Ecological methodology: Study design and statistical analysis

Fakultet for biovitenskap, fiskeri og økonomi

STA-0001 Applied statistics 1

The course aims to demonstrate how ecological theory, study designs and analyses should be linked, and the course should make students able to plan and conduct empirical, ecological research through all stages of the research processes from formulation of hypotheses to the presentation and interpretation of the results. Simple (e.g. crossed) as well as more advanced (e.g. split-plot, multi-level) experimental and observational designs are presented and compared with respect to issues such as precision, confounding and bias. Statistical aspects of the course focus on statistical estimation of biologically relevant effects and issues of model selection. Statistical methods covered are generalised linear and additive models, and a short introduction to the bootstrap is given. Multivariate analyses (PCA, Correspondence Analysis) are also briefly covered. The course emphasized also the practical aspects through the analyses of real data sets in R. The course is relevant for doctoral students within all field of ecology and evolutionary biology.

The course aims to make students able to plan and conduct empirical, ecological research through all stages of the research processes from formulation of hypotheses, statistical analyses and to the presentation and interpretation of the results. The course focuses on the underlying principles of study design and statistical methods.

The language of instruction is English and all of the syllabus material is in English. Examination questions will be given in English, but may be answered either in English or a Scandinavian language.

Lectures 30 hours and PC-lab. 30 hours.

Oral exam and project work. Grading form: Passed/fail. There will not be arranged a re-sit exam for this course.

Oppgave:
Muntlig eksamen:

The date for the exam can be changed. The final date will be announced at your faculty early in May and early in November.

Oppgave

BIO-3123 Ecological methodology: Study design and statistical analysis 10