HLTH 503
Principles of Epidemiology
Comprehensive Finals Review (Qns & Ans)
2025
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of the following models is most commonly used in
epidemiology to assess causation of disease?
- A) Hill's Criteria
- B) Koch's Postulates
- C) Rothman's Causal Pies
- D) Bradford Hill Model
ANS: C) Rothman's Causal Pies
Rationale: Rothman's causal pies model helps identify the
multifactorial nature of causation in chronic diseases as seen in
epidemiological studies.
©2024/2025
,2. The term "incidence" in epidemiological studies refers to:
- A) The total number of cases at a given time.
- B) The new cases that develop over a specific period.
- C) The rate at which new cases die.
- D) The rate at which existing cases recover.
ANS: B) The new cases that develop over a specific period.
Rationale: Incidence measures the occurrence of new cases in a
population over a given timeframe, indicating the risk of disease.
3. In a case-control study, which factor might cause recall bias?
- A) Random assignment
- B) Retrospective data collection
- C) Double-blinding
- D) Loss to follow-up
ANS: B) Retrospective data collection
Rationale: Recall bias occurs when participants remember past
exposures differently, especially in retrospective studies where
previous exposure is based on memory.
4. Which of the following statistical tests is most appropriate for
comparing the means of two independent groups?
- A) Chi-square test
- B) Paired t-test
- C) ANOVA
©2024/2025
,- D) Independent t-test
ANS: D) Independent t-test
Rationale: An independent t-test is used to compare the means
between two independent groups for statistical differences.
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
5. An epidemiological study focusing on the distribution of
disease frequency by geographic area primarily addresses the
__________ aspect of epidemiology.
ANS: place
Rationale: The distribution aspect of epidemiology examines
how disease rates differ in various locations, addressing the
“place” element in descriptive studies.
6. In the formula for calculating Relative Risk, the numerator is
the incidence rate in the _______ population.
ANS: exposed
Rationale: Relative risk compares the incidence rate of disease
among those exposed to a factor to those not exposed, with the
exposed group forming the numerator.
7. The concept of "herd immunity" implies that when a high
percentage of the population is immune to a disease, spreading is
____________.
ANS: reduced or interrupted
Rationale: Herd immunity reduces disease transmission as a
critical mass in the population becomes immune, indirectly
protecting non-immune individuals.
©2024/2025
, True/False Questions
8. True or False: In a randomized controlled trial, randomization
ensures that the treatment and control groups are statistically
equivalent at baseline.
ANS: True
Rationale: Randomization is meant to equally distribute
confounding variables between groups, achieving baseline
equivalence.
9. True or False: The term "validity" in epidemiological research
refers to the consistency of a measurement tool or test.
ANS: False
Rationale: Validity refers to the degree to which a tool
measures what it claims to measure, while "reliability" relates to
consistency.
Multiple Response Questions
10. Which of the following are key components needed to
establish causality in epidemiology? (Select all that apply)
- A) Strength of association
- B) Consistency
- C) Temporality
- D) Randomization
ANS: A) Strength of association, B) Consistency, C)
Temporality
©2024/2025
Principles of Epidemiology
Comprehensive Finals Review (Qns & Ans)
2025
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of the following models is most commonly used in
epidemiology to assess causation of disease?
- A) Hill's Criteria
- B) Koch's Postulates
- C) Rothman's Causal Pies
- D) Bradford Hill Model
ANS: C) Rothman's Causal Pies
Rationale: Rothman's causal pies model helps identify the
multifactorial nature of causation in chronic diseases as seen in
epidemiological studies.
©2024/2025
,2. The term "incidence" in epidemiological studies refers to:
- A) The total number of cases at a given time.
- B) The new cases that develop over a specific period.
- C) The rate at which new cases die.
- D) The rate at which existing cases recover.
ANS: B) The new cases that develop over a specific period.
Rationale: Incidence measures the occurrence of new cases in a
population over a given timeframe, indicating the risk of disease.
3. In a case-control study, which factor might cause recall bias?
- A) Random assignment
- B) Retrospective data collection
- C) Double-blinding
- D) Loss to follow-up
ANS: B) Retrospective data collection
Rationale: Recall bias occurs when participants remember past
exposures differently, especially in retrospective studies where
previous exposure is based on memory.
4. Which of the following statistical tests is most appropriate for
comparing the means of two independent groups?
- A) Chi-square test
- B) Paired t-test
- C) ANOVA
©2024/2025
,- D) Independent t-test
ANS: D) Independent t-test
Rationale: An independent t-test is used to compare the means
between two independent groups for statistical differences.
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
5. An epidemiological study focusing on the distribution of
disease frequency by geographic area primarily addresses the
__________ aspect of epidemiology.
ANS: place
Rationale: The distribution aspect of epidemiology examines
how disease rates differ in various locations, addressing the
“place” element in descriptive studies.
6. In the formula for calculating Relative Risk, the numerator is
the incidence rate in the _______ population.
ANS: exposed
Rationale: Relative risk compares the incidence rate of disease
among those exposed to a factor to those not exposed, with the
exposed group forming the numerator.
7. The concept of "herd immunity" implies that when a high
percentage of the population is immune to a disease, spreading is
____________.
ANS: reduced or interrupted
Rationale: Herd immunity reduces disease transmission as a
critical mass in the population becomes immune, indirectly
protecting non-immune individuals.
©2024/2025
, True/False Questions
8. True or False: In a randomized controlled trial, randomization
ensures that the treatment and control groups are statistically
equivalent at baseline.
ANS: True
Rationale: Randomization is meant to equally distribute
confounding variables between groups, achieving baseline
equivalence.
9. True or False: The term "validity" in epidemiological research
refers to the consistency of a measurement tool or test.
ANS: False
Rationale: Validity refers to the degree to which a tool
measures what it claims to measure, while "reliability" relates to
consistency.
Multiple Response Questions
10. Which of the following are key components needed to
establish causality in epidemiology? (Select all that apply)
- A) Strength of association
- B) Consistency
- C) Temporality
- D) Randomization
ANS: A) Strength of association, B) Consistency, C)
Temporality
©2024/2025
