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Mini Cases on Choosing Appropriate Statistical Tests for Ecological Data

By Alyssa M. Gleichsner, Elizabeth A. Flaherty

Mini Cases on Choosing Appropriate Statistical Tests for Ecological Data


 

Abstract

This set of mini cases on the ecology of eastern cottontail rabbits is designed to give students practical experience using statistics in a scientific context. Given a dataset and experimental design, groups of students are asked to play the part of a wildlife management researcher to determine the results for each study. Students practice the scientific process and gain experience making hypotheses and predictions, choosing an appropriate statistical test, interpreting and displaying results, and presenting data to others. Students choose between four basic, commonly used, statistical tests (t-test, one-way ANOVA, linear regression, and Chi-square test), and justify their choices. This activity was developed for undergraduate level students and is applicable to biology courses, particularly those dealing with ecology or management. The case is designed for student groups, but could be modified into clicker questions or individual assignments.

   

Date Posted

08/29/2016

Overview

Objectives

  • Write a hypothesis set (including the null hypothesis) based on the provided research scenario.
  • Choose an appropriate statistical test for the data presented.
  • Explain why the selected test is appropriate and run the test on the data provided.
  • Evaluate the results and reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.
  • Work in groups and explain statistical concepts to others.

Keywords

statistics; wildlife management; graph choice; graphing; statistical analyses; statistical tests; t-test; ANOVA; regression; ecology; hypothesis; prediction, cottontail

  

Subject Headings

Biology (General)
Ecology
Environmental Science
Natural Resource Management
Statistics
Wildlife Management

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division, Graduate

  

FORMAT

PDF

   

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Analysis (Issues), Mini-Case

 

 

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