Includes bibliographical references and index.

ch. 1. Introduction to epidemiological research -- ch. 2. Principles of scientific research: deductive methods and process of conjecture and refutation -- ch. 3. Scientific hypothesis and degree of corroboration -- ch. 4. Causal inference and decision -- ch. 5. Basic principles of measurement -- ch. 6. Basic measurements in epidemiological research -- ch. 7. Study design -- ch. 8. Adjustment and standardization of rates -- ch. 9. Introduction to sampling method and practical applications -- ch. 10. Follow-up study -- ch. 11. Case-control study -- ch. 12. How to critically review an empirical study -- ch. 13. Application of epidemiological methods in health service research and policy.

Based on the concept of "conjecture and refutation" from the Popperian philosophy of science, i.e. looking for alternative causes, this book simplifies the design and inferences of human observational studies into two types: descriptive and causal. It clarifies how and why causal inference should be considered from the search for alternative explanations or causes, and descriptive inference from the sample at hand to the source population. Furthermore, it links the health policy and epidemiological concept with decisional questions, for which the basic measurement can be quality-adjusted survival time or quality-adjusted life year.

Electronic reproduction. Singapore : World Scientific Publishing Co., 2002. System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Mode of access: World Wide Web.