| CODE | BIO2500 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Design of Biological Investigations | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Biology | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit reviews the basic principles of research methodology and experimental design, with particular focus on methods and techniques used in biological investigations. The main components include: 1. Introduction: the scientific method; asking and answering biological questions; types of biological investigations; why investigations need to be designed; 2. Sampling: samples, populations and experimental units; sampling gear, techniques and designs; census techniques; 3. Data management and processing: types of variables; descriptive statistics and estimation; data processing and graphical display; 4. Taking measurements: accuracy, bias and precision; techniques for improving accuracy and precision; 5. Exploratory analyses: design of observational studies; exploratory analyses based on descriptive statistics; exploratory analyses based on multivariate analyses; generation of hypotheses and predictions based on exploratory analyses; 6. Hypothesis testing: basic principles of hypothesis testing; statistical aspects (one-tailed and two-tailed tests; Type I and Type II errors; power and multiple comparisons; effect size); parametric and non-parametric tests; 7. Basic principles of experimental design: replication and pseudoreplication; randomisation; controlling for confounding factors; ensuring independence of treatments; selecting number of replicates; 8. Design of biological investigations and relationship with statistics: completely randomized and factorial designs (single factor, nested and factorial designs); blocking and split-plot designs; designs for correlation and regression; designs with covariates; designs and analyses based on ordinal and categorical variables; multivariate analysis for hypothesis testing; designs for detecting patterns in space and time; 9. Other aspects of design of biological investigations: ethical considerations; maintaining safe practices; investigations involving human subjects. The practical component for this study-unit will take the form of a group mini-project assigned to different groups of students. Each group will be given a specific research question which they will need to answer within a specified period of time. As a group, they will be required to design the experimental approach to be adopted and the manner in which they will undertake the investigation. Field and laboratory sessions will be held as necessary to perform the investigations. Assessment will be based on a written report on the investigation, which should be prepared by each student on an individual basis. Important Note: This study-unit is partly based on practical experience, which is considered as essential for the understanding of the basic principles discussed during the formal lectures. Students are to note that for assessment purpose, the practical component of this study-unit is compulsory and non-compensatable. This means that no grade will be awarded for this study-unit, unless students attend all practical sessions and unless their average mark for the practical reports is a minimum of 45%. Furthermore, students are informed that regular attendance to lectures, practical classes and field visits is obligatory. Students will be allowed to sit for the examination and a grade may be awarded for this study-unit only if attendance to lectures, practical sessions and/or field/site visits has been regular and if they have submitted all assignments and reports as required. Study-unit Aims: This unit is mainly aimed at introducing students to the process of planning and design of biological investigations. It will review the basic nature of biological investigations and research methodologies to equip students with knowledge on different sampling techniques, experimental designs and treatment and analyses of biological data, and their relationship to specific research questions. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Know the importance of planning investigative work within the framework of a specific research question; - Demonstrate knowledge of the principles underpinning good experimental design; - Know the relationship between experimental design, sampling methodology and data analyses; - Demonstrate understanding of a wide variety of designs that are commonly used in biological investigations and their relationship to specific research questions; - Use a range of common data analysis techniques, and interpret the outcomes of these analyses. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Formulate hypotheses and ask biologically meaningful questions; - Plan biological investigations, including selection of appropriate data collection methodology and experimental design, based on a specific research question; - Undertake biological investigations, collect and record data in a systematic manner, perform appropriate data analyses according to their working hypothesis, and synthesise the outcomes; - Draw conclusions consistent with their research question and the outcome of the investigation, based on the chosen experimental design and analyses; - Critically evaluate the research methodology and experimental design employed to answer specific biological research questions in case studies. Reading List: Introductory text: - Ruxton and Colegrave (2010). Experimental design for the life science (3rd edition), Oxford University Press. Texts with more advanced treatment of statistical components: - Quinn and Keough (2002). Experimental design and data analysis for biologists, Cambridge University Press - Maxwell and Delaney (2003). Designing experiments and analysing data: a model comparison approach (2nd edition), Taylor and Francis. Supplementary reading: - Campbell (1989). Statistics for biologists (3rd edition), Cambridge University Press - Clewer and Scarisbrick (2001). Practical statistics and experimental design for plant and crop science, Wiley - Dytham (1998). Choosing and using statistics, Blackwell Science - Matthiopoulos (2011). How to be a Quantitative Ecologist, Wiley - Wardlaw (1999). Practical statistics for experimental biologists (2nd edition), Wiley. |
||||||||||||
| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Study-unit: BSc Hons Biology 1st year study-units | ||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Practical and Fieldwork | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
||||||||||||
| LECTURER/S | Julian Evans (Co-ord.) Sandro Lanfranco |
||||||||||||
|
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
|||||||||||||