Introduction to the Validity and Reliability of Diagnostic Tests

9th May 2025
If you are currently enrolled as a University of Liverpool Student please have your supervisor complete the following form PhD Student Approval 

Duration: Full Day Course - but all course material will be made available 7 days in advance and for 2 weeks afterwards

Mode: Online with recorded lectures followed by live question & answer sessions and live faculty-led computer practical sessions

This one-day module is aimed at those working in a medical field. It is suitable for those who have no previous experience of data analysis, as well as those seeking to refresh their skills.

This one-day course provides an overview of the important design and statistical analysis issues involved in setting up and evaluating studies for determining validity and reliability. Delegates will learn about these methods both in the context of laboratory or clinical diagnostic tests, and also psychological and psychiatric diagnostic scales.

Course Description

By the end of this course delegates will:
• Understand the important issues related to the design of studies for testing a new diagnostic test or scale against a known ‘gold standard’
• Know how to estimate and interpret measures of sensitivity, specificity and predictive value
• Understand the appropriate methods to use when measuring binary and continuous/ interval scales and measures.

What does the course cover?

• Measurement of agreement/accuracy
• Estimating sample size in the design of studies
• ROC curve analysis
• Bland and Altman technique.