IB Biology Practical Investigations/Statistics

TEACHING IDEAS

Practical investigations or activities included in this section are intended as a teaching resource rather than an assessment tool. Although all practical hours recorded may be counted on the form 4/PSOW, these activities are probably not suitable for assessment of the IA criteria.

BASIC STATISTICS

Types of Data

• Discrete and Continuous Data
• Mean, Median and Mode
• Standard Deviation

Graphs and Charts

• Axes and labelling
• Choosing the right graph
• Interpreting Graphs
• Distribution
• Error Bars
• Correlation and Causality

Statistical Tests

• The T-test
  • Mythbusting: 'Girls can't catch'
  • Generating Data: 'Rotator Cuff Stamina'
• Correlations

EXTRA STATS FOR ECOLOGISTS

It's not all just chucking quadrats about and wearing wellies...

• Simpson's Diversity Index
• Correlation

BAD SCIENCE AND THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE

Statistics in Science are abused on a daily basis to knowingly or otherwise misrepresent scientific data. How can students use their new-found statistical skills to see past the smoke and mirrors?

• Bad Science
• Common Errors in Statistics

RECOMMENDED TEXTS: STATISTICS

• How to Lie With Statistics. Huff, D. W.W. Norton and Co, 1954. ISBN 0 3933 1072 8

RECOMMENDED WEBSITES

• WikiBook Statistics

• BadScience - a collection of articles from Ben Goldacre at the Guardian newspaper.