« Home

Home » Biosciences » Statistics & Experimental Design » Ruxton & Colegrave: Experimental Design for the Life Sciences 2e » Student resources » Extra Questions » Chapter 1

Ruxton & Colegrave: Experimental Design for the Life Sciences 2e

Chapter 1

Use these questions to check what you have learned throughout the chapter.

  1. Define the terms ‘sample’ and ‘population’, as they are used in experimental design.

  2. Think of a simple experiment, and describe it in a way that clearly identifies the sample and the population.

  3. Define independence of data-points

  4. The book argues that five members of the same family would not provide five independent measures for evaluating the food preferences of a particular nationality.
    1. Why?
    2. Are there any variables for which the five family members might provide five independent data points?

  5. Consider the passengers on a subway train in London. Identify variables for which different passengers could be considered to be independent data points, and variables forwhich independence could not be justified.

  6. Can you think of a field experiment where there are no associated ethical issues? If not, can you think of an experiment where ethical issues are relatively trivial and easily accommodated?

  7. ‘You cannot be a good life scientist without understanding the basics of experimental design’. Discuss.