Linear & Logistic Regression

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Classroom

120 hours

OR

None

Special computer skills required: Students are expected to have experience using the Stata statistical package

None

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website.

This subject is compulsory for students doing a Master of Epidemiology or a Master of Science – Epidemiology. The subject covers linear regression methods for continuous outcome variables and logistic regression methods for binary outcome variables. The subject equips students with the practical skills to apply these regression methods to data from epidemiological studies using the statistical package Stata. Also covered is how to adjust for confounding and investigate effect modification using regression models. The focus is on the practical interpretation of the measures of association estimated by these regression models.

On completion of this subject, students are expected to:

• Recognise when it is appropriate to use linear and logistic regression models
• Demonstrate practical skills in fitting linear and logistic regression models in the statistical computing package, Stata.
• Interpret the measures of association (mean differences and odds ratios) estimated by linear and logistic regression models.
• Describe and demonstrate how to adjust for confounding and identify variables that modify measures of association using these regression methods.

A written assignment of not more than 8 pages due at the start of the 4th week of the subject (30%), a written assignment of not more than 10 pages due two weeks after the intensive delivery period (40%) and a 1.5-hour open-book examination (administered by the School) to be held during the examination period at the end of semester 2 (30%).

BR Kirkwood and JAC Sterne, Essential Medical Statistics Second Edition, Blackwell Science, 2003.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Upon completion of this subject, students will have developed skills in:

• Critical thinking and analysis,
• Finding, evaluating and using relevant information,
• Problem-solving,
• Written communication,
• Using computers.