Useful links
Unit of study_
BIOL2022: Biology Experimental Design and Analysis
This unit provides foundational skills essential for doing research in biology and for critically judging the research of others. We consider how biology is practiced as a quantitative, experimental and theoretical science. We focus on the underlying principles and practical skills you need to explore questions and test hypotheses, particularly where background variation (error) is inherently high. In so doing, the unit provides you with an understanding of how biological research is designed, analysed and interpreted using statistics. Lectures focus on sound experimental and statistical principles, using examples in ecology and other fields of biology to demonstrate concepts. In the practical sessions, you will design and perform, analyse (using appropriate statistical tools) and interpret your own experiments to answer research questions in topics relevant to your particular interest. This unit of study provides a suitable foundation for senior biology units of study.
| Code | BIOL2022 |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 6 |
|
Prerequisites:
?
|
BIOL1XXX or MBLG1XXX or ENVX1001 or ENVX1002 or DATA1X01 or MATH1XX5 or ENVI1003 |
|---|---|
|
Corequisites:
?
|
None |
| Prohibitions:
?
|
BIOL2922 or BIOL3006 or BIOL3906 |
| Assumed knowledge:
?
|
BIOL1XXX or MBLG1XXX |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. understand the process of experimental design and analysis in biological research
- LO2. understand the concepts of the frequentist approach to statistics and null hypothesis testing
- LO3. understand the characteristics of data amenable to classic parametric statistics, non-parametric and permutational statistics
- LO4. understand the philosophical difference between the frequentist approach, and information-theory and Bayesian approaches
- LO5. appreciate classic parametric statistics and their application in biological research
- LO6. appreciate the principles underpinning the common techniques for analysing multi-variate data
- LO7. design, analyse with appropriate software, and interpret simple experiments with uni- and multi-variate data, developed from initial biological questions and observations
- LO8. evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of biological research, in terms of experimental design, analysis and interpretation
- LO9. communicate concisely and with clarity the process, outcomes and implications of biological research, verbally and in plain written English
Unit outlines
Unit outlines will be available 1 week before the first day of teaching for the relevant session.
- Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
- Key dates
Key dates through the academic year, including teaching periods, census, payment deadlines and exams.
- Student administration
Enrolment, course planning, fees, graduation, support services, student IT
- Expectations of student conduct
Code of Conduct for Students, Conditions of Enrollment, University Privacy Statement, Academic Integrity
- Academic appeals
Academic appeals process, special consideration, rules and guidelines, advice and support
- Learning and teaching policy
Policy register, policy search
- Financial support
Scholarships, interest free loans, bursaries, money management
- Study resources
Learning Centre, faculty and school programs, Library, online resources
- Health and support
Student Centre, counselling & psychological services, University Health Service, general health and wellbeing
