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Activity Number:
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188
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Type:
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Invited
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Date/Time:
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Monday, August 3, 2009 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
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Sponsor:
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Section on Statistical Education
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| Abstract - #302871 |
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Title:
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Challenges in Teaching Advanced Statistical Methods for Observational Studies in a Subject-Matter Context
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Author(s):
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Mari Palta*+
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Companies:
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University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Address:
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610 Walnut Street, Madison, WI, 53726,
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Keywords:
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non-statisticans ; theory ; application ; bias ; terminology ; interpretation
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Abstract:
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Special issues arise in observational population studies where bias is as important as statistical significance. Understanding requires both subject matter knowledge and statistical sophistication. Subject matter specialists often teach statistical methods that seem beyond the background level of the students. Conversely, many statistics instructors emphasize technical knowledge, but are unable to infuse aspects of interpretation. This talk will relate some experiences in teaching a third semester statistics course to students in epidemiology and health services research. Issues to be discussed are (1) How much theoretical background should be provided before teaching sophisticated methods. (2) How to make the statistical method integral to the subject matter. (3) Challenges in relating standard statistical knowledge to methods that have different names in subject matter fields.
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