CQUniversity Unit Profile
BIOL12105 Scientific Analysis and Statistics
Scientific Analysis and Statistics
All details in this unit profile for BIOL12105 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

An understanding of experimental design, statistical methods, ethics and the ability to critically analyse scientific reports is essential for graduates in the sciences. In this unit, you will study experimental design, ethics and commonly used statistical procedures. You will be introduced to hypothesis testing and experimental design, parametric and non-parametric analyses, one, two and multi sample analyses (including one way, two way, and nested ANOVA designs, as well as multivariate analyses), correlation and regression, and data transformation. The learning and teaching strategy uses a clear, conceptual approach, which assumes that you have little or no statistical background.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 7
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite: SCIE11023 Scientific Research Fundamentals or ESSC11004 Study and Research Skills for Health Science or SCIE11024 Science Investigation

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2024

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 25%
2. Practical Assessment
Weighting: 25%
3. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 50%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from SUTE feedback Moodle feedback

Feedback

Students again appreciated the concise 'bite-sized' delivery of the unit content, noting that this made it easier to understand the theory with examples.

Recommendation

Maintain current lecture delivery structure.

Feedback from Email

Feedback

One student asked that more notification be given regarding the expectations of the assessment, suggesting that email isn't the best way to transfer this information.

Recommendation

Students were provided clear expectations of assessment through Moodle assessment tabs, lecture content, live weekly Zoom sessions, direct email, and reminder announcements online. This broad approach will be maintained to help students access unit requirements in a number of ways.

Feedback from Moodle/online feedback

Feedback

Students expressed their gratitude for the unit having additional live Zoom sessions for them to ask questions and resolve issues.

Recommendation

Maintain the offering of the additional live Zoom sessions throughout term.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Describe the uses, pitfalls and limitations of parametric and non-parametric statistical tests
  2. Choose an appropriate statistical test for a set of data
  3. Correctly use software programs for analysing scientific data
  4. Know when experiments require ethical clearance and explain the basic principles of ethical experimentation
  5. Critique scientific reports and research proposals in terms of the quality of their experimental design
  6. Design realistic experiments with appropriate control and replicates
  7. Explain the rationale behind statistical testing and probability levels.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 - Written Assessment - 25%
2 - Practical Assessment - 25%
3 - Online Quiz(zes) - 50%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Written Assessment - 25%
2 - Practical Assessment - 25%
3 - Online Quiz(zes) - 50%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Supplementary

Statistics Explained

Edition: 2nd (2016)
Authors: Steve McKillup
Cambridge
ISBN: 978-0-521-18328

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • SPSS Statistical software (instructions for accessing will be provided during term)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Andrew Irving Unit Coordinator
a.irving@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 08 Jul 2024

Module/Topic

• Unit Introduction
• What is science, logic, and reasoning?
• The scientific method

Chapter

McKillup Chapters 1 & 2

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 15 Jul 2024

Module/Topic

• Types of data
• Fundamentals of sampling and experimental design

Chapter

McKillup Chapters 3 & 4

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 22 Jul 2024

Module/Topic

• Making decisions from data
• The normal distribution

Chapter

McKillup Chapters 6 - 8

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 29 Jul 2024

Module/Topic

• One sample tests
• Two sample tests
• Decision errors

Chapter

McKillup Chapters 9 & 10

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 05 Aug 2024

Module/Topic

• Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
• Multiple comparisons

Chapter

McKillup Chapters 11 & 12

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 12 Aug 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 19 Aug 2024

Module/Topic

• Assumptions and transformations for ANOVA
• Two-way ANOVA

Chapter

McKillup Chapters 13 & 14

Events and Submissions/Topic

Critique of a research project summary Due: Week 6 Monday (19 Aug 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7 Begin Date: 26 Aug 2024

Module/Topic

• Correlation
• Regression

Chapter

McKillup Chapters 16 & 17

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 02 Sep 2024

Module/Topic

• Non-parametric tests
• Chi-Square and related tests

Chapter

McKillup Chapters 19 & 20

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 09 Sep 2024

Module/Topic

• Non-parametric correlation

Chapter

McKillup Chapter 21

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 16 Sep 2024

Module/Topic

• Introduction to multivariate analysis
• Principal components analysis
• Multi-dimensional scaling
• Cluster analysis

Chapter

McKillup Chapter 22

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 23 Sep 2024

Module/Topic

• Choosing the right test
• Ethics in research

Chapter

McKillup Chapters 23 & 5

Events and Submissions/Topic

Practical analysis of research data Due: Week 11 Monday (23 Sept 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 12 Begin Date: 30 Sep 2024

Module/Topic

• Unit revision

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 07 Oct 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

End-of-term online quiz Due: Review/Exam Week Wednesday (9 Oct 2024) 9:00 am AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 14 Oct 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Specific Information

Please note that the lecture and assessment content for this unit is delivered online, and as such, will require your dedication to keep up with the provided learning materials throughout term. The Moodle page will be a central resource for accessing content, assignment instructions, as well as the teaching staff. Additional live "drop in, drop out" Zoom Q&A sessions will be run throughout term as an opportunity for you to ask questions and get live feedback from the teaching staff. These additional Zoom sessions are not compulsory to attend, but instead offer an additional forum for you to gain clarity about unit content and assessment requirements. The schedule for these additional live Zoom sessions will be made available on Moodle. There is no on-campus residential school for this unit, but there will be an 'at home' practical assessment that you will need to complete (see Assessment 2 in this unit profile for details).

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Critique of a research project summary

Task Description

You are required to critique a summary description of a research project, using the knowledge you have gained so far in the unit (up to and including week 5 content).

You will be provided with a summary description of a research project that will contain conceptual and technical flaws in the description of the research.  This may include flaws in experimental conntext & justification, methodology & experimental design, logic of thought, analysis techniques and/or conclusions & interpretations. In your critique submission, you will need to:

· Identify the flaw(s) in approach, logic, methodology, analytical procedures, interpretation/conclusions, etc.
· Describe why you consider it a flaw, and
· Present your specific solution to remedy the flaw, if possible (if you think a solution is not possible, explain why).

Note that statements such as "The entire methodology wasn't presented", "The summary is written in the first person", and other such broad perceived flaws won't attract any marks since this is a summary of a project, and not the full formal description (i.e. marks are awarded for focusing on the scientific validity of what is presented in the summary, and not what isn't presented).

You may present your findings as either regular prose (i.e. akin to an essay or report), as an expanded list of dot points, or as a table.  Most students find that a table is the easiest way to keep a logical train of thought between flaw identification, reasoning, and solution. Please choose whichever written format you consider will be most suited to conveying your thoughts.

There is a limit of 1000 words (+/- 10%) for this assignment.


Assessment Due Date

Week 6 Monday (19 Aug 2024) 11:45 pm AEST

Please submit your work as a Word document via Moodle. No PDF files will be accepted.


Return Date to Students

Week 8 Monday (2 Sept 2024)

Your work will be returned to you via Moodle.


Weighting
25%

Minimum mark or grade
50 %

Assessment Criteria

This assessment is worth 25 % of your overall unit grade, and will be marked according to the following criteria:

Flaw identification (33.33 % of final mark)
Reasoning why you think it's a flaw (33.33 % of final mark)
Solution to the flaw (33.33 % of final mark)


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please submit your work as a Word document via Moodle. No PDF files will be accepted.

Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Ethical practice


Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Describe the uses, pitfalls and limitations of parametric and non-parametric statistical tests
  • Know when experiments require ethical clearance and explain the basic principles of ethical experimentation
  • Critique scientific reports and research proposals in terms of the quality of their experimental design

2 Practical Assessment

Assessment Title
Practical analysis of research data

Task Description

You are required to evaluate the data acquired from three different experiments, suggest an appropriate statistical test for each, do the tests using the IBM SPSS statistics computer program (or similar), and interpret your results. An assessment template (a Word document) with the experimental data and questions to answer will be provided to you. You will be able to type your answers directly into this template, and resubmit the file to Moodle for assessment. You will need to download/access the SPSS computer program (or similar) for this assessment. Instructions on how to do this will be provided during the term.


Assessment Due Date

Week 11 Monday (23 Sept 2024) 11:45 pm AEST

Please submit your work as a Word document via Moodle. No PDF files will be accepted.


Return Date to Students

Week 12 Friday (4 Oct 2024)

Your work will be returned to you via Moodle.


Weighting
25%

Minimum mark or grade
50 %

Assessment Criteria

This assessment is worth 25 % of your overall unit grade, and will be marked based on providing correct answers to the questions asked for each of the three experimental data sets provided to you. Each data set has 8 questions, with one point awarded per correct answer. Broadly, questions are focused on choosing the appropriate statistical test for the data provided, using it correctly, and providing a thorough and correct interpretation of the test.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please submit your work using the Word document template via Moodle. No PDF files will be accepted.

Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Technology Competence


Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Choose an appropriate statistical test for a set of data
  • Correctly use software programs for analysing scientific data

3 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
End-of-term online quiz

Task Description

You will be required to complete an end of term online quiz that will test your knowledge of the entire content of the unit. The quiz will be in a similar format to a traditional end-of-term exam, requiring you to complete the task within a defined period of time (3 hours will be allowed once you start the quiz within a 24 hour window, starting at 9am Tuesday 8th of October, and finishing at 9am Wednesday 9th of October). Some basic calculations will be required, as practiced in the lecture content.

 


Number of Quizzes

1


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Wednesday (9 Oct 2024) 9:00 am AEST

Please complete the quiz on Moodle as instructed, ensuring you submit before the quiz closes at 9am Wednesday 9th October


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (18 Oct 2024)

Your quiz will be marked online through Moodle.


Weighting
50%

Minimum mark or grade
50 %

Assessment Criteria

This quiz is worth 50 % of your overall unit grade. Each question in the quiz will be worth a different amount of marks depending on its complexity. Please attempt ALL questions to ensure you can get the highest mark possible. It is usually a good strategy to first attempt those questions that have the highest marks allocated to them, in case you run short of time. Example questions from previous end-of-term quizzes/exams will be provided to you as a study aid on Moodle.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please complete the quiz on Moodle as instructed.

Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Ethical practice


Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Describe the uses, pitfalls and limitations of parametric and non-parametric statistical tests
  • Choose an appropriate statistical test for a set of data
  • Know when experiments require ethical clearance and explain the basic principles of ethical experimentation
  • Critique scientific reports and research proposals in terms of the quality of their experimental design
  • Design realistic experiments with appropriate control and replicates
  • Explain the rationale behind statistical testing and probability levels.

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?