Asking Questions in Biology:A Guide to Hypothesis Testing, Experimental Design and Presentation in Practical Work and Research ProjectsDescription |
Asking Questions in Biology is all about scientific discovery. Biology students must be able to analyse data and produce high quality reports, but before this they need to work out exactly what it is they are trying to discover. Asking Questions in Biology begins with the often overlooked (yet crucial) skill of asking the right question, in the right way. It then moves on to present the tools and techniques required to gather data, analyse this data and finally to present this data (either orally or in a formal report). The book is divided into four parts which take each aspect of biological investigation in turn and equip students with everything they need to maximise their skills in this art: 1. Doing Science (where do questions come from?) 2. Asking Questions (the art of framing hypotheses and predictions) 3. Answering Questions (what do the results say?) 4. Presenting Information (how to communicate outcomes and conclusions) Asking Questions in Biology is suited to most practical courses within the biological sciences, including: statistics and experimental design; data analysis; discovery-orientated lab courses; project work; or as a general reference throughout a student’s degree programme.  |
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Features |
§ Self-test questions and answers. § User-friendly Quick Test Finder. § Topics illustrated with a wide range of examples form many biological science disciplines. |
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New to this Edition |
§ Calculations for statistical tests now demonstrated through computer packages (SPSS, Excel, and AQB – a unique package developed exclusively for this book), with the previous hand calculations moved to the appendices. § Greater range of tests covered, including: repeated measures designs; analysis of covariance; multiple regression; and principal components analysis. § New sections on presenting information as a talk or poster paper at meetings, and writing for a broader, non-specialist readership (e.g. newspapers). § Added sections on using on-line literature databases, such as the Web of Science and Biosis. § New material on the ethical implications of working with biological material; a now essential consideration in any such study |
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Table of Contents |
1. Doing Science: Where do questions come from? 1.1 Science as asking questions 1.2 Basic considerations 1.3 The skill of asking questions 1.4 Where do questions come from? 1.5 What this book is about 2. Asking Questions: The art of framing hypotheses and predictions 2.1 Observation 2.2 Exploratory analysis 2.3 Forming hypotheses 2.4 Summary 3. Answering Questions: What do the results say? 3.1 Confirmatory analysis 3.2 What is statistical significance 3.3 Significance tests 3.4 Testing hypotheses 3.5 Testing predictions 3.6 Refining hypotheses 3.7 Summary 4. Presenting Information: How to communicate outcomes and conclusions 4.1 Presenting figures and tables 4.2 Presenting results in the text 4.3 Writing reports 4.4 Summary Test finder and help guide Some self-test questions Appendix I: Table of confidence limits to the median Appendix II: How to calculate some simple significance tests Appendix III: Significance tables Answers to self-test questions Index Quick test finders |
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Back Cover |
Asking and answering questions is the cornerstone of science yet formal training in understanding this key process is often overlooked. That is where this book comes in... Asking Questions in Biology unpacks the crucial process of enquiry, from a biological perspective, at its various stages. It begins with an overview of scientific question-asking in general before moving on to demonstrate how to derive hypotheses from unstructured observations. It then explains how to use statistical tests as tools to analyse data and answer those questions before, finally, showing the best practice in presenting scientific reports. As such it is an indispensable companion to all students of biology, but particularly those enrolled in courses concerning experimental design; data analysis; hypothesis testing; research methods; or any practical project work. Key features include: - Self-test questions and answers
- An easy-to-use ‘Quick Test Finder’
- Key topics illustrated with a wide range of examples: from ecology and behaviour to toxicology and parasitology
New to this edition: - Greater number of statistical tests presented
- ‘Hand-calculation’ statistical tests moved to appendices, with in-text examples now using common computer packages (SPSS and Excel)
- Added sections on: using online literature databases; plagiarism; presenting findings to a non-scientific audience; and ethical considerations
The late Chris Barnard was Professor of Animal Behaviour at Nottingham University. Francis Gilbert is Associate Professor of Ecology at Nottingham University. Peter McGregor is a Reader in Applied Zoology at Cornwall College. |
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