Syllabus
Basics
This course is Biostatistics (Bio 260), a one semester (15 week) introductory statistics course designed for biology students. The pre-requisites are an introductory biology course (Bio 200, 201, 211, or 207) and a college level math course (Math 111, 113, 119A, or 122). The course catalog describes this course as the "Use of probability and statistics in the description and analysis of biological data" which is most of what we will cover. The lecture meets twice a week for 50 minutes each session with a concurrent lab section that meets for 165 minutes each week. Course begins on January 22 and finishes on May 9, with a final exam on May 16, 2024.Course meets in HSCI 100. The instructor for this course is Dr. Ashley Carter. Lecture office hours:
- Via Zoom: Mondays at 10:00-11:00 AM (link in Canvas)
- On campus (MICR 010): Thursdays 3:00-4:00 PM
- Your TA will provide you with this information.
The lab portion of the course has lab meetings with a TA, homework assignments, quizzes, exams, and a group activity. Canvas For lecture, Canvas will be used for submission of assignments and taking exams. The PowerPoints used in on-campus lectures will be posted and videos related to lecture material is available on YouTube (i.e., logging in to Canvas is not required). For the lab, your lab TA will contact you and describe the procedure they will use for their lab. Textbooks and readings There is an electronic lab manual required for this course. Your TA will provide you will details on how to access this. This lab manual is very detailed and has long introductory sections before the labs. The lectures and labs are designed to follow the order of topics closely. This to be more than just a manual for lab, this is useful for the lecture as well. You should keep this for future courses as a reference. The manual can be printed or saved to your computer and I recommend this. There is a hardcover textbook recommended for this course:
- Whitlock & Schluter. The Analysis of Biological Data. Roberts and Company.
Lecture overview
The course is divided into three sections, each corresponding to several topics in the book and labs in the lab manual. Lectures will not necessarily strictly follow the order of topics in the chapters within each section, but will cover much of the material while adding additional material not in the texts. You should read all the chapters for each section as soon as you can when we begin that section. Section 1 Lab manual labs: 1-9.Topics covered:
- Introduction to statistical thinking.
- Statistics vs parameters and samples vs populations.
- Summation notation.
- Descriptive statistics of location, variation, and shape.
- Probability.
- Binomial probability distribution.
- Poisson probability distribution.
- Normal probability distribution.
- Data visualization
Topics covered:
- Distribution of sample mean (central limit theorem).
- Confidence intervals.
- Hypothesis testing and p values.
- One-sample t-test.
- Two-sample t-test.
- Type I and type II errors
- Variance ratio F test.
- Rates of false positives and negatives.
- Chi-square tests of independence and goodness of fit (contingency tables).
- Risk ratio, odds ratio, risk difference.
- Experimental design, biases, and ethics.
Topics covered:
- One-way ANOVA.
- Two-way ANOVA.
- Fmax variance ratio test.
- Regression and correlation.
- Power analysis.
- Designing metrics.
- Brief tour of advanced techniques.
- Reading a scientific paper.
Lab overview
The lab portion of the course is divided into two sections, each corresponding to the chapters of the lab manual book listed below. Section 1 Lab manual chapters: 1-11.Topics covered: statistics/parameters, samples/populations, descriptive measures, probability, binomial distribution, Poisson distribution, normal distribution, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, p value, one-sample t-test. Section 2 Lab manual chapters: 12-19.
Topics covered: two-sample t-test, F-test, chi-square tests of independence and goodness of fit, odds and risk ratio, Fmax test, one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, regression, correlation, scientific communication and a group project. Weekly lab schedule and assessments More detail about the exact lab schedule, activities, and assessments will be provided by your lab instructor. Assignments There are 8 homework assignments. Your lab TA will provide details and deadlines. Exams There are 2 lab quizzes and 1 lab exam. Your lab TA will provide details and deadlines. Group project There is a group project with oral presentations in lab. Your lab TA will provide details and deadlines.
Grading
The points for the course divided between the lecture and lab portions 70/30. Lecture = 70%- 12 Assignments x 1% each = 12%
- Submitting all homework assignments on time is worth 1%.
- 3 exams x 19% each = 57%
There are 4 exams given and the lowest exam score will be dropped and the highest 3 are used. See below for policies about missed exams.
- Participation = 20 pts
- Quizzes (x2) = 40 pts
- Lab assignments (x9) = 90 pts
- Exam = 75 pts
- Project = 75 pts
- The total is 300 pts
Technical stuff
LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY Late assignments will not be accepted for credit for any reason because (i) they can be submitted earlier than the due date and (ii) keys are posted immediately after the due date for the benefit of the entire class. If there is a chance that you may have submission issues on the due date, prepare in advance and submit early. Waiting until the last day to submit is a calculated risk that you voluntarily take. MAKEUP EXAM POLICY There is no makeup exam for this course since scaling of exam scores based on the class mean is typically used and extra exams do not exist. The grade for a missed exam due to emergency will be the mean score from the two other exams if a written explanation, along with documentation and a sworn and notarized legal statement to its veracity, is submitted. In the absence of this documentation, the missed exam will be a zero and will be the exam score dropped. A second missed exam will require that an incomplete grade be assigned, no matter the cause. WIFI ACCESS Be sure to arrange a good internet connection during the times when you take your assignment quizzes and exams. I cannot accept quizzes or exams not submitted during the specified time window. Makeup quizzes or exams are not available due to lack of internet access. If you do not have access to reliable WIFI, the CSULB campus has arranged for areas on campus to have WIFI for students. Here is the link to an interactive map with overlays for outdoor WIFI and seating areas: SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS In certain cases students require special accommodations regarding exams or other activities.- Religious issues: religious holidays and constraints are valid excuses as far as scheduling activities is concerned and special accommodation may be made for these. However, religious are knowable beforehand, special accommodation for such issues will only be made if the instructor is notified in advance. Religious excuses after the fact are not acceptable.
- Emergencies: by their nature emergencies are not knowable beforehand; however genuine emergencies are documentable in written form (e.g., police report, mechanic's bill, obituary notice, medical papers, legal records). Special accommodation for such issues will only be made if written documentation of the emergency is provided as soon as possible.
- Learning disabilities: if you have a genuine learning disability special accommodation may be made. It is the student's responsibility to provide written proof of the status and research the options available at CSULB regarding this issue. Additionally, the student must notify the instructor in advance if they plan to request special accommodations due to a learning disability. Information on the CSULB resources available for learning disabled students is available here:
The statements below have been recommended or required by the university for inclusion in this syllabus
Academic related issues
OFFICIAL ENROLLMENT- No instructor or office staff can add or change a class for you. Only YOU, THE STUDENT, can add or change classes in YOUR schedule. You may either add classes on-line through your MyCSULB account or in person at Enrollment Services during the registration period.
- Each student is responsible to check their MyCSULB account weekly to be certain that the Class Schedule listed accurately reflects the courses s/he is enrolled in for the current semester. Students should also check for any notices the University has sent to them.
www.csulb.edu/enrollment-services/key-dates-and-deadlines It is your responsibility to make yourself aware of these dates. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Education works best when we all act with integrity and avoid any dishonest practices. CSULB has a written policy on cheating and plagiarism. This information includes definitions of cheating and plagiarism, the rights and responsibilities of students and instructors in courses, and the procedures for conflicts arising from enforcement of these policies. If you're unsure about what may constitute cheating, especially in these days of online education, check out the policy here:
www.csulb.edu/academic-senate/policy-academic-integrity-regarding-cheating-and-plagiarism
INCLUSIVE DIALOGUE AND RESPECT Universities are traditionally safe places for the pursuit of new knowledge (research) and the transfer of current knowledge (teaching). In order for that process to work, all respectful viewpoints and opinions are welcome. Debate and disagreement based on data or logic is encouraged, but speech that involves personal insults or statements that denigrate any group of people is not acceptable. Seriously, we are all here in Southern California and seeking to understand the natural world together - everyone has the same right to be here, be heard, and be respected. This course involves the possibility of discussions about issues that some may find emotionally charged. For example, this course includes information about sexual selection, genetic disease, and human history. When discussing these issues, and others, we must always be respectful and considerate of one another. ANTI-HATE SPEECH/PROMOTION OF TOLERANCE As members of The Beach community, we practice tolerance and denounce hate and prejudice. Our classroom will strive to be a place of mutual respect where the focus is on learning and student success.
General campus and student life issues
CAMPUS RESOURCES The campus has a variety of resources for students listed here: AFFIRMATIVE CONSENT The CSU has an Affirmative Consent policy, and is perhaps best understood by watching the following educational video: CAMPUS CONFIDENTIAL ADVOCATES, NOT ALONE @ THE BEACH Title IX prohibits gender discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual misconduct. If you have experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape, dating/domestic violence, or stalking, the Campus Confidential Advocate is available to help. The Campus Confidential Advocate (e: advocate@csulb.edu, p: (562) 985-2668) can provide free and confidential support, accommodations, and referrals for victims without having to report the assault to campus authorities. While students are welcome to discuss assaults with faculty or disclose such experiences in class discussions or assignments, both faculty and teaching assistants are responsible employees who are required to report all known incidents of sexual harassment/misconduct to the Office of Equity & Diversity/Title IX Office for follow-up. Reporting this information will result in the student being contacted by the Office of Equity & Diversity/Title IX Office with information on accommodations and reporting options for possible investigation. Students do not need to respond to the Office of Equity & Diversity/Title IX Office, but students who do wish to report the assault for possible investigation are encouraged to contact the Campus Confidential Advocate, who can help them through the reporting process, or they can report the assault directly to the Office of Equity & Diversity/Title IX Office by completing an online reporting form at: or contacting the Office of Equity & Diversity at OED@csulb.edu. For more information about confidential advocacy services and violence prevention education at CSULB, please contact our campus project Not Alone @ the Beach: ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SEXUAL/GENDER-BASED MISCONDUCT The CNSM is committed to providing a safe and positive learning environment and has established a zero-tolerance policy for any sexual/gender-based misconduct, including, but not limited to sexual harassment, assault, relationship violence or stalking for all faculty, staff, and students. The following resources are available for students: BASIC NEEDS PROGRAM If you are having trouble affording enough food to eat, do not have a safe and reliable place to sleep, and/or experiencing an emergency or crisis, then the Basic Needs Program is here to help. The Basic Needs Program provides emergency services and resources for students. To learn more about the program, visit: To apply for emergency services such as meal assistance program, emergency grant, or emergency housing, complete the information at this link: The Basic Needs Program recognizes that not having your basic needs met can affect your performance in the classroom, and they are here to support you and help ensure you get to your graduation day. They look forward to being of service to you.
