Developing Examples to Teach Epidemiologic Concepts

Epidemiologic concepts often seem abstract to new students, but illustrative examples, including simple numeric examples, simulations, and examples from real epidemiologic studies, make concepts more concrete. Simple numeric examples illustrate calculations free from the complications of real studies but may seem artificial or give a false sense of simplicity. Nevertheless, they are an important starting point. Simulations provide the opportunity to explore how different assumptions change results. Although simulations can lead to a deeper understanding of a concept, they are less intuitive. Examples from real epidemiologic studies help connect abstract concepts to practice. However, such examples often have complications beyond the concept of interest, which may cause confusion. Each type of example has value, and collectively they enhance lecture material. However, creating effective examples is challenging. In this symposium, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different types of examples and describe approaches to developing effective examples.