STSCI 4270 - Introduction to Survival Analysis

(crosslisted) BTRY 4270

Fall, spring. 3 credits.

Prerequisite: BTRY 3080 or

or equivalent preparation; 3 semesters of calculus.

M. Smith.

Develops and uses statistical methods appropriate for analyzing right-censored (i.e., incomplete) time-to-event data. Topics covered include nonparametric estimation (e.g., life table methods, Kaplan Meier estimator), nonparametric methods for comparing the survival experience of two or more populations, and semiparametric and parametric methods of regression for censored outcome data. Substantial use is made of the R statistical software package.

Outcome 1: Students will be able to conduct appropriate nonparametric and parametric analyses of right-censored survival data using the R software language, including tabular and graphical methods (i.e., life tables and Kaplan Meier plots), hypothesis testing (e.g., logrank tests and Wald tests) and likelihood-based methods of regression (i.e., proportional hazards and accelerated failure time regression models).

Outcome 2: Students will be able to interpret the results of a statistical analysis involving right censored survival data as well as articulate the associated limitations of such analyses.