Course code VET414

VET414 Applied statistics for experimental and laboratory oriented studies in veterinary science

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Showing course contents for the educational year 2020 - 2021 .

Course responsible: Janicke Nordgreen
Teachers: Andrew Michael Janczak, Preben Boysen, Eystein Skjerve
ECTS credits: 5
Faculty: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Teaching language: EN, NO
(NO=norsk, EN=Engelsk)
Teaching exam periods:

Week 15

The course is based on 10 weekly meetings of 3 hrs each. Normally on Thursdays 13-16, but this may be adjusted according to the needs of the participants.

Course frequency: Yearly, during second half of spring term.
First time: Study year 2016-2017
Course contents:

The main goal of the course is to familiarize the students with central themes in applied statistics for experimental and laboratory-oriented studies in veterinary science. We introduce the students to sample of the following topics. The students will contribute to defining the exact content of the course.

Topics may include:

- Critical reading from an experimental design and statistical perspective.

- Aims of the study including hypothesis testing, descriptive and exploratory approaches.

- Links between aims and organization of the dataset and statistics.

- Designing experiments.

- Software based Design of Experiments (DOE).

- Power and sample size estimation.

- Databases, structure and establishment.

- Outcome variable(s) and links to analytical model.

- General Linear Models (GLM) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).

- Nesting and repeated measures designs.

- Regression Analysis.

- Non-parametric statistical tests.

- Presentation of data.

Software:

- Use of Excel for organizing data.

- Descriptive data analysis using pivot functions in Excel.

- Use of the statistical software package JMP for data analysis.

Learning outcome:

Through the course the students are expected to achieve the following:

General competence

- The students will develop their ability to plan their own studies and analyze their own data.

Knowledge:

- Know the main principles of applied statistics.

- Know the standards for planning, analyses and presentation of data for scientific publishing in their research area.

Skills

- Be able to design a study based upon statistical principles.

- Be able to organize data using Excel and analyse data using JMP.

- Be able to perform basic statistical analysis of dataset, according to needs in own dataset/study.

- Be able to communicate about statistics in order to continue to develop skills and understanding after the course has finished.   

Attitudes:

- The students should develop attitudes in line with acceptable research ethics in connection with statistical analysis.     

Learning activities:
The course is a mix of lectures, demonstrations, assignments and group discussions.
Syllabus:

Main books:

- Grafen & Hails: Modern Statistics for the Life Sciences 1 edition (2002). Oxford University Press, UK. 368 pages. 

- Petrie and Watson: Statistics in veterinary and animal science, 3rs edition (2013). John Wiley & Sons, UK. 408 pages.

Supplementary reading:

- Alex Reinhardt: Statistics Gone Wrong: The Woefully Complete Guide, 1st Edition (2015). No Starch Press, San Fransisco, USA. 176 pages.

Further material will be handed out during the course. 

Prerequisites:
The course aims at introducing statistics to PhD students with a veterinary or other biological background, and veterinary research track students. Only minimal prior statistical knowledge is expected.  
Recommended prerequisites:
Mandatory activity:
Attendance and preparation for classes through reading and exercises is compulsory. An attendance record of at least 70% is required to pass this course. Exceptions will be considered for students following the course over more than one semester. 
Assessment:
Weekly assignments followed by oral exam.
Nominal workload:
150 hours.
Note:

Aids:

A2: no calculator, other specified aids.

Mandatory enrolment via FS (Student web).

The course may be cancelled if there are fewer than 8 registered participants and students planning on taking this course should therefore have a backup plan. 

Examiner:
Examination details: Anvendt statistikk for eksperimentelle- og laboratoriestudier i veterinærvitenskap: Passed / Failed