Course overview
This course will prepare the students for the design of research projects in ecological, geospatial, earth, and social sciences and train them in the analysis and presentation of data. This applied course will introduce students to ethics in science, the scientific method, research design, and to statistical analyses in ecological, geospatial, earth, and social sciences. It will explain the value of statistics using relevant examples in these disciplines. Populations/samples/data will be defined, and students will learn how to describe samples and test hypotheses. Data analysis will include: tests on frequencies, comparing related and unrelated samples, social surveys, regression and correlation. In weekly lectures and practical sessions, the students will also learn to manipulate, analyse, present, and interpret data. Statistical and spreadsheet software will be used. Additional topics will cover an initiation to proposal writing, searching the library databases for peer-reviewed literature, and some aspects of science communication.
Course learning outcomes
- Apply the principles of research design to simple projects in ecological, geospatial, earth, and social sciences.
- Choose the appropriate statistical tools for the analysis of simple data sets.
- Describe the steps involved in conducting social surveys, preparing research proposals, and analysing data.
- Use spreadsheet and statistical software to manipulate data.
- Calculate the results of statistical tests and interpret their meaning.