biostatistics

Course description:

The course is intended to provide an introduction to both the theory and application of statistics in Biology. It stresses both descriptive and inferential statistics and is heavily focussed on using various analyses of variance to test hypotheses and probe data. The course also includes consideration of various resampling methods and various approaches to model selection, estimation and validation.

Prerequisites and registration:

Working knowledge of algebra, probability and PC’s. Registration is limited to 20 students and you must have permission from the instructor, RF Rockwell ([email protected]).

Course meeting dates and time:

Tuesday mornings from 9AM to 12 noon

Course location:

Ornithology Classroom
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
New York, NY 10024

The first class meeting is August 31, 2010. Since it will meet in a non-public area of the American Museum, please meet at the 1^st floor security entrance (under the steps on Central Park West) at 9AM.

Text:

Zar, JH. 2009. Biostatistical Analysis (5th edition). Prentice Hall.

Contacts:

robert rockwell ([email protected]) - lecturer
linda gormezano ([email protected])- teaching assistant

Date	Topic	Zar
08/31	Introduction and overview, philosophy	1,2
09/07	Terminology and descriptive statistics	3,4,5
09/14	no class
09/21	no class
09/28	Discrete probability, likelihood	6
10/05	Continuous probability	7
10/12	Estimation, hypothesis testing	8,9
10/19	In-class Midterm
10/26	Analysis of Variance: 1-way designs	10,11
11/02	Analysis of Variance: partitions and contrasts	10,11
11/09	Nested designs; Space/Time designs	10,11
11/16	Factorial designs	15
11/23	Regression; Resampling: jacknifes and bootstraps; Correlation	17-18,23
11/30	Information Theoretic Alternatives
12/07	Review; Take Home distributed
12/14	In-class Final; Take-home due 0915

Some additional reading for those interested in various approaches to statistics.

ML Taper and SR Lele. 2004. The Nature of Scientific Evidence: Statistical, Philosophical and Empirical Considerations. University of Chicago Press.

TC Chamberlin. 1890. The method of multiple working hypotheses. Science 15:92-96

JR Platt. 1964. Strong inference. Science 146:347-353

FS Guthery, LA Brennan, MJ Peterson and J J Lusk. 2005. Information throry and wildlife science: critique and viewpoint. Journal of Wildlife Management 69:457-465.

PA Stephens, SW Buskirk, GD Hayward and CM del Rio. 2005. Information theory and hypothesis testing: a call for pluralism. Journal of Applied Ecology 42:4-12.

CUNY Required Statement on Academic Integrity

The CUNY Policy on plagiarism says the following about plagiarism (the CUNY Policy can be found in Appendix B.3 of the CCNY Undergraduate Bulletin 2007 -2009):

"Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s ideas, research or writings as your own. The following are some examples of plagiarism, but by no means is it an exhaustive list:

1. Copying another person’s actual words without the use of quotation marks and footnotes attributing the words to their source.

2. Presenting another person’s ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging the source. 3. Using information that is not common knowledge without acknowledging the source.

4. Failing to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory assignments.

5. Internet plagiarism includes submitting downloaded term papers or parts of term papers, paraphrasing or copying information from the internet without citing the source, and “cutting and pasting” from various sources without proper attribution.

The City College Faculty Senate has approved a procedure for addressing violations of academic integrity, which can also be found in Appendix B.3 of the CCNY Undergraduate Bulletin.”

Be aware that if we suspect plagiarism we will follow this procedure, no exceptions made; i.e. we will report you to the Academic Integrity Official. Disciplinary sanctions range from failing the class to expulsion from the college.

For more information: http://web.cuny.edu/academics/info-central/policies/academic-integrity.pdf

Biostatistics lecture is being taught this term as