NES2303 : Experimental Design and Statistics
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Roy Sanderson
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To introduce and practise the development of hypotheses, appropriate experimental design, robust data manipulation and analysis, appropriate statistical testing and interpretation.
This module is a combination of taught material and linked practical exercises aimed at developing the problem-solving and statistical skills required by research biologists. It will introduce the concepts of hypothesis driven research, proper experimental design, data manipulation and statistical testing. It will improve the confidence of biology students in dealing with the analysis and interpretation of numerical data. Students will learn analyses using R and interactive websites.
Outline Of Syllabus
Lectures covering key points to be developed, practised and assessed through the practical sessions with online interactive websites and short, user-friendly videos to introduce concepts
Understanding different types of data, response and explanatory variables.
How to visualise and summarise data.
Good practice in experimental design
Linear models as a general approach to analysing univariate data
Generalised linear models to analyse data with non-normal distributions
Further regression methods: model checking; quadratic regression; multiple regression.
Review: matching statistical analyses to hypotheses and data.
Practicals for PC cluster-based activities: a variety of examples from different areas of biology will be used.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 6:00 | 6:00 | Online quizzes on interactive websites |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 25:00 | 25:00 | Main assessment |
| Structured Guided Learning | Academic skills activities | 15 | 2:00 | 30:00 | Online interactive websites/asynchronous teaching |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 6 | 2:00 | 12:00 | Practicals |
| Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Guided online tutorials hosted on R shiny |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured non-synchronous discussion | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | Online webinars to demonstrate techniques and help students with practicals (RAS, ACM) |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Introductory / orientation lecture to get students familiar with format and delivery of module (RAS) |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures will introduce students to the key stages in scientific investigation including a) clearly defined hypotheses; b) robust experimental design; c) data interpretation; and d) appropriate use of statistical tests.
Computer practicals are designed to develop skills in data manipulation, graphical display, statistical analysis, data interpretation and use of R studio.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | 100 | Synoptic computer test via Canvas |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | via Canvas |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The computer assessment examines students' understanding of experimental design and statistics and ability to think in a logical manner, including identifying and applying appropriate analyses.
Study Abroad students may request to take their exam before the semester 1 exam period, in which case the format of the paper may differ from that shown in the MOF. Study Abroad students should contact the school to discuss this.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES2303's Timetable