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Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation
Research Methods in Biology
Course: ABS175

First Term: 2023 Fall
 Lec + Lab   1.0 Credit(s)   2.0 Period(s)   2.0 Load  
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: T


Description: Fundamentals of planning and conducting biological experiments, including ones that simultaneously vary multiple experimental variables. Subsequent analysis, interpretation, and reporting of results.



MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Describe the principles of the scientific method. (II)
2. Identify the importance of experimental controls. (II)
3. Explain the utility of a `Design of Experiments` (DOE) approach to biological research. (III)
4. Design experiments using DOE tools. (III)
5. Execute biological experiments involving simultaneous variation of numerous experimental variables. (I, II, III)
6. Demonstrate standard laboratory practices including lab book maintenance. (I)
7. Analyze and interpret results class experiments. (II, III)
8. Share details of experiments with peers using current technology. (I)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.
 
MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Lab Practice
   A. Lab safety
   B. Lab book maintenance
   C. Small-group communication in the lab
   D. Culture of research science
II. Basic experimental design and data analysis
   A. Principles of the scientific method
   B. Factors, trials, controls
   C. Experimental statistics
      1. measures of variation
      2. t-statistic
      3. significant effects
III. Industry standard Design of Experiments (DOE) approach to experimental design
   A. Definition and explanation
   B. Benefits
   C. DOE tools
      1. Measurement repeatability and reproducibility analysis
      2. Simple scientific trials and `one-factor-at-a-time` (OFAT) experiments
      3. Two and three variable full factorial experiments
      4. Introduction to fractional factorial experiments with n-variables
 
MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 6/26/2012

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.