STATS 768 : Longitudinal Data Analysis
Science
2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
STATS 768 describes mixed models, also known as hierarchical models or multilevel models, a data analysis approach that extends regression by incorporating models for the unexplained variation and correlation in residuals. Mixed models have many applications in applied statistics. They are important for the modelling of repeated measurements, and part of the course will focus on their use in the analysis of epidemiological data. Exploration and regression modelling of longitudinal and clustered data, especially in the health sciences: this includes mixed models, marginal models, dropout, and causal inference. Students will be expected to program in SAS and to be able to interpret the resulting output. Examples of SAS code will be given in the lecture notes and explained. The skills developed in this course are particularly useful for those wishing to have a career involving the analysis of epidemiological and clinical trial data collected in the health sciences, census information collected by the NZ government, and data collected for biological experiments.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
Learning Outcomes
- Distinguish between dependent and independent data (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Apply the techniques of basic theory of mixed and generalized linear mixed models to construct appropriate working models to answer a specific research question (Capability 1, 2 and 5)
- Apply model building techniques (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 5)
- Apply model selection techniques (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 5)
- Implement an analysis plan when faced with clustered or longitudinal data (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 5)
- Produce results in a way that researchers can understand (Capability 4 and 5)
- Use and interpret the results back to the research question(s) (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 40% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 60% | Individual Examination |
| 2 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Must obtain 50% or better for the final exam.
Key Topics
Workload Expectations
For this course, you can expect a standard workload of a total of 150 hours or 12.5 hours per week comprising 3 hours of lectures, and a 1 hour computer laboratory per week with the rest of the time reading, studying and doing assignments.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials to complete the components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials/labs will be available as recordings, but may not be very instructive as these are individual help sessions.
The course will not include live online events including tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam and for the test, if the test is not an online test.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a condensed weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Course notes have been updated in response to student feedback.
Digital Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.