University of Galway

Course Module Information

Course Modules

Semester 1 | Credits: 5

The module aims to give students the opportunity to understand the basic principles of statistics as used by biologists. The approach is to empower students to analyse and interpret data from their own research projects. Students will be brought through the process of considering their data at the experimental design stage of the project, summarising their data into descriptive statistics, displaying their data using graphs and tables, determining normality, transforming data and conducting analyses through a range of parametric and non-parametric techniques. Techniques will include t-tests, ANOVA, χ2 tests, regression, correlation, Mann Whitney, Kruskal Wallis and Wilcoxon tests and an introduction to multivariate analysis. The course will be taught through worked examples during a series of lectures, which will include instructions on conducting the tests through the SPSS statistical package. The students will then use their newly acquired skills in producing and analysing their own project data.

Learning Outcomes
  1. Consider data analysis at the experimental design stage of their project
  2. Summarise their data using descriptive statistics and appropriate graphs
  3. Derive hypotheses that can be tested statistically
  4. Choose and conduct an appropriate statistical test to analyse their data
  5. Interpret the test, and successfully accept/reject the appropriate hypothesis
  6. Conduct statistical tests using SPSS, or similar statistical package
  7. Build on their acquired knowledge to investigate and interpret more advanced statistical techniques.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module ZO509: "Biometry - Statistics for Biologists" and is valid from 2015 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.