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EPI4921
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Observational Research
Period 1: from 7-9-2026 to 23-10-2026 (maandag 7 september 2026 tot vrijdag 23 oktober 2026)
Co-requisites:
None
Coordinator:
Eussen, S.
ECTS credits:
6
Language of instruction:
English
Publication dates timetable/results in the Student Portal
Deadline publication timetable
The date on which the timetable of this module is available:
not applicable
Deadline publication final result
Resit booking
Exam booking for a test in current academic year (resit)
You will be booked automatically for the resit in one of our resit periods. You may check our calenders to find out which modules can be retaken and when: https://intranet.maastrichtuniversity.nl/nl/fhml-studenten/studieverloop/wanneer-wat
As of one week before the resit test takes place, you can check in Student Portal if you are booked correctly: Student Portal > My Courses > More actions. The test will also be visible in your time table.
Exam booking for a test from a previous academic year (exam only)
All students who have not passed the test for this module in a previous academic year, will be booked automatically for the test during the regular block period. You will be enrolled in the new course in Canvas but not scheduled for a tutorial group and other educational activities.
If you do not wish to participate in this test at the end of the regular block period please de-register via askFHML.
Though great care has been taken to assure the accuracy of the information on fhmlweb, the FHML cannot be held responsible for possible printing errors, incomplete information, or misinterpretations. Additionally, the FHML reserves the right to make changes to this information.
Course information
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Description:
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EN:
Observational Research covers core epidemiological concepts, including study designs, bias, confounding, and causal reasoning, forming the foundation for students’ research. It focuses on studying naturally occurring phenomena and their associated factors, often when experimental research is infeasible or unethical. The module includes both descriptive (frequency, exposure) and analytical research (cause-effect, prognosis, behavior), emphasizing evaluation of strengths and weaknesses of different observational designs. Students also learn key methodological concepts such as confounding and effect modification, with practical training in statistical techniques like stratified analysis (multivariate methods are covered in later modules).
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Goals:
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EN:
Knowledge and understanding - Distinguish measures of disease frequency (incidence, prevalence) and association (risk difference, risk/rate ratios, attributable proportion).
- Recognize observational study designs and hybrid forms (ecological, cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, etc.).
- Evaluate strengths and limitations of study designs (validity, precision, efficiency, ethical/practical aspects).
- Understand internal versus external validity.
- Identify key biases (selection, information, confounding).
- Apply methods to reduce/adjust for bias (restriction, matching, stratification, blinding, standardization).
- Distinguish confounding from effect modification and use stratified analysis.
- Understand population selection and sampling strategies.
- Apply basic statistical methods for observational data (2x2/2xk tables, chi-square, trend tests, confidence intervals).
- Understand causality, causal reasoning, and causal diagrams.
Applying knowledge and understanding - Critically assess and advise on observational study designs and findings.
- Apply observational research methods in new studies.
- Conduct multivariable analyses on real-world epidemiological data.
- Evaluate causal evidence using causal reasoning frameworks.
Making judgments - Critically appraise study quality using STROBE guidelines.
- Judge applicability of findings to healthcare, policy, and clinical contexts.
Communication - Communicate epidemiological methods and results to expert and non-expert audiences.
Learning skills - Develop independent, advanced understanding of observational research through self-directed learning.
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Key words:
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EN:
cohort study
case-control study
selection bias
confounding
standardization
interaction
effect modification
matching
stratified analysis
causal diagrams
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Literature:
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Szklo
M, Nieto J. Epidemiology Beyond the Basics. Jones and Bartlett Learning, 2019
(fourth edition)
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Teaching methods:
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- Assignment(s)
- Work in workgroup(s)
- Lecture(s)
- Paper(s)
- Problem Based Learning
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Assessments methods:
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- Assignment
- Attendance
- Participaion
- Written exam
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This page was last modified on:vrijdag 22 mei 2026
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