
Statistics Applied to Experimental Design in Biosciences
Code: 107547Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Microbiology | OP | 4 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Ferran Torres Benitez
- Email :
- ferran.torres@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- José Rios Guillermo
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
A sufficient level of English reading comprehension to understand scientific articles and published examples is a prerequisite.
Prior attainment of basic and conceptual-level theoretical statistics knowledge is assumed. These concepts will be reviewed, expanded upon, and applied in examples related to the degree program. The practices can be followed using the free software JAMOVI, and students will be trained in its use.
Objectives
Course Objectives
General Objective
The objective is for students to acquire the basic competencies to correctly design the most common study types in Biosciences, apply the appropriate statistical techniques to the design, interpret the results appropriately, and ultimately be able to reach reasoned conclusions in accordance with the data.
Specific Objectives
- Learn and apply the basic statistical techniques necessary for the design and analysis of data from related processes and experiments.
- Properly understand and interpret the results obtained in a statistical analysis.
- Use and practice the basic elements of free-use statistical software programs.
Learning outcomes
- CM21 (Plan research in the field of microbiology with ethical responsibility, gender perspective and respect for fundamental rights and duties and animal welfare.) Plan research in the field of microbiology with ethical responsibility, gender perspective and respect for fundamental rights and duties and animal welfare.
- CM22 (Evaluate processes where microorganisms intervene, taking into account an adequate experimental design and the principles on biosafety and quality.) Evaluate processes where microorganisms intervene, taking into account an adequate experimental design and the principles on biosafety and quality.
- KM31 (Indicate the basic statistical concepts and techniques to analyse biological data and apply the fundamentals of experimental design.) Indicate the basic statistical concepts and techniques to analyse biological data and apply the fundamentals of experimental design.
- SM31 (Manage computer tools, bibliography and internet resources for experimental design, as well as the search for information, regulations and guides on good practices in the field of microbiology.) Manage computer tools, bibliography and internet resources for experimental design, as well as the search for information, regulations and guides on good practices in the field of microbiology.
Contents
- Introduction. What statistics is and is not useful for.
- Population and sample, sampling. Scientific method, formulation of the working hypothesis.
- Measurement of effect. Types of variables.
- Data analysis: descriptive statistics.
- Probability, random variables. Diagnostic tests.
- Application of bivariate statistical significance tests. Multiplicity.
- Estimation of effects and confidence intervals.
- Concordance, correlation and regression. ANOVA.
- Introduction to the interpretation of the most frequent multivariate analyses. Explanatory models and predictive models.
- Most common types of design. Sample size calculation.
- Importance of pre-definition and planning. Elaboration of the protocol and the data collection notebook.
- Interpretation of results. Statistically significant differences versus relevant differences.
- Evaluation of gender perspective and vulnerable groups.
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual self-learning tests | 6 | 0.24 | KM31, SM31 |
| Exercises | 18 | 0.72 | CM21, CM22, KM31, SM31 |
| Consolidation practices | 6 | 0.24 | CM21, CM22, KM31, SM31 |
| Personal Study | 36 | 1.44 | CM21, CM22, KM31, SM31 |
| Laboratory Practices (PLAB) | 24 | 0.96 | CM21, CM22, KM31, SM31 |
| Practices | 24 | 0.96 | CM21, CM22, KM31, SM31 |
| Theory (TE) | 24 | 0.96 | CM21, CM22, KM31 |
| Tutorials | 4 | 0.16 | CM21, CM22, KM31, SM31 |
Supervised activities:
- Theoretical classes (TE) . Each thematic block will begin with one or more face-to-face theory classes where the teacher will explain the key concepts, encourage interaction and discussion of doubts, and give guidelines for monitoring and preparation of complementary autonomous activities..
The support teaching material will contain the essential contents of the theoretical classes, will be available in advance on the Virtual Campus of the subject, and it is recommended that students have it available during the class (computer, tablet or paper format) to facilitate its monitoring.
- Laboratory Practices (PLAB) . Practices related to the theoretical concepts will be carried out. Work will be done to expand and consolidate previous scientific and technical knowledge, and scientific articles will be used to encourage discussion.
Autonomous activities
- Self-study tests with feedback will be provided, using the questionnaire utilities of the Moodle classroom of the virtual campus of the subject, to facilitate the review of the subject synchronized with the teaching of the syllabus.
- Group work. There will be several teams works in which students will try to apply their knowledge to a real situation under the supervision of the teacher. Problems will be solved by consulting different sources and using statistical software. The student's capacity for analysis, reasoning and expertise in solving problems related to the professional field will be promoted.
- Personal study . Although the subject is eminently focused on the practical implementation of knowledge in advanced modelling, there will be a minimum individual effort in order to assimilate the theoretical classes.
Tutorials and personal attention to students
Students are expected to attend classes and consult doubts by actively participating in them. However, you can consult with the professors using the virtual campus and the e-mails indicated in the teaching staff.
Note: Finally, 15 minutes of class time will be reserved for the completion of surveys evaluating the course and the faculty.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st parcial exam | 15% | 2 | 0.08 | CM21, CM22, KM31, SM31 |
| Practical work | 40% | 0 | 0 | CM21, CM22, KM31, SM31 |
| 2nd partial exam | 15% | 2 | 0.08 | CM21, CM22, KM31, SM31 |
| Continuous in-class assessment | 15% | 4 | 0.16 | CM21, CM22, KM31, SM31 |
| Self-learning tests | 15% | 0 | 0 | CM21, CM22, KM31, SM31 |
Evaluation
This subject does not offer a single assessment system
If the criteria for averaging are met, then the final mark for the course will be calculated using the weightings described in this section. Otherwise, it will be necessary to recover the affected activities in order to make up the average. A minimum of 5 out of 10 points is required to pass the course.
To assess the degree of achievement of the competences, the following instruments and weightings will be used:
Exams
There will be two partial exams with a weighting of 15% each, in which students will have to answer questions on theoretical and applied concepts. The minimum mark for weighting is 3.5 out of 10.
These activities are compulsory. In order to have access to the recovery it is necessary to have done 80% of the evaluable activities and to have taken the 2 mid-term exams.
Practical work
These activities are compulsory and it is necessary to have at least a mark of 3.5 out of 10 in each of them, otherwise it will be necessary to recover the affected activities. Practical work is worth 40% of the overall mark for the course.
Deliveries after the deadline:
- The late delivery of the practices will imply a penalty of 20% of the obtained mark.
These activities are compulsory and recoverable.
Self-study activities
They will have a weight of 15% provided that at least 80% of the activities have beencarried out, otherwise the mark for this part will be a zero. There is no minimum grade for these activities.
Deliveries after the deadline:
- The delivery of these activities late and up to 48 hours after the deadline, will imply a penalty of 20% on the grade obtained.
- The late delivery of activities after this 48-hour margin willmean that they will be counted as not having been completed for the evaluation.
These activities are not mandatory, but they are not recoverable either.
Continuous training and evaluation
It is reminded that the evaluation will be made according to the contents commented by the teacher in class, and that, therefore, attendance in person is highly recommended since not all the information will be accessible on the virtual campus.
In addition, during the course there will be a continuous assessment and it will be necessary to have participated in 80% of the assessment activities for them to be weighted at 15%, otherwise the mark for this part will be a zero. Standard teaching innovation tools will be used to control class participation. There is no minimum mark for these activities.
These activities are not mandatory, but they are not recoverable either.
Summary of criteria and weights for the evaluation of the subject
| Participacion1 | Minimum participation2 | Minimum mark3 | Exercise recoverable4 | Weighting5 | |
| 30% | |||||
| 1st partial | Compulsory | 100% | 3.5 | Compulsory | 15% |
| 2nd partial | Compulsory | 100% | 3.5 | Compulsory | 15% |
| Practical work | |||||
| Completion | Compulsory | 100% | 3.5 | Compulsory | 40% |
| Attendance | Compulsory | ≥75% | NA | Unrecoverable | * |
| Continued appraisal | Volunteer | ≥80% | NA | Unrecoverable | 15% |
| Self-study | Volunteer | ≥80% | NA | Unrecoverable | 15% |
NA: Not applicable
1: Compulsory participation implies that non-participation will have to be recovered in order to be weighted, and if it is not done, it will not be possible to average, and therefore the subject will not be approved either. Voluntary participation implies that it is not compulsory but that it cannot be recovered later.
2: Value of minimum participation to weight, otherwise the activities will count as 0.
3: Minimum mark of 10 points to be weighted with the rest, if the minimum is not reached, the specific activity will have to be recovered, regardless of the rest of the marks of the same type
4: When the activity is recoverable, it must be recovered if the minimum mark is not obtained. In case of non-recoverable activity, the mark cannot be recovered, and therefore it will be weighted to the final mark, even if it is 0 orless than any threshold.
5: Weight value if the previous criteria are met
*: For participations of less than 75%, the practical activities may be penalized proportionally to the lack of attendance
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted as an integral part of coursework, provided that the final submission demonstrates a substantial contribution from the student in terms of analysis and critical reflection. Students must clearly identify which parts of their work have been generated using AI, specify the tools employed, and include a critical reflection on how these tools have influenced both the process and the final outcome of the assignment. Failure to disclose the use of AI will be regarded as a breach of academic integrity and may result in a penalty to the assessment grade or, in serious cases, more severe disciplinary sanctions.
Irregularities in Assessment Activities
Any irregularity committed during an assessment activity (including academic fraud, plagiarism, or the improper use of AI, unless such use is expressly authorised in the course guide) that may lead to a significant alteration of the assessment result will result in that assessment being awarded a mark of 0 (Fail). Where the course guide establishes that obtaining a minimum mark in that assessment activity is an essential requirement to pass the course, or where multiple irregularities are committed in the assessment activities of the same course, the final grade for the course will be 0 (Fail). In addition, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who commits any of these irregularities.
Bibliography
Bibliography
Reference bibliography:
Due to its content and length, the subject does not have a textbook. The following are useful books to consult to deepen or review a point.
Books
- Armitage, P. & Matthews J. N. S. & Berry, G. (2002). Statistical methods in medical Armi
research. (4th ed.) Blackwell Scientific Publications
Available onlineDisponible
- Armitage, P. & Matthews J. N. S. & Berry, G. (2002). Statistical methods in medical Armi
research. (4th ed.) Blackwell Science
Available in print at the libraryDisponible
- Cuadras, Carles M. & Cuadras, C. M. (1996). Fundamentos de estadística : aplicación a Cua
las ciencias humanas. EUB
Available in print at the libraryDisponible
- Daniel, Wayne W. (2002). Bioestadística : base para el análisis de las ciencias de la salud. Dani
(4ª ed.) Limusa
Available in print at the libraryDisponible
- Daniel, Wayne W. & Cross, Chad Lee. (2019). Biostatistics : a foundation for analysis in the Dani
health sciences. (11th ed.) Wiley
Available in print at the libraryDisponible
- Milton, Janet S. (2007). Estadística para biología y ciencias de la salud. (3ª ed. ampl.) Milto
McGraw-Hill/Interamericana de España
Available in print at the libraryDisponible
- Sents Vilalta, Juan. (2003). Manual de bioestadística. (3ª ed.) Elsevier Masson Sent
Available in print at the libraryDisponible
Web links
- http://www.bioestadistica.uma.es/libro/
- http://www.hrc.es/bioest/M_docente.html
- http://davidmlane.com/hyperstat/index.html
- https://www.equator-network.org
Simulators
Software
JAMOVI
- The jamovi project (2023). jamovi (Version 2.3) [Computer Software]. Retrieved from https://www.jamovi.org , accessed 2024-07-04
GranMo
- Program of the Girona Heart Registry (REGICOR), IMIM, Barcelona. GranMo. https://www.datarus.eu/en/applications/granmo/ , accessed 2024-07-04
pwrss
- Bulus, M. (2023). pwrss: Statistical Power and Sample Size Calculation Tools. R package version 0.3.1. https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=pwrss
- Bulus, M., & Polat, C. (2023). pwrss R paketi ile istatistiksel güç analizi [Statistical power analysis with pwrss R package]. Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Kırşehir Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 24(3), 2207-2328. https://doi.org/10.29299/kefad.1209913 , accessed 2024-07-04
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 74 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 741 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |