Anneke M. Metz
Teaching Statistics in Biology: Using Inquiry-based Learning to Strengthen Understanding of Statistical Analysis in Biology Laboratory Courses
Montana State University
increasing need students biological sciences build strong foundation quantitative approaches data analyses although science engineering math field majors required take least one statistics course statistical analysis poorly integrated undergraduate biology course work particularly lowerdivision level elements statistics incorporated introductory biology course including review statistics concepts opportunity students perform statistical analysis biological context learning gains measured 11item statistics learning survey instrument developed course students showed statistically significant 25 p 0005 increase statistics knowledge completing introductory biology students improved scores survey completing introductory biology even previously completed introductory statistics course 9 improvement p 0005 students retested 1 yr completing introductory biology showed loss statistics knowledge measured instrument suggesting use statistics biology course work may aid longterm retention statistics knowledge statistically significant differences learning detected male female students study