- Level Foundation
- Duration 17 hours
- Course by Yale University
-
Offered by
About
How can you tell if the bold headlines seen on social media are truly touting the next big thing or if the article isn't worth the paper it's printed on? Understanding Medical Studies, will provide you with the tools and skills you need to critically interpret medical studies, and determine for yourself the difference between good and bad science. The course covers study-design, research methods, and statistical interpretation. It also delves into the dark side of medical research by covering fraud, biases, and common misinterpretations of data. Each lesson will highlight case-studies from real-world journal articles. By the end of this course, you'll have the tools you need to determine the trustworthiness of the scientific information you're reading and, of course, whether or not your Facebook friend is wrong. This course was made possible in part by the George M. O'Brien Kidney Center at Yale.Modules
Course Introduction
1
Videos
- Course Introduction
3
Readings
- Lesson Guide
- Critical Thinking Survey
- Health Behavior Survey
1. How Research Works
1
Videos
- How Research Works
1
Readings
- Module Preview
2. The Medical Manuscript
1
Videos
- The Medical Manuscript
3. The Replication Crisis
1
Videos
- The Replication Crisis
4. The Question is - What is the Question?
1
Videos
- The Question is - What is the Question?
End of Module Quiz
1
Assignment
- The Basics
1
Discussions
- Post Module Impressions
1
Readings
- Pre Quiz: The Basics
5. Types of Data
1
Videos
- Types of Data
1
Readings
- Module Preview
6. Averages By Other Names
1
Videos
- Averages By Other Names
7. Sampling: The Secret Sauce of Statistics
1
Videos
- Sampling: The Secret Sauce of Statistics
8. Statistics as an Onion
1
Videos
- Statistics is an Onion
9. The Biggest Secret in Medicine: Relative vs Absolute Risk
1
Videos
- The Biggest Secret in Medicine: Relative vs Absolute Risk
10. The Power and the Problem with the P-Value
1
Videos
- The Power and the Problem with the P-Value
11. Choosing a Statistical Test
1
Videos
- Choosing a Statistical Test
12. The Interpretation of "Negative" Studies
1
Videos
- The Interpretation of "Negative" Studies
End of Module Quiz
1
Assignment
- Medical Statistics Made Ridiculously Simple
1
Discussions
- Post Module Impressions
1
Readings
- Pre Quiz: Medical Statistics Made Ridiculously Simple
13. The Randomized, Controlled Trial
2
Videos
- The Randomized, Controlled Trial
- Covid Content - How to Find Your Own Research
1
Readings
- Module Preview
14. The Cohort Study
1
Videos
- The Cohort Study
15. The Case Control Study
1
Videos
- The Case-Control Study
16. Studies of Diagnostic Tests
2
Videos
- Studies of Diagnostic Tests
- Covid Content - Vaccine Efficacy Calculation
17. Meta-Analysis: Fondue or Clam Chowder?
1
Videos
- Meta-Analysis: Fondue or Clam Chowder?
18. Only the Strong Survive
1
Videos
- Time to Event Analysis - Only the Strong Survive
19. The Cost-Effectiveness Study: How Much is Your Life Worth
1
Videos
- The Cost-Effectiveness Study: How Much is Your Life Worth?
End of Module Quiz
1
Assignment
- Types of Medical Studies
1
Discussions
- Post Module Impressions
1
Readings
- Pre Quiz: Types of Medical Studies
20. Causality
1
Videos
- Causality
21. Confounding
1
Videos
- Confounding
22. Effect Modification and Mediation
2
Videos
- Effect Modification and Mediation
- Covid Content - Smoking does not prevent Covid-19 death
1
Readings
- Covid Content
23. Generalizability
1
Videos
- Generalizability
24. Multiple Comparisons
1
Videos
- Multiple Comparisons
25. Surrogate Endpoints
1
Videos
- Surrogate Endpoints
26. Fraud
1
Videos
- Fraud
End of Module Quiz
1
Assignment
- How Wrong Conclusions Are Reached
1
Discussions
- Post Module Impressions
1
Readings
- Pre Quiz: How Wrong Conclusions are Reached
27. Selection Bias
1
Videos
- Selection Bias
28. Information Bias
1
Videos
- Information Bias
29. Time-Based Biases
2
Videos
- Time-Based Biases
- Covid Content - Immortal Time Bias spotted in the wild!
1
Readings
- Covid Content - Immortal Time Bias spotted in the wild!
30. Statistical Brain Teasers
1
Videos
- Statistical Brain Teasers
End of Module Quiz
1
Assignment
- Bias
1
Discussions
- Post Module Impressions
1
Readings
- Pre Quiz: Bias
31. Adjustment
1
Videos
- Adjustment
32. Matching
1
Videos
- Matching
33. Propensity Scoring
1
Videos
- Propensity Scoring
34. Putting it all together
1
Videos
- Putting It All Together
End Of Module Quiz
1
Assignment
- Fixing the Problems with Medical Studies
1
Discussions
- Post Module Impressions
4
Readings
- Pre Quiz: Fixing the Problems with Medical Studies
- Medical Study Interpretation - Don’t Forget:
- Post Course Surveys
- Optional participation in survey, follow up from Week 1
Auto Summary
"Understanding Medical Research: Your Facebook Friend is Wrong" is a foundational Science & Engineering course offered by Coursera, designed to equip learners with critical skills to evaluate medical studies. Led by experts from the George M. O'Brien Kidney Center at Yale, this 1020-minute course covers study design, research methods, and statistical interpretation, while also addressing fraud, biases, and data misinterpretations. Ideal for those seeking to discern credible scientific information, the course is available through Starter and Professional subscription options.

F. Perry Wilson