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On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1 - Critically evaluate epidemiological concepts, study designs and measures of population health used to investigate patterns of disease, health inequalities and public health risk;
2 - Apply appropriate biostatistical and public health data approaches to analyse, interpret and communicate population health information;
3 - Critically appraise and justify research designs, methods and ethical approaches used to investigate contemporary public health issues; and,
4 - Synthesise epidemiological, statistical and research evidence to inform evidence-based public health decision-making, policy, intervention design and professional practice.
This module develops the epidemiological, biostatistical, data and research practice skills required to investigate and respond to public health issues. You will examine how epidemiology is used to understand the distribution and determinants of health and disease within populations, and how public health data informs decision-making, policy and intervention design.
Indicative content will include core epidemiological concepts such as incidence, prevalence, risk, rates, standardisation, measures of association, study design, bias, confounding, causality, screening, surveillance, modelling and outbreak investigation. You will also be introduced to applied biostatistics for public health, including descriptive statistics, confidence intervals, significance testing, interpretation of association, data visualisation and the communication of uncertainty.
You will be introduced to applied public health data science, including data management, data cleaning, descriptive analysis, data visualisation, interpretation of public health datasets and the communication of findings for professional and policy audiences.
The module will explore public health data sources and their use in practice, including local, national and global datasets. You will consider issues of data quality, missing data, representation, bias, ethics, accessibility and the responsible use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, within public health data practice.
Research practice will be embedded throughout the module. You will examine quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods approaches to public health research, evidence appraisal, research ethics, sampling, literature searching, data collection, evaluation design and the development of research questions. The module will support you to critically evaluate evidence and apply research-informed approaches to contemporary public health problems.
By the end of the module, you will be able to interpret population health data, critically appraise epidemiological and research evidence, and formulate evidence-informed recommendations for public health action.
The module aligns with the UKPHR Practitioner Standards (2026), supporting the development of capabilities in epidemiology, public health information, data management, evidence appraisal, ethical research practice and the communication of evidence-informed public health recommendations.
This module uses a range of learning and teaching approaches to support your development of epidemiological, biostatistical, data interpretation and research practice skills. Learning will be delivered through lectures, interactive seminars, workshops and applied data activities. These sessions will encourage critical discussion and the application of epidemiological and research evidence to real-world public health challenges.
You will engage with current research, policy, population health datasets and public health reports, working both independently and collaboratively to develop your critical appraisal, data interpretation, research design and evidence-informed decision-making skills. Applied workshops will support you to practise interpreting public health data, presenting findings and considering how evidence is used in professional public health contexts.
Guided independent study will support your preparation for taught sessions and assessments. Learning resources, readings, datasets and formative tasks will be made available through Moodle, the University’s virtual learning environment.
The skills developed through these learning and teaching methods will prepare you for the module assessments, the Public Health Dissertation, and future roles in public health practice, policy, research, evaluation and community health settings.
Interactive Lectures
Hours: 10
Intended Group Size: Cohort
Workshops
Hours: 40
Intended Group Size: 25
Guided Independent Study
Hours: 250
Further Details Relating to Assessment
Coursework 001 - Epidemiological data briefing report - 50%, 2,500 words equivalent
For this assessment, you will analyse and interpret epidemiological evidence and population health data relating to a contemporary public health issue. You will demonstrate your understanding of key epidemiological and biostatistical concepts by working with relevant evidence, which may include published studies, surveillance data, public health datasets, population health profiles or policy reports.
You will be expected to interpret patterns and trends in health data, apply appropriate descriptive or inferential statistical concepts, and present your findings clearly using tables, figures and written explanation. Your briefing should critically consider data quality, uncertainty, bias, confounding, representativeness and the implications of the evidence for public health understanding and action.
This assessment develops your ability to use epidemiological evidence and public health data to support evidence-informed decision-making.
Coursework 002 - Public health research protocol - 50%, 2,500 words
For this assessment, you will design a research protocol for a public health issue. The protocol will require you to identify a clear public health problem, develop an appropriate research question or aim, justify your methodological approach and consider the ethical implications of the proposed research.
You may propose a quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, evaluation, secondary data analysis or evidence review design, depending on the public health issue selected. Your protocol should demonstrate understanding of research design, sampling, data collection, data analysis or interpretation, ethical practice, feasibility and the potential contribution of the research to public health knowledge, policy or practice.
This assessment prepares you for the Public Health Dissertation by developing your ability to plan, justify and communicate a coherent public health research project.
Formative assessment will be embedded throughout the module. This may include data interpretation tasks, critical appraisal activities, research question development, peer discussion, draft protocol planning and feedback opportunities linked to the summative assessments.
You should refer to the Module Handbook for full details.
Module Coordinator - PRS_CODE=
Level - 7
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered -