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INNOVATIONS IN QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS

In NCEPH's applied research we often a need to adapt existing research methods or develop new ones. Examples are:

Niels Becker is developing methods of analysis for non-standard health studies. Recent work includes a) new analyses for vaccine trials, which take full account of the fact that the infection is transmitted, and b) new regression analyses for health events that may be triggered by specific exposures. The latter is used to study the association between deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and air travel.

Keith Dear is developing methods for spatial regression analysis of time-series data and applying them to mortality data. Complexities such as count outcomes, spatial correlation, multiple independent variables, lag effects, non-linear effects and large data sets need to be managed at the same time. Accommodating all of these aspect in an analysis is a challenge, but necessary for valid results.

Robyn Lucas'  research in the Ausimmune Study requires new statistical methods for examining lifecourse data and the determinants of episodic relapses on the background of a chronic disease. With Hilary Bambrick and Tony McMichael she is developing innovative methods of control selection in traditional epidemiological studies, in particular in the study of the causes of type 1 diabetes.

Katie Glass develops mathematical models to assess the effectiveness of infectious disease interventions. With the recent threats of SARS and pandemic influenza, her focus has been on constructing models that assess interventions such as isolation, contact tracing and social distancing. She also works on new methods to estimate the effects of antiviral drugs on transmission of influenza.

Helen Berry uses structural equations and multilevel modelling innovatively to improve (i) concept definition and measurement in survey-based studies and (ii) preliminary evaluation of causal hypotheses. She applies these methods to the social and psychiatric epidemiology of community participation, social capital, urban environments, drought, obesity, and, with Lyndall Strazdins and her colleagues, paid and unpaid work.

References to recent publications on these topics are given on the webpage of each researcher.

Contact: Niels Becker