Unit Guide

General Information

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor Belinda Medlyn belinda.medlyn@mq.edu.au Contact via belinda.medlyn@mq.edu.au Other Staff Sharyon O'Donnell sharyon.odonnell@mq.edu.au Contact via sharyon.odonnell@mq.edu.au 9-5
Credit points	Credit points 3
Prerequisites	Prerequisites (6cp(P) in BIOL or ENV or ENVE or ENVG or GEOS units) and (STAT170(P) or STAT171(P) or PSY122(P))
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status
Unit description	Unit description Biological organisms are inherently variable, which means that practicing biologists need a solid grasp of how to design experiments and how to interpret the resulting data. This unit provides a foundation in the principles of experimental design and data analysis for biology. The unit is taught by biology staff and draws on research carried out in the Department of Biological Sciences. Students also learn the overall process of asking and answering questions in biology. Students learn a range of common data analysis techniques, and how to interpret the outcomes of these analyses. There is a strong emphasis on critically evaluating biological studies and identifying sound conclusions and not-so-sound conclusions. This unit is strongly recommended for students planning a career in biology or environmental science.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

Develop testable hypotheses from general scientific questions
Design an unconfounded experiment to test a given scientific hypothesis
Identify dependent and independent variables and recognize different types of variable
Choose an appropriate statistical test to analyse experimental data
Carry out a range of commonly-used statistical tests using the computer package MINITAB
Correctly interpret results from statistical tests
Clearly present outcomes from experiments, using figures, tables and text
Critically evaluate other studies
Identify possible confounding factors
Evaluate whether statistical tests have been correctly applied and interpreted

Assessment Tasks

Name	Weighting	Due
6 Assignment Problems	24%	TBA
Mid-semester test	10%	TBA
Experiment report	16%	TBA
Final exam	50%	Exam Period

6 Assignment Problems

Due: TBA
Weighting: 24%

Every fortnight you will be given a set of homework problems to complete. These problems will be based on that fortnight’s lectures and tutorials and provide a chance for you to practice applying the concepts you have learnt. It is strongly recommended that you make a serious effort to complete these problems.

Weight: 6 x 4% = 24%

On successful completion you will be able to:

Develop testable hypotheses from general scientific questions
Design an unconfounded experiment to test a given scientific hypothesis
Identify dependent and independent variables and recognize different types of variable
Choose an appropriate statistical test to analyse experimental data
Carry out a range of commonly-used statistical tests using the computer package MINITAB
Correctly interpret results from statistical tests
Clearly present outcomes from experiments, using figures, tables and text
Critically evaluate other studies
Identify possible confounding factors
Evaluate whether statistical tests have been correctly applied and interpreted

Mid-semester test

Due: TBA
Weighting: 10%

You will be tested on your knowledge of lecture material for weeks 1-7 in Week 8 (following semester break). This test will be delivered as an online assignment accessible through iLearn.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Identify dependent and independent variables and recognize different types of variable
Choose an appropriate statistical test to analyse experimental data
Correctly interpret results from statistical tests
Critically evaluate other studies
Identify possible confounding factors
Evaluate whether statistical tests have been correctly applied and interpreted

Experiment report

Due: TBA
Weighting: 16%

You will be required to design, conduct and analyse an experiment of your own. We will give you a range of alternative experimental questions to choose from. You will need to pick a question, design and carry out an experiment addressing that question, then write up the results in the form of the methods and results sections of a scientific paper. Full details will be given at the start of semester. Important: The report is COMPULSORY - students who fail to submit their report will FAIL the unit irrespective of their marks in other assessment tasks.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Develop testable hypotheses from general scientific questions
Design an unconfounded experiment to test a given scientific hypothesis
Identify dependent and independent variables and recognize different types of variable
Choose an appropriate statistical test to analyse experimental data
Carry out a range of commonly-used statistical tests using the computer package MINITAB
Correctly interpret results from statistical tests
Clearly present outcomes from experiments, using figures, tables and text

Final exam

Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 50%

The final exam will be held during the Semester 2 Exam Period and will be 3 hr (plus 10 min reading time). Please consult the University Handbook to determine the commencement and finishing dates of the compulsory exam period. More details on the structure of the final exam will be given closer to the time.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Identify dependent and independent variables and recognize different types of variable
Choose an appropriate statistical test to analyse experimental data
Correctly interpret results from statistical tests
Critically evaluate other studies
Identify possible confounding factors
Evaluate whether statistical tests have been correctly applied and interpreted

Delivery and Resources

CLASSES

Internal Students

Contact hours consist of 2 lectures and one 2-hour tutorial per week.

Lectures: Thursday 11 am (W5A T2) and Friday 9 am (E7B T2)
Tutorials: Will be held in computer lab E5A 260. Three alternative tutorial slots are available: Thurs 1 - 3pm; Fri 10 - 12 pm; Fri 1 -3 pm. Internal students should ensure they are registered in one of these classes.

External Students

Lecture material will be placed online for access by external students.

Tutorials will take place in on-campus sessions on the following dates:

18-19 August Tutorials Wk 1-6
29 September Tutorials Wk 7-9
3 November Tutorials Wk 10-13

External students will be advised which room these tutorials will take place in (NOT Y3A as in the timetable as this is not a computer room).

REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS

Recommended Reading

There is no set textbook for this course. Some suggested reading will be provided via iLearn. In addition, the following resources are available:

Online: The Handbook of Biological Statistics http://udel.edu/~mcdonald/statintro.html is an excellent resource which covers many of the same topics as BIOL235 in a very accessible way.

Library: The library holds a wide range of books covering stats for biologists at different levels. Some favourites from the biology staff are listed below in approximate order of difficulty. These books will be placed in reserve.

Statistics explained: an introductory guide for life scientists. Steve McKillup 2005 (QH323.5 .M33 and MyiLibrary Online access)
Practical statistics for field biology Jim Fowler, Louis Cohen, Phil Jarvis 1998 (QH318.5 .F68 1998)
Statistics for terrified biologistsHelmut F. van Emden(QH323.5 .V33 2008)
The analysis of biological data. Whitlock & Schluter (QH323.5 W48 2009) - in Reserve
Experiments in ecology : their logical design and interpretation using analysis of variance A. J. Underwood 1997 (QH541.24 .U54/1997 )
A primer of ecological statistics Nicholas J. Gotelli, Aaron M. Ellison 2004 (QH541.15.S72 G68 2004 )
Experimental design and data analysis for biologists G. P. Quinn, Michael J. Keough; 2002 MyiLibrary Online access

UNIT WEBPAGE AND TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

Website

Lecture graphics and iLectures will be available on iLearn (http://ilearn.mq.edu.au). iLearn is a web-based communication package and can be accessed by most web browsers from inside or outside the University. iLearn and email will be the primary methods of communication in this subject. You are expected to use iLearn for:

Regularly checking subject announcements;
Downloading lecture, tutorial and reference materials;
Checking your grades.

How do you log in? The URL for the iLearn log in page is: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/.

You must log in to iLearn each time you use it. Your user name is your student number, and your password is your myMQ student portal password, provided upon enrolment (unless you've changed it). If you are having trouble accessing your online unit due to a disability or health condition, please go to the Student Services Website at http://sss.mq.edu.au/equity/about for information on how to get assistance.

If you are having problems logging on, that is, if you cannot log in after ensuring you have entered your username and password correctly, you should contact Student IT Help, Phone: (02) 9850 4357 (in Sydney) or 1 800 063 191 (outside Sydney).

Software

Practical work will be carried out using the computer program MINITAB. Students are able to download copies of MINITAB for their personal use from the student portal.

Important: Students with Mac computers will need a Windows emulator to run MINITAB.

WHAT HAS CHANGED?

2011 saw a radical redesign of the unit that was very positively received by students. This year we will be working on polishing the material developed last year. However, there will be no major changes to the structure of the unit.

Unit Schedule

LECTURE SCHEDULE

	TOPIC	LECTURER
	INTRODUCTION
1	Introduction	Belinda Medlyn
2	Concepts of Experimental Design	Belinda Medlyn
3	Looking at Data	Belinda Medlyn
4	Hypothesis Testing and Effect Sizes	Belinda Medlyn
	TESTS FOR DIFFERENCES
5	One-way ANOVA	Belinda Medlyn
6	Assumptions of ANOVA	Belinda Medlyn
7	Transformations	Belinda Medlyn
8	Comparisons after ANOVA	Grant Hose
9	Power analysis	Grant Hose
10	Two-factor ANOVA	Belinda Medlyn
11	Two-factor ANOVA	Belinda Medlyn
12	Non-parametric tests	Josh Madin
13	Randomisation tests	Josh Madin
14	Experimental design: testing for differences	Michelle Leishman
	Semester Break
15	Analysing frequencies	Belinda Medlyn
16	Experimental design for frequencies	Andy Barron
	TESTS FOR RELATIONSHIPS
17	Correlation and regression	Drew Allen
18	Correlation and regression	Drew Allen
19	Logistic regression	Darrell Kemp
20	Mutliple linear regression	Drew Allen
21	Analysis of covariance	Drew Allen
22	Experimental design: testing for relationships	Melanie Bishop
	MULTIVARIATE DATA
23	Summarising and Visualising Multivariate Data	David Nipperess
24	Multivariate Classification and Hypothesis Testing	Dick Frankham
	SUMMARY
25	Multivariate Classification and Hypothesis Testing	David Nipperess
26	Revision	Belinda Medlyn

PRACTICALS SCHEDULE

Internal Students

LAB#	ACTIVITY
1	Getting Started
2	Effect Sizes and Hypothesis Testing
3	ANOVA Basics
4	ANOVA: Super SAO Challenge
5	Power analysis
6	Factorial ANOVA
7	Non-parametric tests
	MID SEMESTER BREAK
8	Analysing frequencies
9	Regression
10	Logistic regression
11	What test when?
12	Multivariate data
13	Meta-analysis

External Students

Session 1	Labs 1-6
Session 2	Labs 7-9
Session 3	Labs 10-13

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at: http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

UniWISE provides:

Online learning resources and academic skills workshops http://www.students.mq.edu.au/support/learning_skills/
Personal assistance with your learning & study related questions.
The Learning Help Desk is located in the Library foyer (level 2).
Online and on-campus orientation events run by Mentors@Macquarie.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au/ses/.

IT Help

If you wish to receive IT help, we would be glad to assist you at http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.

When using the university's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students and it outlines what can be done.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.