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SBI209 - Design and Analysis of Biological Studies

2025

Sector

Higher Education

Discipline

Environmental Science

Credit Points

Equivalent Units

Prerequisites

Incompatible

Assumed Knowledge

Unit Description

This unit examines the fundamental approaches and methods needed to answer questions in experimental and observational investigations, in both pure and applied disciplines. These issues are important to all professionals who collect and analyse data, including those working in fields such as biology; biochemistry; environmental science; the health, allied health and medical sciences; psychology; and sports and exercise science. It is also relevant to people working in related disciplines and is an essential foundation for more advanced studies. The topics covered include: hypothesis testing; statistical and experimental errors; summary statistics; t-tests; analysis of variance; chi-squared tests; and correlation and regression. Practical skills tutorials cover data management, graphing and performing statistics and assumption testing using the freely available software R and R studio. The unit is taught via a mixture of traditional and online methods and materials, and includes numerous videos, interactive and self-guided web activities.

Unit Learning Outcomes

1.	Describe the processes by which ideas are tested in the experimental and observational sciences
2.	Define key concepts relating to the design and analysis of scientific studies
3.	Critically evaluate the design of a scientific study and identify strengths and weaknesses
4.	Identify the most appropriate statistical approach to test a null hypothesis
5.	Calculate the most commonly used statistical measures and tests
6.	Interpret the outcomes of the most commonly used statistical tests

Assessment Overview

	Assessment Task	Value (of total mark)	Related Learning Outcome/s
1.	Study design proposal (400 words)	15%	1 - Describe the processes by which ideas are tested in the experimental and observational sciences 2 - Define key concepts relating to the design and analysis of scientific studies 3 - Critically evaluate the design of a scientific study and identify strengths and weaknesses
2.	Open book test (1.5 hours)	35%	4 - Identify the most appropriate statistical approach to test a null hypothesis 5 - Calculate the most commonly used statistical measures and tests 6 - Interpret the outcomes of the most commonly used statistical tests
3.	Scientific report (3000 words) collecting, analysing, graphing and interpreting data	50%	1 - Describe the processes by which ideas are tested in the experimental and observational sciences 2 - Define key concepts relating to the design and analysis of scientific studies 3 - Critically evaluate the design of a scientific study and identify strengths and weaknesses 4 - Identify the most appropriate statistical approach to test a null hypothesis 5 - Calculate the most commonly used statistical measures and tests 6 - Interpret the outcomes of the most commonly used statistical tests

Unit Availability

Year	Semester	Att Mode	Location	Learning Method	Timetable*
2025	Semester 2	Internal	Casuarina Campus	OLR
2025	Semester 2	External	External Studies	OLR

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OLR: Internet access is required for this unit as students are required to access study materials provided on-line through Learnline. Please log into Learnline on the first day of each teaching period. For more information about Learnline, please click here.

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