Asking Questions in Biology:A Guide to Hypothesis Testing, Experimental Design and Presentation in Practical Work and Research Projects

Description

New to this Edition

New to this edition:

·        Use of the freeware package R for data analysis throughout the book

·        Expanded sections on presenting information

·        SPSS,  Minitab and Genstat boxes downloadable from the book website (www.pearsoned.co.uk/barnard)

Table of Contents

Preface

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 is this book about

References

2 Asking questions

The art of framing hypotheses and predictions

2.1 Observation

2.2 Exploratory analysis

2.3 Forming hypotheses

2.4 Summary

References

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 and predictions

3.7 Summary

References

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 Writing for a more general readership

4.5 Presenting in person: spoken papers and poster presentations

4.6 Plagiarism

4.7 Summary

References

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

Appendix IV: The common codes for the important graphical parameters of R

Answers to self-test questions

Index

Quick test finders

Back Cover

Asking and answering questions is the cornerstone of science yet formal training in understanding this key process is often overlooked.

Asking Questions in Biology unpacks this 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 in the main sections of the book, 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.

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.

Reader Review(s)

"If you’ve been spoon fed pre-prepared protocols for all your practical classes, this is a great antidote, thoroughly and carefully explaining how to progress from having a little science-y think in the bath to actually carrying out an experiment to test your ideas. It demands that you justify not only your methods but also your rationale, something even professional scientists can take for granted." - Karen Dawe, Faculty of 1000