Design, Analysis & Interpretation of Quantitative Biological Research
January – April 2017
Wednesdays – 2:00-5:00pm
SSC 2424
Professor: Robert Bailey ([email protected])
A course that is dedicated to equipping students to both use and critically review the use of
quantitative methods in biological research.
Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the course will know how to:
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design an observational or experimental research study that incorporates the concept of
power (the ability to detect deviations from a null hypothesis)
analyze univariate or multivariate data from a biological research study
graphically summarize univariate or multivariate data from a biological research study
critically assess the results and interpretation of statistical analyses used in a biological
research study
consider alternatives to the hypothesis testing paradigm for analyzing quantitative data
To be successful in this course, students need to show proficiency with the following software
tools:
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Adobe Connect web conferencing
MS Powerpoint
MS Excel
R statistics software (including customizing scripts)
Preparation
It might be useful for you to refresh your basic stats prior to starting the course. Carnegie Mellon
University has quite a good MOOC stats course called Statistical Reasoning. If you want to try
some or all of it, check it out at their Open Learning Initiative website…
https://oli.cmu.edu/learn-with-oli/see-our-free-open-courses/
Software and other Resources
We will use Adobe Connect web conferencing software to complement face-to-face discussions
and lectures. I will keep all resources on a Google Drive that you will have access to.
Data will be assembled and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and the statistical and graphics
software known as R, which is available as a free download for Windows, Mac, and UNIX
operating systems. I prefer R Studio, but get any version of R that you like.
http://www.rstudio.com/ide/download/
If you like books, you may find any of the following texts useful for both learning and using R and
general guidance on statistical matters we will deal with in the course:
Crawley, Michael J. 2005. Statistics: An introduction using R. Wiley.
Available from amazon.ca for about $45.
Kabacoff, Robert I. 2011. R in Action: Data analysis and graphics with R. Manning.
Available from amazon.ca for about $45.
Tufte, Edward R. 2001. The visual display of quantitative information. 2 nd Edition. Graphics
Press. Available from amazon.ca for about $50
Lecture/Lab Meetings will start the week of 9 January 2017
Subject to change based on schedules of all members of the class
We will blend the lecture and lab components of the course into a three-hour video conference on
Wednesdays 2-5pm each week*. These will be recorded and available for viewing on my Google
Drive.
Week
Subject
1-2
11,18Jan
Fundamentals: Basic stats concepts you have forgotten or never really understood
3-4
25Jan,1Feb Statistical Modeling – from t-tests to ANVOVA and more
5,6
8,15Feb
Study Design – how many reps do I need?
8
22Feb
Reading Week
9-11
1,8,15Mar
Multivariate Analysis – ordination, classification, MANOVA
12-14 22,29Mar,6 Student Presentations
Apr
Lab Assignment Schedule
Week
Activity
1 (11Jan)
Hand Out Lab Assignment 1: Intro R - Collecting and Inputting Data + Basic
Statistical Analysis
3 (1Feb)
Hand In Lab Assignment 1; Hand Out Lab Assignment 2: Dealing with
Assumptions
5 (15Feb)
Hand In Lab Assignment 2; Hand Out Lab Assignment 3: Study Design
7 (8Mar)
Hand In Lab Assignment 3; Hand Out Lab Assignment 4: Multivariate
Analysis
12 (6Apr)
Hand In Lab Assignment 4
Evaluation: There are four assignments and a presentation.
Assignments TOTAL = 80%
Assignments 1-4 are each worth 20% of your final mark. You are encouraged to
discuss the assignments with the professor, the lab instructor, and each other, but
you are totally responsible for producing the final product on your own. Bob marks
all of the assignments.
Presentation = 20%
Each student will choose a published paper (approved by the professor) and
present a 15m PPT show highlighting the design, analysis, and interpretation of the
quantitative aspect of the study. Presentations will be by video conference during
the final three weeks of the course. The presentation mark is the mean of Bob's
mark and the mean of the class observers.
STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES:
•
The statement: “Scholastic offences are taken seriously and students are directed to read
the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence,
at the following Web site:
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/scholastic_discipline_grad.pdf
•
Students must write their essays and assignments in their own words. Whenever students
take an idea, or a passage from another author, they must acknowledge their debt both by
using quotation marks where appropriate and by proper referencing such as footnotes or
citations. Plagiarism is a major academic offence.
Other policies:
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Retain a copy of all submitted assignments (in case of loss) and graded assignments.
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Students who plan to be absent for varsity athletics, family obligations or other similar
commitments should discuss their commitments with the instructor.
•
Mobile telephones and any similar devices should be switched off during class. If you bring
one to class, be sure to turn it off or you will be asked to leave.
Graduate Students Health and Wellness:
As part of a successful graduate student experience at Western, we encourage students
to make their health and wellness a priority. Western provides several on campus health-related
services to help you achieve optimum health and engage in healthy living while pursuing your
graduate degree. For example, to support physical activity, all students, as part of their
registration, receive membership in Western’s Campus Recreation Centre. Numerous cultural
events are offered throughout the year. Please check out the Faculty of Music web page
http://www.music.uwo.ca/, and our own McIntosh Gallery http://www.mcintoshgallery.ca/.
Information regarding health- and wellness-related services available to students may be found at
http://www.health.uwo.ca/
Students seeking help regarding mental health concerns are advised to speak to someone
they feel comfortable confiding in, such as their faculty supervisor, their program director
(graduate chair), or other relevant administrators in their unit. Campus mental health resources
may be found at http://www.health.uwo.ca/mental_health/resources.html
To help you learn more about mental health, Western has developed an interactive mental
health-learning module, found here: http://www.health.uwo.ca/mental_health/module.html. This
module is 30 minutes in length and provides participants with a basic understanding of mental
health issues and of available campus and community resources. Topics include stress, anxiety,
depression, suicide and eating disorders. After successful completion of the module, participants
receive a certificate confirming their participation.