Text Readings:

Essentials of Epidemiology in Public Health, Chapter 6.

Web Readings:

Principles of Environmental Study Design

Environmental Epidemiology Research Design

Learning Objectives

Upon completing this class, students will be able to:

1. Distinguish between experimental and observational studies.
2. Describe the key characteristics of experimental, cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, and ecologic studies regarding subject selection, data collection, and analysis.
3. Identify the design of a particular study.
4. Discuss the factors that determine when a particular design is indicated.

Assignment for Session Nine

Answer the questions posed in learning objectives 1, 2, and 4 above and complete the exercises found at the end of Chapter 6 of Essentials of Epidemiology in Public Health.