester and count toward
your grade. Quizzes also count toward attendance and cannot be made-up.
4. Midterm (20%)
 Will be take home.
 Students may not work together.
 Will require calculations and short answers.
5. Final (25%)
 In class.
 Will require calculations and short answers.
IV.
Grading Policy
Grading Scale:
90 – 100
80 – 89
70 – 79
60 – 69
A
B
C
D
Below 60
F
Rules for Withdrawls and Incompletes will follow official Georgia State University policy:
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Withdrawals: A student who withdrawals at any time up to the mid-point of the quarter will be
assigned a W or WF depending upon whether he/she is doing satisfactory work at the time of
withdrawal. An average grade of D or F at the time of withdrawal will be assigned a grade of
WF. After the mid-point of the quarter, the Registrar’s Office will assign an automatic WF to
any student who withdraws from the course without a hardship withdrawal. If a student
receives permission to withdraw under hardship, the Instructor will assign a W or WF grade
depending upon the student’s work up to the point of time that the student withdrew.
Incompletes: A student will be given the grade I only if nonacademic circumstances beyond the
student’s control prevent the student from completing a small segment of the course—e.g., the
final examination. For a student to receive the grade of I, he/she must be doing satisfactory
work (an average grade of C or better) up to the point that he/she could not continue.
Arrangements must be made with Instructor to remove the incomplete grade within one
quarter.
V.
Attendance and Class Participation Policy
Attendance is required and will be reflected in part in the final grade.
VI.
Late Assignments and Make-up Examination Policy
Late assignments are not accepted. Make-up exams are not provided, except in hardship cases
that should be discussed in advance with the Instructor. There is no scheduled make-up time
for exams.
This class policy of no credit for a late submission is a direct result of a recent development in
professional academia. Students should understand this new professional standard, as it is now
commonly applied to deadlines for submission of grant applications to the CDC, NIH, NSF, and other
funding agencies, as well as conference abstracts, etc.
The importance of this policy has several aspects:
Recognition: You should be rewarded for a timely submission with an opportunity to receive
credit for your effort.
Fairness:
It is unfair for any one student to receive more time to prepare homework
solutions. All students in the class will receive the same opportunity to be graded
according to the same amount of time made available to them to complete each
assignment.
Conduct:
It is reasonable to expect a high degree of professionalism in a graduate
program. This includes being on time, knowing the policies, and adhering to
them.
VII.
Syllabus Deviation Policy
The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary.
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VIII.
Student Code of Conduct and Policy on Academic Honesty
All students at this University are expected to engage in academic pursuits on their won
with complete honesty and integrity. Any student found guilty of dishonesty in any phase of
academic work will be subject to disciplinary action. The complete Academic Honesty policy
is located in the GSU Graduate Catalog, Section 1350: http://enrollment.gsu.edu/catalogs/.
Students and faculty are expected to review and conform to the university’s policy on
academic honesty. Information on the Student Code of Conduct and related policies and
procedures are available at: http://codeofconduct.gsu.edu/.
Special attention should be paid to the sections on plagiarism and multiple submissions:
Plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as, “appropriating and putting forth as one’s own
the ideas, language, or designs of another” (The Living Webster, 1975) – and it is
strictly forbidden. Written and oral presentations must be a student’s own work.
Students plagiarizing or cheating in any form will face disciplinary action which could
result in an “F” in this course and suspension or expulsion from the University.
Copying from written materials, presentations, websites, etc. without source
acknowledgement and referencing is plagiarism. Read it, appreciate it, learn from it,
and make sure you source it – and then reflect it with your own thoughts and words!
If you are uncertain about what constitutes plagiarism, please contact the instructor.
Multiple Submissions. It is a violation of academic honesty to submit substantial
portions of the same work for credit more than once without the explicit consent of
the faculty member(s) to whom the material is submitted for additional credit. In
cases in which there is a natural development of research or knowledge in a
sequence of courses, use of prior work may be desirable, even required; however,
the student is responsible for indicating in writing, as a part of such use, that the
current work submitted for credit is cumulative in nature.
IX.
Disability Accommodations Policy
Students who wish to request accommodation for a disability may do so by registering with
the GSU Office of Disability Services. Students may only be accommodated upon issuance
by the Office of Disability Services of a signed Accommodation Plan and are responsible for
providing a copy of that plan to instructors of all classes in which an accommodation is
sought. The Office of Disability Services is located in the GSU Student Center, Suite 230 and
online here: http://disability.gsu.edu/.
X.
Course Evaluations Statement
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Your constructive assessment of this course plays an indispensable role in shaping
education at Georgia State. Upon completing this course, please take time to fill out the
online course evaluation.
XI.
Career Services
The School of Public Health provides career services & student leadership opportunities
(student clubs & organizations) to all current SPH students and alumni. SPH Career Services
can help students with resume writing, interviewing, job searching, internship development,
and professional networking. Students are invited to attend our career events and
workshops, and individualized career counseling appointments can be arranged. To see
what career panels, career fairs, and events are available this semester, please visit:
http://publichealth.gsu.edu/students/career-resources/. The SPH Career Services office is
co-located with the Office of Academic Assistance in room 640 at One Park Place.
XII.
Additional Policies
Communication
Students should check Desire2Learn at least every other day especially before arriving to
class. The syllabus, any changes to the syllabus, lecture slides and homework will be posted to
Desire2Learn. Should you have any questions about the course or its requirements, please ask
your question during class or contact the instructor via Desire2Learn. Students also may make
an appointment to meet with the Instructor on class concerns. Should you wish to contact the
instructor about your grades, please address them in writing or in person.
Copyright Policy
For the purpose of copyright, students must adhere to the following rules:
1) Materials in the course reserves may only be accessed by a passcode or password by
students enrolled in that course, and only for the semester of course enrollment.
2) Students may not distribute copies of course reserves materials to other students.
Electronics
Laptop computers are not permissible during lecture unless otherwise stated. One reason for this is to
minimize distractions to other students. Out of respect for your fellow students and the instructor,
please silence your cell phone and/or other devices, turn it off, or set it to vibrate. Please do not text
message during class.
You will need a handheld calculator that allows you to carry out basic arithmetic and includes a natural
logarithm function. You may not use your phone or computer calculator function or application in this
course. Please check with me if any questions about this.
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XIII.
Tentative course schedule, topics, and readings
Session
1
Date
8-28-14
2
9-4-14
3
9-11-14
4
9-18-14
5
9-25-14
TOPIC
Causal theory and strategy for
epidemiologic analyses
Stating analysis objectives; Exploratory
data analysis
Statistics for epidemiology; testing
hypotheses, p-values and 95% confidence
intervals
Confounding and approaches to
adjustment
Logistic regression
6
10-2-14
Logistic regression
Group C article discussion
7
10-9-14
Proportionate hazards regression
Problem Set 1
8
10-16-14
Group D article discussion
9
10-23-14
Model building strategies; data cleaning;
DAGS and application modelling
Experimental studies
Midterm due
Kleinbaum/Klein 2†: Chapt 1, 2,
3
Robins PMID: 11338312
Greenland PMID: 9888278
Hill PMID: 13046664
10
10-30-14
Meta-analysis; Ecologic analysis
Group E article discussion
Moher PMID: 19621072
11
11-6-14
Analysis Exercise 2
Rothman: Chap 11
12
11-13-14
Statistical interaction, effect modification,
biologic interaction
Building a study; Questionnaire validity
Problem Set 2
Willett PMID 11744515
13
11-20-14
Analysis appropriate to design, critiquing
the literature
Group F article discussion
Pearce PMID: 8144304
11-27-14
14
12-4-14
ASSIGNMENTS
Short Homework 1: Aims
Group A article discussion
Group B article discussion
Analysis Exercise 1
READINGS etc.
Rothman: Chapts 1 & 3
Haynes PMID: 16895808
Farrugia PMID: 20646403
Rothman: Chapt 8
Rothman: Chapt 10
Greenland PMID: 19732410
Rothman: Chapt 12
Kleinbaum/Klein 1*: Chapt 1 & 2
Kleinbaum/Klein 1*: Chapt 3
THANKSGIVING
Scientific writing and manuscript
preparation
Brown: Chapt 3
Samet PMID: 10472941
*Kleinbaum 1 Can be accessed on-line: http://ezproxy.gsu.edu/login?url=http://site.ebrary.com/lib/gastate/docDetail.action?docID=10396936
†Kleinbaum 2 Can be accessed on-line: http://site.ebrary.com/lib/gastate/detail.action?docID=10229012
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