Research Philosophies & Statistics

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

This subject should give students knowledge of a range of research methodologies and underlying philosophies, and sophisticated statistical tools to design laboratory and field experiments and field surveys, and effectively and appropriately analyse these data sets in agriculture, horticulture and land management. Upon completion of the subject, students should be able to: formulate research questions and hypotheses, and implement hypotheses testing, to satisfy research needs in different disciplines, including field research and economics; recognise, understand and apply concepts of study design (such as observational studies versus designed experiments, confounding, replication, randomisation, and blocking), and discuss the effect of design concepts on the interpretation of results; determine the appropriate statistical methodology to use, including parametric and non-parametric methods, and confirm that data sets meet the underlying assumptions of the statistical model chosen; display an understanding of the purpose and limitation of inference, and be able to use the main tools of inference to analyse and interpret data; and interpret statistical program outputs in agricultural, horticultural and land management contexts.

Students with at least one semester background in statistics are advised to enrol in MAST40001.

The objectives of this subject are to provide students with:

• a basic understanding of how to ask and answer questions in experimental biology

• familiarity with the kinds of data generated in biological and environmental research;

• skills to design efficient sampling programs and experiments in biological science;

• an understanding of the statistical models and analyses that can be applied to different kinds of biological data;

• be able to interpret and present results of statistical analyses.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• A profound respect for truth, intellectual and professional integrity, and the
• ethics of scholarship
• Capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning and research
• An ability to derive, interpret and analyse social, technical or economic information from primary and other sources
• Awareness of and ability to utilise appropriate communication technology and methods for the storage, management and analysis of data
• Capacity for creativity and innovation, through the application of skills and knowledge
• Ability to integrate information across a relevant discipline to solve problems in applied situations
• Highly developed computer - based skills to allow for effective on-line learning and communication.
• Highly developed written communication skills to allow informed dialogue with individuals and groups from industry, government and the community
• Highly developed oral communication skills to allow informed dialogue and liaison with individuals and groups from industry, government and the community.
• Appreciation of social and cultural diversity from a regional to a global context
• Ability to participate effectively as a member of a team
• Ability to plan work, use time effectively and manage small projects