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Introduction to Health Statistics - HEA00153M

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  • Department: Health Sciences
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24

Module aims

To provide students with basic skills to carry out their own research projects including designing a questionnaire, collecting data, processing and undertaking basic statistical analysis in SPSS. The students will also gain the ability to read health research papers and will be introduced to the basic ideas of statistical analysis and presentation.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students will be able to:

  1. Understand different study designs.

  2. Critically appraise the design of a questionnaire.

  3. Demonstrate understanding of basic statistical analysis.

  4. Select and conduct the appropriate statistical analysis for a research question.

  5. Know which output from basic summaries and statistical analysis should be presented and the appropriate format to use.

  6. Appraise the appropriateness and interpretation of basic statistical analysis in health research papers.

Module content

  1. Introduction to research methods and hierarchies of evidence
  2. Questionnaire design
  3. Summary statistics
  4. Exploring relationships: part 1 (correlation)
  5. Exploring relationships: part 2 (cross-tabulations and associated tests)
  6. Comparing means: part 1 (theory)
  7. Comparing means: part 2 (application – two groups)
  8. Comparing means: part 3 (application – beyond two groups)
  9. Statistics in practice
  10. Review
  11. Revision

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) 100

Module feedback

Written cohort feedback for the summative assessment is provided on the standard proforma, within the timescale specified in the programme handbook.

Indicative reading

Altman, D.G. (1991). Practical statistics for medical research. London: Chapman and Hall.

Bland, M. (2015). An introduction to medical statistics. 4th edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press. .

Field, A. (2013). Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics. SAGE.

Pallant, J. (2013). SPSS survival manual: a step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS. 5th edn. Open University Press.

Peacock, J. and Peacock, P. (2010). Oxford handbook of medical statistics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Peacock, J. and Kerry S. (2007). Presenting medical statistics from proposal to publication: a step-by-step guide. Oxford: Oxford University Press.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.