FHE5110 ¨C Introduction to Causal Inference

Course content

Causal inference is the task of drawing conclusions from data about the effects of treatments and other type of exposures. Methods for causal inference give a precise way of approaching these issues and can help researchers avoid common pitfalls. In epidemiology, as well as in many other fields, formal methods for causal inference play an increasingly central role. This course aim to make the participants acquainted with basic concepts and methods, central to modern epidemiology. Among the topics being covered are: - randomization and target trials - introduction to estimands and counterfactuals - causal directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) - methods for confounding adjustments.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

After completing the course, you will be able to:

• explain/describe differences and similarities between randomized and observational studies of effect
• explain/describe the concepts of estimands and counterfactuals
• explain/describe the basic assumptions needed for causal inference
• explain/describe the basic rules of causal graph (DAG) theory
• distinguish between different methods for handling confounding

Skills

After completing the course, you will be able to:

• precisely articulate research questions using causal language
• critically review both randomized and observational studies
• use DAGs in practice
• apply basic methods for handling confounding

General competence

After completing the course, you will be able to:

• reflect upon the assumptions needed for causal inference
• critically evaluate conclusions made from epidemiological studies
• appreciate the role of causal inference methodology for generating evidence in health research

Admission to the course

This course is only available for master students at the following master programmes

• studieprogam:MFM2-FHEP

• studieprogam:MFM2-INTHE

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Students at Folkehelsevitenskap og epidemiologi have priority. There are 10 available seats for students at International Community Health. If there are more than 10 applicants from International Community Health, the principle of the first come, first served applies.

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.

Recommended previous knowledge

• INTHE4020 ¨C Introduction to Quantitative Methods
• INTHE4021 ¨C Introduction to Epidemiology
• FHE4120 ¨C Introduction to Logistic and Cox regression

Overlapping courses

• 4 credits overlap with MF9570 ¨C Causal inference.
• 4 credits overlap with MEDFL5570 ¨C Causal inference.

Teaching

• The course consists of lectures, exercises and discussions.

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.

Examination

Written exam, individual.

Examination and grading at The Faculty of Medicine.

Examination support material

Only the two following calculators are allowed as examination support material:

• Citizen SR-270X/SR-270X (College)
• Casio FX-82EX

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English.You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

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