Tentative Agenda

Below are the weekly topics, including some of the subtopics from each week.

Week 1: Extremes in Causal Inference: Ordinary Association Tests to RCTs

• Introduction to Statistical and Causal Inference
• Ordinary Association Tests: Strengths and Limitations
• Randomized Controlled Trials: Theory, Types, and Limitations

Week 2: Between the Extremes: Extended Association Tests

• Quasi/Natural Experiments
• Mediation, Moderation, and Structural Equation Modeling
• Genetically Informed Designs

Week 3: Emerging Approaches and Best Practices

• Study Registration and Reporting Guidelines
• Choice and Operationalization of Controls based on Hypothesis and Anticipated Claims
• Identifying and Guarding Against Inferential Errors and Exaggerated Claims

Course faculty:

The course is led by:

• Dr. David B Allison, PhD, Indiana University
• Dr. Andrew W Brown, PhD, Indiana University
• Dr. Kevin Fontaine, PhD, University of Alabama Birmingham

Experts in causal inference, obesity, and behavioral sciences provide asynchronous content and will join synchronous sessions for engaging discussions and networking.