PHDH907 Methods for Examination of Health, Function and Participation

Contents and structure

The course covers the use of methods for assessing health, function, and participation. To assess whether measurement instruments provide reliable, valid, appropriate, and interpretable results, advanced knowledge of measurement methods and their psychometric properties is necessary. The course provides an in-depth understanding of the theoretical basis, empirical development, application of measurement methods, analytical methodology, and interpretation.

The course addresses the use of methods for quantifying outcomes related to health, function, and participation. This includes the evaluation of physical assessment tools and patient-reported data (PROMs and PREMs). Quantitative data forms the basis for diagnostics, prognosis, assessment, and the evaluation of various interventions, and solid knowledge about measurement properties is decisive for interpretation of such data.

Learning Outcome

After completing the course, the PhD student will have the following educational outcomes:

Knowledge: The student ...

• has in-depth knowledge of basic concepts, theories, models, and survey methods within health, function and participation
• has extensive knowledge of measurement methods adapted to various research questions within health, function and participation
• has advanced knowledge of appropriate approaches and statistical methods for evaluating properties of measurement instruments, including reliability, validity, responsiveness and interpretability

Skills: The student ...

• is able to use suitable approaches and measurement instruments to investigate various research questions
• is able to use appropriate approaches and statistical methods to evaluate reliability, validity, responsiveness, and interpretability of measurement instruments
• can critically evaluate measurement instrumente and results

General competence: The student...

• can apply concepts related to measurement properties, and evaluate strengths and weaknesses of various measurement methods relevant to research in health, function and participation
• can perform a systematic and scientific translation procedure of international measurement instruments for use in a Norwegian context

Entry requirements

Master's degree with 120 ECTS credits or equivalent in relevant academic fields.

Number of participants: The course requires a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 20 participants. The number of PhD students should preferably comprise at least 50% of the total number of participants.

Teaching methods

Two seminars with lectures, group work and discussions: A 3-day physical seminar and a 1-day digital seminar. Participants must describe their own measurement methods at the start of the course, and active participation is expected by presenting relevant issues during the course.

Participants are expected to participate in group assignments between the seminars.

Compulsory learning activities

The following course requirements must be approved in order to take the exam.

At the start of the course, a one-page poster/slide is submitted where measurement methods applied in the student's ph.d. project is described. It is also mandatory to participate at a seminar with a presentation of one's own aims and selected measurement tools.

Assessment

Assignment.

A written individual assignment where one or more measurement instrument(s) is reasoned, described and evaluated. The scope of the assignment is 2000 words, +/- 10%.

Grading Pass / fail

If failing to pass, an improved version of the essay may be submitted once.

Examination support material

All aids are permitted.

More about examination support material