Chapter 2. Measurement Issues in Epidemiology

  1. Stephen C. Newman

Published Online: 31 MAR 2003

DOI: 10.1002/0471272612.ch2

Book Title

Biostatistical Methods in Epidemiology

Biostatistical Methods in Epidemiology

Additional Information

How to Cite

Newman, S. C. (2003) Measurement Issues in Epidemiology, in Biostatistical Methods in Epidemiology, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, USA. doi: 10.1002/0471272612.ch2

Publication History

  1. Published Online: 31 MAR 2003
  2. Published Print: 11 JAN 2002

Book Series:

  1. Wiley Series in Probability and Statistics

Book Series Editors:

  1. David J. Balding,
  2. Peter Bloomfield,
  3. Noel A.C. Cressie,
  4. Nicholas I. Fisher,
  5. Iain M. Johnstone,
  6. J.B. Kadane,
  7. Louise M. Ryan,
  8. David W. Scott,
  9. Adrian F.M. Smith,
  10. Jozef L. Teugels

ISBN Information

Print ISBN: 9780471369141

Online ISBN: 9780471272618

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CHAPTER TOOLS

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Keywords:

  • measurement;
  • bias;
  • confounding;
  • counterfactual

Summary

This chapter discusses some of the measurement issues in epidemiology, the focus being on properties of measures of effect and definitions of confounding.

The section and subsection headings of the chapter are as follows:

  • Random and Systematic Error

    • Random Error

    • Systematic Error

  • Measures of Effect

    • Definition of a Closed Cohort Study

    • Risk Difference, Risk Ratio, and Odds Ratio

    • Choosing a Measure of Effect

  • Confounding

    • Counterfactuals, Causality, and Risk Factors

    • The Concept of Confounding

    • Some Hypothetical Examples of Closed Cohort Studies

  • Collapsibility Approach to Confounding

    • Averageability and Strict Collapsibility in Closed Cohort Studies

    • Averageability of the Risk Difference

    • Averageability of the Risk Ratio

    • Averageability of the Odds Ratio

    • A Peculiar Property of the Odds Ratio

    • Averageability in the Hypothetical Examples of Closed Cohort Studies

    • Collapsibility Definition of Confounding in Closed Cohort Studies

  • Counterfactual Approach to Confounding

    • Counterfactual Definition of Confounding in Closed Cohort Studies

    • A Model of Population Risk

    • Counterfactual Definition of a Confounder

    • Standardized Measures of Effect

    • Methods to Control Confounding

    • Bias Due to an Unknown Confounder

  • Misclassification

  • Scope of this Book

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