Imperial College London

Study Designs in Epidemiology

This course is part of Epidemiology for Public Health Specialization

Taught in English

Some content may not be translated

Filippos Filippidis

Instructor: Filippos Filippidis

13,222 already enrolled

Included with Coursera Plus

Course

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals

4.8

(564 reviews)

|

98%

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

8 hours (approximately)
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Prepare for a degree

What you'll learn

  • Compare and contrast different epidemiological study designs in order to describe their strengths and weaknesses.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

6 quizzes

Course

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals

4.8

(564 reviews)

|

98%

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

8 hours (approximately)
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Prepare for a degree

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Placeholder

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Epidemiology for Public Health Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
  • Learn new concepts from industry experts
  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
  • Earn a shareable career certificate
Placeholder
Placeholder

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV

Share it on social media and in your performance review

Placeholder

There are 4 modules in this course

The range of different study designs can be quite confusing. However, to help you navigate the maze of study designs, we can split them into groups which share common characteristics. In this module, you will be introduced to these common characteristics, and you will learn the main principles of ecological and cross-sectional studies, as well as when it is appropriate to use them. By the end of the module, you will be able to identify and critically consider the advantages and disadvantages of these study designs.

What's included

4 videos7 readings1 quiz3 discussion prompts1 plugin

This module focuses on case-control studies, which is one of the best known epidemiological study designs. Case-control studies are particularly useful when you don’t have the luxury of waiting for a long follow-up period to conclude. In this module, you will learn the key elements of case-control study design, and you will learn how to estimate the appropriate measure of association when presented with data from a case-control study.

What's included

3 videos3 readings1 quiz

Cohorts were ancient Roman military units, but in modern epidemiology the word “cohort” is used to describe a group with a shared characteristic. In cohort studies, we follow groups of people over time, we collect data on their exposure and outcome, and try to estimate whether there is an association between the group-defining characteristic and the outcome of interest. In this module, you will learn how to design such a study, the kind of problems which may arise and how it compares with case-control studies. You will also learn about nested case-control and case-cohort studies, which allow us to harness the advantages of cohort studies in more efficient ways. By the end of the module, you will be able to choose the best study design in a variety of contexts.

What's included

5 videos5 readings2 quizzes1 discussion prompt

Randomised controlled trials are often seen as the gold standard of epidemiological research, especially in clinical settings, and in this module you will learn why. You will learn the main design features of randomised clinical trials, why they are so important, and the difficulties and limitations in applying these principles in real life. By the end of this module, you will know how to design a randomised clinical trial and how to decide which is the best analytical approach for the data you have obtained.

What's included

4 videos7 readings2 quizzes1 plugin

Instructor

Instructor ratings
4.8 (126 ratings)
Filippos Filippidis
Imperial College London
4 Courses31,130 learners

Offered by

Recommended if you're interested in Public Health

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

Showing 3 of 564

4.8

564 reviews

  • 5 stars

    82.80%

  • 4 stars

    15.60%

  • 3 stars

    1.59%

  • 2 stars

    0%

  • 1 star

    0%

RI
5

Reviewed on Dec 14, 2020

ET
5

Reviewed on Jul 23, 2023

MA
4

Reviewed on May 6, 2023

New to Public Health? Start here.

Placeholder

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Frequently asked questions