Section outline

  • Live Lecture (as part of Epid Tools Workshop): Quantitative Bias Analysis (QBA) 

    Unfortunately, in real life studies are rarely perfect.  In the past, we relied heavily on limitations sections to discuss qualitatively the potential problems.  As computational power has expanded, the feasibility and importance of formal quantitative bias analysis (QBA) has grown.  In this workshop, Dr. Banack will motivate QBA with her own research on body weight and health.  She will illustrate how to move from conceptualization of potential biases to formal evaluation of the plausible range of magnitude of bias, and incorporation of that into presentation of results. 

    Faculty:  Hailey Banack, University of Buffalo

    Location:  Mission Hall 1406


    Please RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/epi-tools-workshop-hailey-banack-tickets-41222983052  so we can have a headcount and send out materials!


    • Session Slides:

    • Lecture Slides QBA Banack PDFv1 File

    • Session Audio/Video Recording (Access restricted to registered students):

    • Watch URL
      Not available unless: You belong to a group in Registered Students Only

    • Required Reading:


      Orsini N, Bellocco R, Bottai M, Wolk A, Greenland S. A tool for deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis of epidemiologic studies. Stata J.2008;8(1):29-48.
       http://www.stata-journal.com/sjpdf.html?articlenum=st0138

    • Orsini et al Tool for Deterministic and Probabilistic Sensitivity Analyses File
      Not available unless: Your ID number contains 02

    • Optional Reading:

      Flanders DW, Eldridge RC, McClellan W. A nearly unavoidable mechanism for collider bias with index-event studies. Epidemiology. 2014;25(5):762-764.

      Hernán MA, Hernández-Díaz S, Robins JM. A structural approach to selection bias. Epidemiology. 2004;15(5):615-625.

      Fox MP, Lash TL, Greenland S. A method to automate probabilistic sensitivity analyses of misclassified binary variables. International journal of epidemiology.2005;34(6):1370-1376.

    • Flanders et al Epidemiology Brief Report File
      Not available unless: Your ID number contains 02
    • Hernan et al Epidemiology 2004 A structural approach to Selection Bias File
      Not available unless: Your ID number contains 02
    • Fox et al File
      Not available unless: Your ID number contains 02

    • Assignment: Both HW#4 and HW#5 will be due before class on 2/14/18.

    • HW5 QBA Problem Set Due Feb 14, 2018 File

    • Assignment Due Date: February 14, 2018 at the beginning of Small Group Section

    • Week #5 Homework Submission Assignment

    • Assignment Answer Key (access restricted to registered students):