Resources Repository
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Tutorial/PrimerPublication, Teaching Resource 2017Bayesian Methods for Calibrating Health Policy Models: A Tutorial
This article provides a tutorial on Bayesian approaches for model calibration. It describes the theoretical …
This article provides a tutorial on Bayesian approaches for model calibration. It describes the theoretical basis for Bayesian calibration approaches as well as pragmatic considerations that arise in the tasks of creating calibration targets, estimating the posterior distribution, and obtaining results to inform the policy decision. These considerations, as well as the specific steps for implementing the calibration, are described in the context of an extended worked example about the policy choice to provide (or…
Calibration/Validation | Health/Medicine | Infectious Diseases -
ArticlePublication 2017Using Data-Driven Agent-Based Models to Forecast Emerging Infectious Diseases
This paper describes an agent-based model framework developed to forecast the 2014-15 Ebola epidemic, which …
This paper describes an agent-based model framework developed to forecast the 2014-15 Ebola epidemic, which was subsequently used in the Ebola forecasting challenge. Producing timely and reliable forecasts for an epidemic of an emerging infectious disease is a challenge. Epidemiologists and policy makers have to deal with poor data quality, limited understanding of the disease dynamics, a rapidly changing social environment and the uncertainty around the effects of various interventions in place. In this setting,…
Calibration/Validation | Health/Medicine | Microsimulation | Dynamic Simulation | Infectious Diseases | Sub-Saharan Africa -
ReviewPublication 2017Validation and Calibration of Structural Models that Combine Information from Multiple Sources
This is a review of calibration and validation methods in mathematical modeling. Such models that …
This is a review of calibration and validation methods in mathematical modeling. Such models that attempt to capture structural relationships between their components and combine information from multiple sources are increasingly used in medicine. The authors provide an overview of methods for model validation and calibration and survey studies comparing alternative approaches. Model validation entails a confrontation of models with data, background knowledge, and other models, and can inform judgments about model credibility. Calibration involves…
Calibration/Validation | Health/Medicine | Mathematical Models -
ArticlePublication 2017Likelihood Approach for Calibration of Stochastic Epidemic Models
Stochastic transmission dynamic models are especially useful for studying the early emergence of novel pathogens …
Stochastic transmission dynamic models are especially useful for studying the early emergence of novel pathogens given the importance of chance events when the number of infectious individuals is small. However, methods for parameter estimation and prediction for these types of stochastic models remain limited. This paper describes a calibration and prediction framework for stochastic compartmental transmission models of epidemics. The proposed method applies a linear noise approximation to describe the size of the fluctuations, and…
Calibration/Validation | Health/Medicine | Dynamic Transmission | Dynamic Simulation | Infectious Diseases | Health Systems | Global -
Teaching PackWeb Portal, Teaching Resource 2018Teaching Pack: Teaching Prototypes for Decision Analysis
These videos, developed by Professor Myriam Hunink during an immersion residency at the Center for …
These videos, developed by Professor Myriam Hunink during an immersion residency at the Center for Health Decision Science (CHDS) Media Hub, reflect experiments to augment brick and mortar teaching with multimedia materials that emphasize visualization of basic concepts. The first video introduces decision making under uncertainty, and illustrates the use of probability and odds to quantitatively express uncertainty. The second and third videos introduce probability revision visually and analytically, showing how an initial probability is…
Probability/Bayes | Health/Medicine | Test Performance | Value of Information | Chronic Disease/Risk | Health Systems | North America | Europe | High School | College | Graduate | Doctoral | Critical Thinking/Analysis | Graphics/Visualization | Quantitative Literacy -
Resource PackWeb Portal, Teaching Resource 2023Resource Pack: Decision Science Textbooks
This resource pack, curated by the Center for Health Decision Science, features introductory textbooks in …
This resource pack, curated by the Center for Health Decision Science, features introductory textbooks in decision analysis. These textbooks are mainly aimed at health professional schools but also public policy, law, business and engineering. Each textbook is accompanied by a downloadable PDF document with information on each chapter. The textbooks are broadly organized into three groups. The first group contains books on general decision analysis. They inform the reader on overarching decision analytic topics, such…
Probability/Bayes | Health/Medicine | Decision Theory | Preferences/Values | Costing Methods | Test Performance | Value of Information | Mathematical Models | Decision Analysis | Cost-Effectiveness Analysis | Economics/Finance | Science/Technology | College | Graduate | Doctoral | Professional | Critical Thinking/Analysis | Conceptual Mapping | Decision Making/Leadership | Quantitative Literacy -
Online LearningVideo, Teaching Resource 2023Khan Videos: Conditional Probability
These three videos, produced by Khan Academy, focus on conditional probability. Conditional probability with Bayes' …
These three videos, produced by Khan Academy, focus on conditional probability. Conditional probability with Bayes' Theorem (~5 min). Created by Brit Cruise, this video presents conditional probability visually using trees. Conditional probability and independence (~4 min). This video uses conditional probability to see if events are independent or not. Conditional probability tree diagram (~11 min). This video uses a tree diagram to work out the following conditional probability question: If someone fails a drug test, what is the…
Probability/Bayes | Health/Medicine | Science/Technology | High School | College | Graduate | Quantitative Literacy -
Lesson/ModuleWeb Portal, Teaching Resource 2016DNA Evidence: Case Study in Probabilities
This educational module on DNA evidence presents trial testimony, exhibits, and opinions in a case …
This educational module on DNA evidence presents trial testimony, exhibits, and opinions in a case in which federal courts at every level discerned “inaccuracies” in the testimony of a leading expert about probabilities associated with the DNA evidence. By embedding these legal materials in background explanations, critical questions, and short problems, the module supports self-study and class discussions that together can elucidate key principles in scientific reasoning and quantitative analysis and that can help students…
Probability/Bayes | Health/Medicine | Test Performance | Risk Analysis | Injuries/Accidents | Government/Law | Science/Technology | Global | North America | College | Graduate | Doctoral | Critical Thinking/Analysis | Quantitative Literacy -
Lesson/ModuleWeb Portal, Teaching Resource 2016Educational Module: Shale Gas Development
This module has been developed around the topic of the extraction of natural gas from …
This module has been developed around the topic of the extraction of natural gas from shale. This practice, commonly referred to as fracking, involves several practices that have complex and uncertain consequences. In the module, three scientific concepts are explored in order to elucidate how science is applied toward addressing real-world problems. The scientific concepts are: (1) correlation is not the same as causation, (2) hazard is not the same as risk, and (3) risk…
Probability/Bayes | Climate/Environment | Risk Analysis | Environmental Health | Policy/Regulation | Business/Industry | Energy/Engineering | Government/Law | Science/Technology | Global | North America | College | Graduate | Doctoral | Critical Thinking/Analysis | Decision Making/Leadership