Overview
This advanced course examines the integration of heterogeneous data and the synthesis of evidence across studies, sources, and analytic traditions. Topics include data discovery and provenance; schemas, metadata, ontologies, identifiers, interoperability; data cleaning, harmonisation, transformation, record linkage, entity resolution, and deduplication; and the integration of structured, unstructured, administrative, survey, sensor, and qualitative data.
Students address measurement alignment, construct comparability, missingness, selection bias, measurement error, uncertainty propagation, database and data-lake concepts, reproducible pipelines, and validation of integrated datasets. The evidence-synthesis component covers systematic and scoping reviews, search strategies, screening, critical appraisal, evidence extraction, qualitative and narrative synthesis, meta-analysis, heterogeneity, publication bias, sensitivity analysis, and certainty or strength-of-evidence assessment.
Applied work requires students to determine whether sources can legitimately be combined, document transformations and inclusion decisions, quantify and communicate uncertainty, and integrate findings without overstating conclusions. Students complete a data harmonisation project, a transparent evidence-synthesis protocol, a full synthesis using appropriate tools, and an executive briefing for decision-makers.
Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate the provenance, quality, structure, and interoperability of heterogeneous data sources.
- Design reproducible workflows for data cleaning, harmonisation, transformation, record linkage, entity resolution, and deduplication.
- Assess measurement alignment, construct comparability, missingness, selection bias, measurement error, and uncertainty propagation in integrated datasets.
- Construct validated integrated datasets using appropriate database, data-lake, metadata, and pipeline concepts.
- Develop transparent search, screening, extraction, and critical-appraisal procedures for systematic and scoping reviews.
- Synthesize quantitative and qualitative evidence using appropriate narrative, qualitative, and meta-analytic methods.
- Interpret heterogeneity, publication bias, sensitivity analyses, and certainty or strength-of-evidence assessments.
- Defend inclusion decisions, transformation records, and limitations in an evidence-synthesis protocol and completed synthesis.
- Communicate integrated findings, uncertainty, limitations, and implications accurately to technical and non-technical decision-makers.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Lab | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Capstone | Data harmonisation project | 25.00% |
| Assignment | Evidence-synthesis protocol | 15.00% |
| Assignment | Integrated dataset validation report | 15.00% |
| Deliverable | Completed evidence synthesis | 25.00% |
| Deliverable | Executive evidence briefing | 10.00% |
| Attendance | Participation in workshops and tutorials (10 × 1%) | 10.00% |
Prerequisites
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.
