Meta-Analysis - Public Health

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

Meta-analysis is a statistical tool to combine findings from multiple independent studies. In recent years, it has been increasingly used in many scientific fields. It plays an important role for improving precision of research results and resolving seemingly contradictory research outcomes. This course will introduce meta-analysis methods commonly used in public health and medical research. The course is designed to help students understand the statistical techniques used to conduct quantitative meta-analyses. Students will learn to systematically synthesize evidence from multiple studies, critically assess study heterogeneity and bias, and apply appropriate statistical models for quantitative data pooling. The course covers fixed-effect and random-effects models, forest plots, meta-regression, publication bias, and the use of software tools such as R and SPSS. Emphasis is placed on practical applications and the interpretation of findings.