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.





OTHER RECOMMENDED RESOURCES