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The book is an indispensable companion to all students of biology, but particularly those enrolled in courses concerning experimental design, data analysis, hypothesis testing, research methods, or any practical project work.

Asking Questions in Biology

• Asking Questions in Biology


• Asking Questions in Biology A Guide to Hypothesis Testing, Experimental Design and Presentation in Practical Work and Research Projects


• Contents


• Preface


• Figures


• 1 Doing science Where do questions come from?


• 1.1 Science as asking questions


• 1.2 Basic considerations


• Question


• Question


• Question


• Question


• Question


• Question


• 1.2.1 Ethical considerations


• 1.3 The skill of asking questions


• 1.3.1 Testing hypotheses


• 1.3.2 How is a hypothesis tested?


• 1.4 Where do questions come from?


• 1.4.1 Curiosity


• 1.4.2 Casual observation


• 1.4.3 Exploratory observations


• 1.4.4 Previous studies


• Getting key information from papers quickly


• First step: information ? general or detailed


• Second step: is the paper likely to contain the information needed?


• Third step: assess the likely quality and relevance of information


• 1. Do the variables measured relate to the title and topic addressed?


• 2. Do the results bear out the title and detail in the Abstract?


• General info step: work through the paper


• Detailed info step 1: identify section of paper


• Detailed info step 2: skim-read section


• Final step for general or detailed info: make notes!


• 1.5 What this book is about


• References


• 2 Asking questions The art of framing hypotheses and predictions


• 2.1 Observation


• 2.1.1 Observational notes and measurements


• Example 1


• Example 2


• Example 3


• Example 4


• 2.2 Exploratory analysis


• 2.2.1 Visual exploratory analysis


• 2.2.2 Summary statistics


• Means and standard errors