Overview
This culminating course develops the capacity to conduct an end-to-end biostatistical investigation using a substantial biomedical, clinical, epidemiological, or public health dataset. Students scope a project, review relevant literature, formulate research questions and hypotheses, define variables, select an appropriate study design, and address power and sample-size considerations.
Students apply methods from regression, experimental design, survival analysis, longitudinal analysis, and categorical data analysis as appropriate to their project. Emphasis is placed on data management, exploratory analysis, model diagnostics, sensitivity and subgroup analyses, reproducible statistical computing, ethical practice, and responsible interpretation of findings.
Each student produces a written manuscript, visual presentation, and oral defense. The course emphasizes methodological reasoning, transparent documentation of analytical decisions, project management, constructive response to feedback, evaluation of threats to validity, and clear communication for scientific and public health audiences.
Learning Outcomes
- Formulate a substantive biomedical, clinical, epidemiological, or public health question as an analyzable statistical investigation.
- Design a defensible study and statistical analysis plan, including operational definitions, hypotheses, power considerations, and sample-size justification.
- Select and justify appropriate statistical methods for regression, experimental, survival, longitudinal, or categorical data analyses.
- Implement technically sound data management, exploratory analysis, modeling, and diagnostic procedures in statistical software.
- Evaluate model assumptions, threats to validity, sources of bias, confounding, effect modification, and limitations through sensitivity and subgroup analyses.
- Produce reproducible analytical workflows with clearly documented code, data decisions, outputs, and versioned project materials.
- Interpret statistical results responsibly in relation to the substantive question, uncertainty, study design, and ethical considerations.
- Synthesize analytical findings into a rigorous manuscript and visual presentation for scientific and public health audiences.
- Defend methodological choices and respond constructively to technical questions and peer or instructor feedback.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Lab | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Fortnightly | All semester |
| Seminar | 1 hour | Fortnightly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Project proposal and preliminary literature review | 10.00% |
| Deliverable | Reproducible data management and analysis plan | 15.00% |
| Assignment | Interim statistical analysis report and code review | 15.00% |
| Attendance | Project management, collaboration, and feedback participation | 10.00% |
| Capstone | Written capstone manuscript | 25.00% |
| Capstone | Visual presentation and oral defense | 20.00% |
| Assignment | Individual reflective critique | 5.00% |
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.