ISBN | Product | Product | Price CHF | Available | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asking Questions in Biology |
9781292085999 Asking Questions in Biology |
43.70 |
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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.
· A range of boxes within the text highlight key concepts, present worked examples spanning topics from ecology, and behaviour to toxicology and parasitology
· Coverage of a range of tests including repeated measures designs, analysis of covariance, multiple regression and principal components analysis
· An easy to use test finder and quick test finder guides
· A set of useful self test questions and answers
· Sections on using online literature databases, plagiarism, presenting findings to a non-scientific audience and ethical considerations
This edition has been completely reorganised and the statistical sections have been fully updated.
New section on extracting information from the scientific literature.
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 this book is 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
Reference
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 findersAsking 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. In the main sections of the book, it then explains how to use statistical tests as tools to analyse data and answer the questions, before finally showing the best practice in presenting scientific reports.
This edition has been revised, reorganised and updated throughout with additional coverage of topics such as extracting information from the scientific literature. Throughout, examples are shown using R, by far the most important statistical tool available for the modern student.
The book 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 Professor of Ecology at Nottingham University. Peter McGregor is Research Co-ordinator for Science & Natural Environment at Cornwall College.
The late Chris Barnard was Professor of Animal Behaviour at Nottingham University. Francis Gilbert is Professor of Ecology at Nottingham University. Peter McGregor is Research Co-ordinator for Science & Natural Environment at Cornwall College.