Before undertaking any kind of research, it is important to clearly articulate the questions that we wish to ask, understand the challenges inherent in answering different types of questions, and ensure that our study design and analysis methods are suitably aligned.

Course overview

This workshop provides an overview of the issues involved in designing a clinical or population health study.

Course format

Topics covered in the course include:

  • Types of research questions (descriptive, predictive, causal)
  • Developing the research question
  • Study design and outcome measures
  • Protocol development
  • Analysis planning
  • Sample size calculations

Materials supplied: A full set of course notes will be made available in electronic format

University of Melbourne
This course is delivered by Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (CEBU), a working partnership between Murdoch Children's Research Institute and the University of Melbourne.

Course dates

This course is offered online and in the classroom. See below for online and classroom details.

  • Classroom: 6 March 2024
  • Online: 5-6 August 2024

Please note: course dates and/or venue may be subject to change.

Course details

Classroom course 

  • Date: 6 March 2024
  • Duration: One full-day session – 9:00am-5:00pm 
  • Venue: Room RCHF MR - 5 FRC General Space, The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Level 2, 48 Flemington Road, Parkville VIC 3052

Note: Lift access is from Larwill Studio Hotel, 48 Flemington Rd, Parkville VIC 3052.

Online course

  • Dates: 5-6 August 2024
  • Duration:  Two half days – 9:00am-1:00pm 
  • Venue: Online via Zoom

Course fees (classroom and online)

  • $120 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)
  • $220 for external full-time students and Melbourne Academic Centre for Health (MACH-affiliated) institutions (please enter institution name)
  • $450 for external applicants with no appointment on Melbourne Children’s campus
  • Returning participants: We offer a 50 per cent discount for people who have previously attended this course and would like to attend a refresher. Find out more by contacting the email address below.
  • Low- or middle-income country (LMIC) participants: We offer special rates for people from low- or middle-income countries. Find out more by contacting the email address below.

Payment and registration

Payment by credit card (not available to Murdoch Children's Research Institute staff)

You or your organisation can register and pay for the course directly via Trybooking. Follow the prompts to make payment and register. You will receive a course confirmation and tax invoice via email.

Please note: There is a Trybooking fee of 50 cents per registration which will be applied when you register online.

Trybooking – Register for Designing Your Research Study

Payment via Unimarket (Murdoch Children's Research Institute staff only)

Payment must be made via Unimarket. MCRI staff must not make credit card payments and seek reimbursement from an MCRI cost centre (this is not permitted).

  • Go to Unimarket (Unimarket can also can be accessed from the MCRI intranet homepage for internal staff).
  • Log in and search for CEBU as a supplier.
  • Select CEBU courses and add the required course to the shopping cart for the CEBU course/s you wish to enrol in.
  • The GL account for training is 34460. Instructions on using Unimarket are on the intranet (internal staff only).
  • Once your Cost Centre manager approves it, CEBU will email you with the Trybooking link and promotional code to register for the course.

Please note: Your place in the course is not confirmed until you have registered via Trybooking.

Cancellation of registration

You can apply for a refund or request to change the course session to a different date pending availability if it is received seven (7) calendar days prior to the course start date. No refunds or credits will be issued for cancellations or non-attendance after this time.   

Full course timetable

See our full course timetable below for information on all CEBU courses.

CEBU course timetable

Contact us

Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics Unit (CEBU)
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
The Royal Children's Hospital
50 Flemington Road
Parkville VIC 3052
Australia

Fiona Snashall or Julie Perkins
Email:
Phone: show phone number