220-404 Methods for Forest & Ecosystem Research

Eligibility for honours or postgraduate degree; 202-202 Experimental Design/Statistical Methods (or equivalent)

Understanding the principles of scientific method, experimental design, and sound data evaluation capability is crucial for successful research in forest and ecosystem science. The subject should expand understanding of scientific method, experimental design, statistics, and data evaluation and presentation in students undertaking research in forest and ecosystem science.

On completion of the subject, students should be:

• able to formulate testable research hypotheses in forest and ecosystem science;

• competent in experimental design for both laboratory and field-based research in forest and ecosystem science;

• aware of the problems associated with field-based, ecological research such as limitations in replication;

• able to design effective experiments to address their research questions and test a well-stated hypothesis;

• able to understand the statistical principles of data evaluation and presentation in forest and ecosystem science;

• able to effectively communicate scientific results orally and know how to structure a paper for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

A two-hour end-of-semester examination (50%), and a semester project (3000 words and oral presentation, 50%).