Units / MPH5020
MPH5020 · Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 5Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
Differences between descriptive & analytical epidemiology, strengths & weaknesses of different epidemiological study design & basic concepts & methods of biostatistics including confidence intervals, p-values & sample size, statistical tests for comparing groups, regression models & survival analysis. Design & evaluation of clinical trials.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Alfred Hospital | Second semester | Teaching is all online (ONLINE) |
| Alfred Hospital | First semester | Teaching is all online (ONLINE) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Development activities (5 x critical reflections 420 words each. Total 2,100 words) | Written | 35% | — |
| 2 | Multiple choice quiz (30 MCQs - 30 mins) | Quiz / Test | 10% | — |
| 3 | Case study report (1,200 words) | Written | 20% | — |
| 4 | Critical appraisal | Written | 35% | — |
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
prohibitions
Learning outcomes
- Explain how disease is measured in populations, calculate,interpret and communicate measures of association and difference;
- Critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of different epidemiological study designs;
- Demonstrate an understanding of basic concepts and methods of biostatistics.
- Interpret confidence intervals, p-values and sample size and communicate their meaning.
- Use epidemiological and biostatistical principles to critically evaluate and interpret and communicate findings from epidemiological research.
- Explain and contextualise the concepts of population, sampling, measurement, bias, confounding and causation;
Workload
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Workshops | 1 hours |
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