Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
This module looks at the skills and techniques used by scientists to collect, analyse and present scientific information to a specialist and wider audience. It includes specific skills such as writing, experimental design, data analysis and presentation within an ethical framework. In addition these skills will be invaluable for 3rd year projects and dissertations.Indicative content: - Analysis of the structure and content of scientific papers, with particular reference to the design and analysis of scientific experiments within an ethical dimension. - How data is arranged (tables, graphs, figures), presented using Word, Excel and PowerPoint, summarized (summary statistics) and compared. - Searching for scientific information on the internet, electronic databases, libraries and its collation and oral presentation in a seminar. - Statistical analysis of the data is a major component of the module with in-depth study of the most commonly used statistical analyses, including: T-test, ANOVA, regression, correlation, non-parametric tests, categorical data, linearity, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and precision.
Aims
To train students in research and analytical skills that are relevant to a wide range of life science disciplines and are transferable to many professional and vocational careers.
Talis Aspire Reading ListAny reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/lsc-20056/lists
Intended Learning Outcomes
Compare and contrast various forms of scientific research: 2,3Use appropriate software to undertake descriptive and inferential statistical analyses of biological data and interpret the results in a statistical and biological context: 2,3Work effectively in a group to communicate a critical appraisal of a selected piece of scientific research: 1
Asynchronous online content (screencasts, sways, quizzes) 22 hoursIn-person support sessions in computer lab 11 hoursOnline conference presentation/attendance 4 hours Group presentation preparation and planning 12 hoursStatistics report assessment 16 hoursIndependent study 85 hours
Description of Module Assessment
1: Group Presentation weighted 25%Group presentation at online conferenceStudents will be presented with a range of scientific papers relevant to their programmes, they will select a single paper of interest and then be allocated to a group (max 4), who have all selected the same paper. The group will then prepare a 10-minute presentation which discusses the hypotheses of the research, any ethical issues raised and evaluates the chosen data analysis. Group presentations will take place at an online (Teams) conference. Group marks will be determined as follows: 50% of the mark is from the staff assessor 50% taken from the mean of all peer assessment (marks that are outside 10% of the staff assessor¿s mark will be discounted).
Individual marks will be the same as the group mark, any student who has not attended the presentation or contributed to the preparation of the presentation will score zero.
2: Computer Task weighted 40%Statistics report 1 - analysis of a large datasetThe students will be given a set of data which they will analyse and present in appropriate tabular/graphical form. They will manipulate it using appropriate software packages and draw appropriate conclusions. They will then answer a series of detailed questions about statistical analysis of this dataset via the KLE.
3: Computer Task weighted 35%Statistics report 2 - analysis and evaluation of statistical outputsThe students will be given various datasets about which they will be asked a series of questions via the KLE.