Module manager: Joseph Hicks
Email: j.p.hicks@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
Entry requirements for the programme
NUFF5040M Statistics for Health Sciences
This module is not approved as an Elective
Quantitative methods are used extensively in international health research. This module looks at some of the most frequently used quantitative methods in international health research, and how these methods are applied throughout the lifecycle of a quantitative research project, starting with the research question and ending with the interpretation of the statistical analyses. The module makes extensive use of real-world examples of quantitative international health research in low- and middle-income countries, and students will learn both theory and practical skills that they can apply to real research projects, such as their final research project. This module does not assume any existing experience with quantitative methods, and a range of pre-course materials are provided to ensure that students can, if necessary, develop a solid understanding of the key mathematical concepts required for the module. The module also uses a diverse range of teaching approaches, including face-to-face lectures, supported by recommended external reading and video materials, in-class exercises such as quizzes, and an extensive set of computer practical sessions, to ensure that students’ diverse learning approaches are supported.
The module aims to introduce students to the basic theory and key concepts underlying some of the most commonly used quantitative methods in international health research, and to enable students to develop skills in applying these methods, particularly focusing on analysing data typically produced by quantitative international health research. It also aims to enable students to effectively and critically interpret the results produced by such studies.
- Enable students to develop skills in applying these methods, via class exercises and computer-based practical sessions, with a focus on analysing data typically produced by such studies.
- Enable students to effectively and critically interpret the results produced by quantitative international health research.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following subject specific learning outcomes:
1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of which quantitative methodologies and approaches are appropriate for different quantitative research questions and why.
2. Demonstrate an ability to apply appropriate analyses to a quantitative dataset given different research goals.
3. Demonstrate an ability to appropriately and critically interpret the results of those analyses and discuss them in relation to relevant literature.
4. Critically interpret quantitative results commonly produced by international health research.
5. Describe different types of quantitative research study designs and apply them to the international health discipline
6. Critically interpret the results of quantitative research studies in international health.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
Technical:
1. Design appropriate quantitative research methods to address quantitative research questions
Academic:
2. Apply critical thinking to quantitative research methods, literature
Digital:
3. Use appropriate digital technology and software for quantitative research
Work ready:
4. Effectively communicate about research, evidence and information
Topics covered in this module include:
- Understanding different types of quantitative research questions and broad methods and approaches to address them.
- Understanding quantitative data and quantitative variables.
- Understanding statistical inference, internal and external validity, error and bias.
- Understanding quantitative study designs used most frequently in international health research, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.
- Understanding core concepts underlying some common probability sampling approaches, as well as their strengths and weaknesses, and how to apply them using Microsoft Excel.
- Understanding core concepts underlying common approaches to sample size calculation, as well as their strengths and weaknesses, and how to apply them in SPSS.
- Understanding common tools for statistical inference, focusing on confidence intervals but also covering null-hypothesis significance testing, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.
- Understanding how to use SPSS to prepare datasets and compute common exploratory/descriptive statistics.
- Understanding core concepts underlying commonly used methods of statistical analysis including the independent t-test, the chi-square test of independence, linear regression, and logistic regression, how to interpret the results from those analyses, as well as their strengths and weaknesses, and how to apply them to data using SPSS.
- Interpreting common results from quantitative research studies in international health.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 12 | 1.5 | 15 |
| Practical | 8 | 1.5 | 10 |
| Independent online learning hours | 4 | ||
| Private study hours | 121 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 25 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
Students are offered the option to provide a short (maximum 650 words) summary of their planned approach to the summative assignment, which they would then receive feedback on to help them prepare their summative assignment.
Students also engage with multiple computer exercises during practical sessions on the module, as well as in-class quizzes, group work and discussions, which allows for feedback and monitoring of student learning progress.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | For their summative assignment students must analyse a dataset to address a series of research questions and write a short report based on their results in the style of a peer-reviewed journal paper. | 100 |
| Coursework | For their (optional) formative assignment students may submit a plan of their summative assignment analyses and results for feedback. | 0 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
The short report word limit is 2500 words.
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 18/03/2025
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