Making Statistical Sense of Biological Data to Support Scientific Investigations

Date: 
Wednesday, January 29, 2020 - 8:30am to Thursday, January 30, 2020 - 4:00pm
Location: 
Alloway Marion Laboratory, 1776 Marion-Waldo Rd., Marion, Ohio

View larger map

Ticket Price: 
$169

On January 29th and 30th, 2020, Alloway and the IBL Institute will be hosting a workshop titled, Making Statistical Sense of Biological Data to Support Scientific Investigations. This workshop is designed for professionals conducting various types of scientific investigations in their industry. The course provides an overview of mathematical and statistical functions that can improve investigations. The course helps professionals expertly apply mathematics to investigations in a way that incorporates inquiry into the learning process. The topics provide an in depth look at statistics used by scientists to answer questions raised throughout the course of investigations. The program can encompass one or two days, with the optional second day covering more advanced statistical analysis of data.

The cost for attending 1 day of the workshop is $169 per attendee. The cost for attending both days is $289 per attendee. The workshop will be held at the Alloway Marion Laboratory located at 1776 Marion-Waldo Rd., Marion, Ohio.  Registration begins at 8:30 A.M. and the workshop will run from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. both days. 

Day 1 Agenda

  • Course Introduction - Outline program goals and provide a brief review of the inquiry process.  
  • Summary Statistics - Organize data meaningfully and create summary statistics for data sets. Includes measurements of central tendency and distribution of data. Discuss links to the inquiry process.
  • Hands-On Computer Workshop - Create data sets that will be used throughout the program and discuss some “real world” biology data. Extensive use of Excel and Excel commands to organize values and present summary statistics.  
  • Sampling Methods - Work in groups using an ecosystem model to collect data.  Groups will use common field procedures such as “Mark-Recapture” to estimate biological populations and “Pilot Study Grids” to sample plant dominance in selected areas. Discuss links to the inquiry process.
  • Normal Distribution - Understand the role of “normal distribution” and “t” distribution in basic statistical tests. Discuss links to the inquiry process.
  • Graphical Displays - Create and interpret visual displays to understand data and set characteristics. Work in groups to share some of your project data from the sampling methods section.  Discuss links to the inquiry process.

Day 2 Agenda 

Day 2 projects will build on Day 1 topics. Participants will work in groups throughout the day. All topics will relate to the inquiry process.

  • Evaluate Bioassay Data Sets – Apply the lessons learned from the previous day to real world data.
  • Hypothesis Testing – Determine if an assumption about a population parameter may or may not be true. 
  • Analysis of Variance – Learn to test differences between two or more means.
  • Simple Linear Regression Analysis – Determine the relationship between a dependent variable and an independent variable.
  • Multiple Linear Regression Analysis – Learn how to model the relationship between explanatory and response variables.

To register, please complete Alloway's online registration form. We look forward to seeing you at our up-coming workshop!