Research Methods For Life Sciences

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

120 hours

Students who have not taken any statistical analysis subjects at a tertiary level are advised to take Research Methods for Life Sciences as an introduction to statistical analysis.

Students who have completed statistical analysis subjects at a tertiary level are advised not to take Research Methods for Life Sciences. Students should select Research Philosophies and Statistics or Social Research Methods as alternatives.

N/A

This subject provides students with an introduction to a number of statistical techniques which are frequently used in agriculture, science and business situations. Course content will be set within the context of practical problems. Technology will be used to support statistical calculations.

It is designed for students with little or no background in statistics.

Topics include an introduction to sampling techniques and experimental design; descriptive treatment of sample data; introduction to elementary probability and distributions; estimation and hypothesis testing of means and proportions; the chi-square distribution; simple and multiple regression and correlation; one-factor and two-factor analysis of variance; and use of statistical computer packages.

The aim of this unit is to assist students to develop an:
• Introduction to statistical analysis
• Understanding of the process of statistical analysis
• Introduction to the use of statistical analysis in postgraduate research
• Ability to select appropriate methodological frameworks and to match research tools to these approaches

A 3-hour final examination (60%), a mid-semester test in Week 6 (10%), and three assignments, each equivalent to 1000 words, due in Weeks 4, 8 and 12 (30%).

Essential Statistics (D G Rees), 4th edn, Chapman and Hall, 2001

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students should progressively acquire generic skills from this subject that will assist them in any future career path. These include
• problem-solving skills: the ability to engage with unfamiliar problems and identify relevant solution strategies;
• analytical skills: the ability to construct and express logical arguments and to work in abstract or general terms to increase the clarity and efficiency of analysis;
• time management skills: the ability to meet regular deadlines while balancing competing commitments.