BIO-291 Research Methods in Biology

Under supervision of biology faculty mentors, students will select a research project, write a literature review and research proposal, conduct preliminary experiments, and write a research report. Research methods and experimental design will be emphasized, including the location and study of articles from the professional literature. The undergraduate research projects will help students develop valuable research skills, and it will provide students with an opportunity to apply scientific knowledge in the context of "real world" problems. Participation will also open up opportunities for students to take part in analyzing data and conducting field research. One 2-hour lecture period, and 4 hours of laboratory work per week. Students must also schedule time for consultation with the supervising faculty member.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

BIO-121, BIO-122 and Permission of the Instructor

Lecture Contact Hours

2

Lab Contact Hours

4

Other Contact Hours

0

Department

• Science & Technology

Grading Scheme

• Letter

SUNY Gen Ed Credit

• No

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate the use of modern biological research methods.
2. Utilize skills relating to the process of conducting science and apply the scientific method.
3. Apply the basics of experimental design, data collection, data analysis and hypothesis testing.
4. Critically analyze current research published in the primary scientific literature.
5. Convey ideas, scientific knowledge and experimental outcomes through written and oral communication.

View Course Outline

BIO 291: Research Methods in Biology

Department

Science and Technology

Course Description

Under supervision of biology faculty mentors, students will select a research project, write a literature review and research proposal, conduct preliminary experiments, and write a research report. Research methods and experimental design will be emphasized, including the location and study of articles from the professional literature. The undergraduate research projects will help students develop valuable research skills, and it will provide students with an opportunity to apply scientific knowledge in the context of "real world" problems. Participation will also open up opportunities for students to take part in analyzing data and conducting field research. One 2-hour lecture period, and 4 hours of laboratory work per week. Students must also schedule time for consultation with the supervising faculty member.

Credit Hours

3

Contact Hours

Lecture	2
Lab	4
Other	0

Grading Scheme

Letter

Prerequisites

BIO-121, BIO-122 and Permission of the Instructor

Capstone Course

Yes

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate the use of modern biological research methods.
2. Utilize skills relating to the process of conducting science and apply the scientific method.
3. Apply the basics of experimental design, data collection, data analysis and hypothesis testing.
4. Critically analyze current research published in the primary scientific literature.
5. Convey ideas, scientific knowledge and experimental outcomes through written and oral communication.

Topic Outline

1. Sources of Scientific Information 
2. Searching for Scientific information
   1. Library Technology 
   2. Electronic Searches 
   3. Primary Literature Searches 
3. Primary Literature
   1. Reading scientific papers 
   2. Critical analysis of research results 
4. Doing Science: Where do questions come from? 
   1. Science as asking questions 
   2. Basic considerations.
   3. The skill of asking questions 
   4. Where do questions come from? 
5. Asking Questions: The art of framing hypotheses and predictions 
   1. Observation
   2. Exploratory analysis 
   3. Forming hypotheses 
6. Answering Questions: What do the results say? 
   1. Confirmatory analysis 
   2. What is statistical significance 
   3. Significance tests 
   4. Testing hypotheses 
   5. Testing predictions 
   6. Refining hypotheses 
7. Presenting Information: How to communicate outcomes and conclusions 
   1. Presenting figures and tables 
   2. Presenting results
   3. Writing reports 

The remaining topics covered in this course will be project-specific. Faculty mentors will work with undergraduate researchers to provide them with up-to-date information on the current state of understanding as it relates to the specific research question being explored by each student.