HSC3102 : Topics in Medical Statistics and Health Data Science
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Nan Lin
- Co-Module Leader: Professor James Wason
- Owning School: Population Health Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To develop a broad understanding of a range of topics in medical statistics, and in health and medical research. To acquire skills in analysing and interpreting health data, with a focus on the design and analysis of medical studies. The module will cover topics such as observational studies and causal inference. Students will learn to apply statistical methods to real-world medical data, enhancing their ability to contribute to advancements in medical research and public health.
Outline Of Syllabus
This module will introduce students to a range of topics in medical statistics and health data science. The anticipated syllabus is given below, although there may be changes to reflect recent developments.
Counterfactual outcome, causal effects, the perfect doctor, ignorability, Simpson’s Paradox, confounding, Directed Acyclic Graphs, measurements in medical statistics and inferences, biases in observational studies and remedies
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 5 | 1:00 | 5:00 | Problem classes |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Unseen exam |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Revision lectures |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Formal lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 2 | 4:00 | 8:00 | Completion of in course assessments |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 25 | 1:00 | 25:00 | Background reading on lectured content |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 13 | 1:00 | 13:00 | Revision for unseen exam |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | Preparation time for lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 2 | 1:30 | 3:00 | Review of coursework |
| Total | 100:00 |
Jointly Taught With
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| HSC8102 | Advanced Topics in Medical Statistics and Health Data Science |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures are used for the delivery of theory and explanation of methods, illustrated with examples, and for giving general feedback on marked work. Problem classes are used to help develop the students’ abilities at applying the theory to solving problems.
The teaching methods are appropriate to allow students to develop a wide range of skills. From understanding basic concepts and facts to higher-order thinking.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 2 | A | 80 | Written exam comprising a Section A and a Section B |
Exam Pairings
| Module Code | Module Title | Semester | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Topics in Medical Statistics and Health Data Science | 2 | N/A |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 2 | M | 20 | Coursework 2. Up to 6 page typeset report based upon a set assignment comprising open-ended questions |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 2 | M | Coursework 1. 40 minute class test, conducted during one of the timetabled one hour lecture slots |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
A substantial formal unseen examination is appropriate for the assessment of the material in this module. The format of the examination will enable students to reliably demonstrate their own knowledge, understanding and application of learning outcomes.
Examination problems may require a synthesis of concepts and strategies from different sections, while they may have more than one way for solution. The examination time allows the students to test different strategies, work out examples and gather evidence for deciding on an effective strategy, while carefully articulating their ideas and explicitly citing the theory they are using.
The coursework assignments allow the students to develop their problem solving techniques, to practise the methods learnt in the module, to assess their progress and to receive feedback; the summative assessment has a secondary formative purpose as well as its primary summative purpose.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- HSC3102's Timetable