CEBU Research Methods courses

All quantitative research must begin with a clear research question. This should be followed by careful study design, analysis planning, and data analysis to ensure the question is answered as unbiasedly and precisely as possible.

Course overview

This course:

• clarifies the different types of quantitative research questions - descriptive, predictive, and causal
• explains how these questions are translated into quantities that are the targets of statistical estimation, and introduces the statistical concepts of bias and variance
• provides a conceptual overview of the sources of bias, with an emphasis on studies addressing descriptive and causal questions
• introduces common study designs in population health and medical research for answering descriptive and causal questions, and touches on how each design attempts to reduce bias relevant to these questions.
  
  

Course details

Online courses

• Dates: 18-19 March 2026 and 12-13 August 2026
• Duration: Two half days from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
• Venue: Online via Zoom

See below for payment and registration for this course.

A comprehensive introduction to the key underlying concepts of statistics and the most commonly used methods of statistical analysis in health research, with a focus on simple research questions and study designs such as randomised trials, and emphasis on the interpretation of statistical findings.

Topics covered

Topics covered in the Introduction to Biostatistics course include:

• statistical steps in a research study and describing the study sample
• Iitroduction to statistical inference: the target parameter (population), as defined by the research question, and its estimation (in the sample)
• answering descriptive research questions, estimation of means and proportions
• answering causal research questions, estimation of mean differences, risk differences, risk ratios and odds ratios
• standard error, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing and p-values
• elements of sample size estimation: the basics

Materials supplied: All course material is provided electronically before the course, and solutions to the tutorials are made available as the course progresses.

Participants to supply: Calculator

Course details

Online courses

• Dates: 20 - 24 April 2026 and 31 August - 4 September 2026
• Duration:  Five half days from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
• Venue: Online via Zoom

See below for payment and registration for this course.

A comprehensive introduction to key concepts for observational (non-randomised) studies in clinical and public health research.

Observational studies are central to modern health research. They are key to addressing descriptive and predictive research questions, to quantify disease burden and enable risk stratification. Observational studies are also widely used to address "causal" questions, about the effect of treatments, policies, behaviours and other exposures on health outcomes.

This course reviews the distinction between the three types of research questions (descriptive, predictive, and causal) and then provides a comprehensive introduction to causal inference. An overview of key concepts in the study of descriptive and predictive questions is also provided. The course has a strong emphasis on the design and planning of analyses – a critical step to strengthen the quality of conclusions we draw from these studies.

Please note: CEBU offers a core sequence of research methods courses. It is strongly recommended that the three courses: Designing Your Research Study, Introduction to Biostatistics and Observational Studies be taken in that sequence because the latter ones assume familiarity with concepts, language and techniques introduced in the earlier ones.

This course is third in the sequence and is not entry-level.

Topics covered

Topics covered in the Observational Studies: Modern Concepts & Analytic Methods course include:

• The three types of research questions
• Causal inference with point treatments using the target trial framework (target trial specification and emulation)
• Causal diagrams, causal biases (confounding, selection and measurement bias) and causal identifiability assumptions
• Causal effect estimation using g-computation, inverse probability weighting and outcome regression
• Interpretation and reporting of results of causal analyses
• A brief introduction to causal inference with time-varying treatments
• Key concepts in the study of descriptive and predictive research questions

Materials supplied: All course material is provided electronically before the course and solutions to the tutorials are made available as the course progresses.

Course details

Online courses

• Dates: 18-22 May 2026 and 19-23 October 2026
• Duration: Five half days from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
• Venue: Online via Zoom

See below for payment and registration for this course.

Clinical trials are the cornerstone of medical and public health research. In this two-day course, we provide an overview of the key issues in designing and planning a randomised trial. 

There are currently no live delivery sessions scheduled for this course. For more information on future live sessions of this course, please email  show email address .

Previous course webinars

View the webinar series

Fees for this course:

• $180 for internal applicants – Melbourne Children’s campus staff only (Murdoch Children's Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital and the University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics).
  
  
• $270 for external full-time students and Melbourne Academic Centre for Health (MACH)-affiliated institutions (please enter institution name).
  
  
• $510 for external applicants with no appointment on Melbourne Children’s campus.

Register for this course below.

Trybooking - Designing Your Quantitative Research Study

Fees for this course:

• $400 for internal applicants – Melbourne Children’s campus staff only (Murdoch Children's Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital and the University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics).
  
  
• $880 for external full-time students and Melbourne Academic Centre for Health (MACH) affiliated institutions (please enter the name of the institution when booking).
  
  
• $1,150 for external applicants with no appointment on Melbourne Children’s campus.

Register for this course below.

Trybooking - Introduction to Biostatistics

Fees for this course:

• $400 for internal applicants – Melbourne Children’s campus staff only (Murdoch Children's Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital and the University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics).
  
  
• $880 for external full-time students and Melbourne Academic Centre for Health (MACH) affiliated institutions (please enter the name of the institution when booking).
  
  
• $1,150 for external applicants with no appointment on Melbourne Children’s campus.

Register for this course below.

Trybooking - Observational Studies: Modern Concepts & Analytic Methods