Course An introduction to causal directed acyclic graphs (DAGs)

The course P237 An introduction to causal directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) is being offered by the Graduate School of Health, Aarhus University, 2027.

Criteria for participation: Adjust the following if necessary. University degree in medicine, dentistry, nursing, or Master’s degree in other fields and/or postgraduate research fellows (PhD students and research-year medical students).

Aim: The course aims to provide participants with an introduction to the use of directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) as a tool to control for confounding and other sources of bias. Moreover, the course will include a simple method to reason about the directions of potential biases. After the course, participants will be able to use DAGs as a practical tool in their own research.

Learning outcomes: 

• To understand the basic anatomy of directed acyclic graphs (DAGs)
• To draw and apply DAGs for selection of covariates to account for confounding
• To draw and apply DAGs to illustrate potential selection bias
• To draw and apply DAGs to illustrate potential information bias
• To draw and apply signed DAGs to estimate the potential direction of bias in a research project

Workload: The full workload of the course is expected to be 26 hours

Content: A comprehensive introduction to DAGs will be provided along with the opportunity for participants to work with DAGs in relation to their own studies. Please note that this course focuses on quantitative research within health sciences.

Instructors: Cecilia Høst Ramlau-Hansen and more

Venue: Aarhus University, Aarhus

Participation in the course is without cost for:

• PhD students, Health Research Year students from Aarhus University
• PhD students enrolled at partner universities of the Nordoc collaboration
• PhD students from other institutions in the open market agreement for PhD courses

Course dates:

• 05 April 2027 08:30 - 15:30
• 06 April 2027 08:30 - 15:30
• 07 April 2027 08:30 - 15:30