Statistical Methods for Design and Analysis of Randomized Trials

Catalog description

Modern account of methods for the design and analysis of trials in health research, with emphasis on randomized studies. Intended for students familiar with introductory statistics at the level of PHP2510 or PHP2515 and regression analysis at the level of PHP2511 or PHP 2514/2560. After an examination of the typology of trials, the discussion will turn to the building blocks of trial design, including goals and endpoints, methods for intervention assignment, and use of blinding. The rest of the course will be devoted to statistical methods for designing, implementing, and analyzing the results of trials. Although the emphasis will be on frequentist methods, the course will also discuss how trials can be approached within the Bayesian statistical paradigm. Causal inference thinking will be introduced early in the course. Examples from published trials will be used to illustrate concepts and methods.