| Unit name | Introduction to Epidemiology and Statistics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BRMSM0001 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Stephanie MacNeill |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Bristol Medical School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
A solid understanding of statistics and epidemiology is fundamental for public health, epidemiology and other healthcare students to navigate the complexities of public health and epidemiology, from designing studies and analysing data to informing policy decisions and identifying health disparities.
This unit will provide you with the tools and skills needed to contribute meaningfully to the improvement of population health regardless of whether you are conducting your own research or evaluating the research of others.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This compulsory unit in Teaching Block 1 will help develop your skills in epidemiology and statistics. These are valuable skills regardless of your career path. For example, for Epidemiology students, it will provide you with the essential foundations necessary to undertake more advanced statistics and epidemiology units in teaching block two. For all students it will help you to complete your dissertation, particularly if you choose a quantitative topic based on secondary analysis of existing data.
An overview of content
You will learn about the following topics:
We recognise that each of you will come to this unit with a range of prior knowledge and experience, the unit is structured using a building blocks approach starting with basic concepts and building upon these gradually. The teaching team aims to provide a supportive learning environment with opportunities to ask questions, work with other students, test your knowledge and challenge your understanding.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
At the end of this unit, you will have a good understanding of epidemiological study designs and how medical statistics can be used to address important health questions. The unit will help you design epidemiological studies appropriate for your research questions as well as be mindful of the strengths and limitations of different approaches. You will also develop the knowledge and skills needed to conduct statistical analyses of epidemiological data and interpret their results. In turn, the unit will equip you with the skills to be able to understand and appraise the research presented in reports and peer review journals.
Learning outcomes
The learning on this unit is delivered through a range of face-to-face lectures, in-person individual and group practical exercises, asynchronous lectures, online Q & A sessions and self-learning activities. For those preferring one-to-one support, a fixed number of office hours will be scheduled to allow you to discuss your learning with one of the unit leads. Opportunities to discuss key issues as a group are provided throughout the programme including a dedicated in-person Q & A session at the end of the unit in preparation for the summative assessment.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative assessment):
Each week there will be in-person and online activities in which you will get the opportunity to put into practice the learning from the previous week. This will include an in-person tutor-lead workshop where students will have time to work together on a task with tutors and peers providing feedback. To support you in completing the summative assessment, sample questions from previous years (and their model answers) will be made available.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative assessment):
The unit will be assessed using a single piece of coursework comprising a series of short-answer questions, including calculations (ILOs 1-4).
When assessment does not go to plan
If you do not pass the unit, you will normally be given the opportunity to take a reassessment as per the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes. Decisions on the award of reassessment will normally be taken after all taught units of the year have been completed. Reassessment will normally be in a similar format to the original assessment that has been failed.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. BRMSM0001).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
