Ateneo - UPO

The course will provide the statistical bases useful for critical reading and understanding the results of a scientific paper

Fowler Jim, Jarvis Phil, Chevannes Mel. Statistica per le professioni sanitarie, Edises, 2006

The course aims to provide the statistical bases that allow students to critically read a scientific article and to understand its contents.

None

Lectures and reading of scientific articles on the topics covered in class

The material used in class will be made available on the DIR platform
Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-
students-physical-or-learning-disabilities

Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The final test of the integrated course of "Research Methodology" will cover the following teaching activities: 1) epidemiology and public health, 2) statistics, 3) basic research methodology, 4) computer science, 5) evidence based nursing, 5) qualitative research. The exam will consist of a written test and an oral test.
The written test will consist of a set of multiple choice questions aimed at questions: 1) the student's knowledge of the research process, the reliance based practice, the main study designs pertaining to the paradigm and qualitative, the functioning of the internet and network research; 2) the student's ability to read and understand the results of a scientific paper.
The scores attributed to the questions will be commensurate with their difficulty. The student will be able to take the oral exam only if he has achieved an overall score equal to 60% of the expected total. The duration of the written test will be 90 minutes.
The oral exam will evaluate the ability to apply the knowledge acquired through the critical reading of a scientific article of specific nursing interest. The oral exam will be considered passed if the candidate has demonstrated sufficient knowledge of theoretical concepts as well as an adequate critical understanding of a scientific article
Failure to pass the oral exam will result in the repetition of the entire exam. To obtain a score of 30/30 cum laude, he must be obtained by having acquired an excellent knowledge of all the topics covered during the course.
Specifically, the written test of the research statistics module will consist of multiple questions regarding the results of a scientific paper.

Descriptive statistics (frequencies, position and variability indices)
Basics of probability and normal distribution
Elements of inferential statistics (confidence intervals and hypothesis tests)
Chi-square and t-test for independent samples
Elements of correlation and linear regression
Operational features of a diagnostic test
Disease frequency and association measures

Knowledge:
Students will know the basics of descriptive and inferential statistics (hypothesis tests and confidence intervals) as well as the disease frequency measures and association measures.
Skills:
Students will be able to understand the results of a scientific article
Transversal skills:
Students will be able to critically read a scientific article in order to evaluate what information is already available in the scientific literature regarding a specific question and consequently direct their research.