Skill Lab: Introduction to Cost Effectiveness Analysis for Evaluating Policies & Programs

1 unit

The objective of this course is to prepare students to design, interpret, and conduct a fundamental type of economic evaluation for a variety of policy settings. Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) is a common research and decision-making tool in public health and medicine, but the basic concepts are also applicable to social work and public policy. Under certain conditions, CEA can help analysts add structured, transparent, and scientific information to policy evaluation and resource allocation discussions. The course will meet in 5 sessions. Each day will begin with a core lecture to introduce new concepts and techniques. Small group activities and hands-on exercises will then be used to apply concepts and reinforce content. A variety of examples, including those which students may bring from outside experience or employment, will be reviewed and discussed to illustrate the range of ways in CEA can be applied. After establishing fundamental concepts and basic methods in CEA, the course will include how to interpret and communicate results, discussion of proper use and misuse of CEA, alternative methods, limitations, and advanced topics for further study. No specialized software is required. Students are encouraged to bring laptops and questions, topics, data, or applications from outside settings.