Statistics for Biologists in R

New

R is a free, software environment for statistical and data analysis, with many useful features that promote and facilitate reproducible research.

In this course, we introduce the R language, and cover basic data manipulation and plotting. Before moving on to explore classical statistical analysis techniques starting with simple hypothesis testing and building up to linear model analysis. The focus of the course is on practical implementation of these techniques and developing robust statistical analysis skills rather than on the underlying statistical theory

After the course you should feel confident to be able to select and implement common statistical techniques using R and moreover know when, and when not, to apply these techniques.

Sessions

If you book onto this course you must attend all of the sessions as detailed below. Failure to attend a session or cancellation of your place less than 48 hours before the start of the first session will result in an administrative charge of £50.

Please ensure you have permission from your supervisor to attend this course before you make your booking!

Trainers

Jonathan Patrick, Department of Plant Sciences

Matt Castle, GSLS

• No prior programming experience is required.
• The course is open to graduate students and postdocs from the GSLS
• This course has previously been part of the BBSRC DTP programme as well as other departmental events so previous students should not apply

The course is split over seven 3 hour sessions all held in the Titan Teaching Rooms located on the New Museum Site. Note that the 1st and 2nd sessions are only 2.5 hours long. Attendance at all sessions is compulsory if you book a place on the course. Failure to attend a session will result in an administrative charge of £50 per session.

1. Monday 2 October, 10:00-12:30, Titan Teaching Rooms 1 & 2

2. Monday 2 October, 14:30-17:00, Titan Teaching Rooms 1 & 2

3. Tuesday 3 October, 14:30-17:30, Titan Teaching Room 2

4. Thursday 5 October, 09:30-12:30, Titan Teaching Rooms 1 & 2

5. Friday 6 October, 09:30-12:30, Titan Teaching Rooms 1 & 2

6. Friday 6 October, 14:00-17:00, Titan Teaching Rooms 1 & 2

7. Monday 9 October, 09:30-12:30, Titan Teaching Rooms 1 & 2

Number of sessions: 7

Learning Objectives After this course you should be able to:

• Import data and plot graphs
• Analyse datasets using standard statistical techniques
• Know when each test is and is not appropriate

During this course you will learn about:

• The RStudio interface to R
• Basic object types in R
• Importing and manipulating tabular data into R
• Using in-built functions
• Basic Plotting
• Customizing plots
• One and two sample hypothesis tests
• ANOVA
• Simple linear Regression
• ANCOVA
• Linear Models
• Model selection techniques

• Mathematics & Statistics
• Research Skills & Techniques