Faculty of Science

Anatomy, Physiology & Human Biology

Unit Outline

Human Biology: Applications & Investigations I

ANHB3310
SEM-1, 2015
Campus: Crawley
Unit Coordinator: Dr Peter Mark

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Copying of this material by students, except for fair dealing purposes under the Copyright Act, is prohibited. For the purposes
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The University of Western Australia 2001

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Unit details
Unit title
Unit code
Availability
Location

Human Biology: Applications & Investigations I

ANHB3310
SEM-1, 2015 (23/02/2015 - 20/06/2015)
Crawley

Credit points

Mode

Face to face

Contact details
Faculty
School
School website
Unit coordinator
Email
Telephone
Consultation hours
Lecturers

Unit contact hours

Lecture capture system
Online handbook

Faculty of Science
Anatomy, Physiology & Human Biology
http://www.anhb.uwa.edu.au/
Dr Peter Mark
peter.mark@uwa.edu.au
6488 2609
by arrangement by email

Name

Email

A/Prof Stuart Hodgetts

Ms Megan Jones
W/Prof Linc Schmitt
A/Prof Debra Judge

stuart.hodgetts@uwa.edu.au
megan.jones@uwa.edu.au
linc.schmitt@uwa.edu.au
debra.judge@uwa.edu.au

Lectures: 1 x 1 hr per week; tutorials: 1 x 2 hrs per week; labs: 1 x 2 hrs per week or equivalent spent on
project work
LCS is implemented for this unit.
http://units.handbooks.uwa.edu.au/units/ANHB/ANHB3310

Unit rules
Corequisites
Advisable prior study
Incompatibility

ANHB3321 Biological Anthropology: Genes and Society or ANHB3324 Human Structure and Function
some Level 2 biological science is assumed
ANHB3320 Human Biology: Applications and Investigations II

Unit description
In this unit students establish necessary skills for the investigative process including rigorous definition of problems and questions;
careful and appropriate design of experiments and selection of method; creative thinking; careful acquisition of data (from literature, field
or laboratory work); rigorous but imaginative validation, manipulation and interpretation of data; and presentation of investigations both
as written and verbal reports. Using these techniques, students carry out their own group projects to independently investigate the
organisation of a specific issue arising from their studies in other Level 3 units in Anatomy and Human Biology. The flexible structure of
the unit allows for reading, tutorials and practical project work in areas of particular interest to individuals or small groups of students.
Some flexibility of scheduling is also possible, with the consultation and consent of the unit coordinator.

Learning outcomes
Students are able to (1) knowledgeachieve an understanding of (a) the nature of the scientific method, including history and
philosophy of science; (b) the basis for the ethics of experimentation, particularly that involving humans and other animals, and the
procedures required for ethics approval at the University of Western Australia; (c) the underpinnings of rigorous definition of problems
and questions, the careful and appropriate design of experiments, the critical importance of good controls, the selection of methods,
and the power and limits of interpretation of results; (d) methods for careful acquisition of data from literature, survey, field or laboratory
work; (e) methods for rigorous but imaginative validation, manipulation and interpretation of data; (f) methods for rigorous and critical
approaches to experimental design and interpretation including techniques for establishing controls for extraneous variables in different
forms of research; (g) methods for presenting data orally and report writing; and (h) methods of sourcing career opportunities; (2) skills
perform the necessary skills for the investigative process including (a) effective teamwork; (b) specific investigative techniques
including use of the library and databases, statistics, computers, image capture and analysis, data collection and organisation; (c)
generic skills including scientific writing, compilation of ethics and grant applications; and (d) presentation of investigations both as
written and verbal reports; and (3) attitudesapply (a) a creative and open approach to scientific knowledge and problems; (b)
understanding of the need to communicate openly and share skills and knowledge; (c) an appreciation of the value of constructive
criticism of one's own and others' work; (d) faith in the experimental approach to furthering knowledge; and (e) a desire to pursue
further studies.

Unit schedule
Week

Date

Lecture Topic

Lecturer

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Laboratory

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Semester
Break
9
10
11
12
13

Commencing 24
Feb
Commencing 3
March
Commencing 10
March
Commencing 17
March
Commencing 24
March
Commencing 31
March
Commencing 7 April
Commencing 14
April
Commencing 21
April
Commencing 28
April
Commencing 5 May
Commencing 12
May
Commencing 19
May
Commencing 26
May

A/Prof Peter Mark

Project
Management/Expectations
Intro to project design

A/Prof Peter Mark

Introduction - unit content /

What is Science?
Statistics 1 - Descriptive Stats

A/Prof Peter Mark

Statistics 2 - Contingency Tables

Animal Ethics

Manuscript Writing - Abstract writing

exercise
Statistics 3 - t-tests/ANOVA

Project Management Skills

A/Prof Stuart
Hodgetts
A/Prof Silvana
Gaudieri
A/Prof Peter Mark

Collaboration
Communication

A/Prof Peter Mark

A/Prof Peter Mark

Statistics 4
Blank Abstract Test

Human Ethics

Manuscript Reviewing

Project Work

Statistics 5 - Application

Project Work
Project Work

Statistics Test
Statistics - project data assistance

Project Work

Project Presentations

Project Presentations

Project Presentations

Assessment
Assessment overview
Typically this unit is assessed in the following way(s): (1) group project report and presentation; (2) statistics assessment; and (3)
assignments. Further information is available in the unit outline.

Assessment mechanism
# Component

Weight

Due Date

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

5%
5%
5%
20% (5 x 4%)
10%
10%
35%
10%

weekly
30th March
6th April
weeks 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9
5/6 May
14th April
30th May
last week of semester

Weekly Reflections Forum

Project Proposal
Ethics Application
Statistics Assignments
Statistics Test
Abstract Test
Project Report
Project Presentation

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Assessment items
Item Title

Description

Submission Procedure for

Assignments

Weekly online reflective Must be completed each week (upload facility will close at
journal/ portfolio
end of each week- 10%). To include reflection on relevance
Total 5%
of points raised in lecture and seminar to own project topic
and your growth towards understanding of the practice of
science AND a copy of your log from that weeks
quantitative prac . This is also a forum for demonstrating
coordination and cooperation of your group projects. To be
brief. You just have to do them (ie no graded marking, you
get the marks just for making the effort).
Project Proposal
A fully developed proposal as it would be presented in a
5%
grant application. To include a justification for the need for
the work arising from a review of the relevant literature, an
account and justification of the methodology to be employed
including numbers to be tested/ surveyed etc., descriptions
of the roles of the investigators (ie group members) based
upon their strengths, a set of timelines for achievement of
the various stages of the project, a budget, perceived risks
to successful completion of the plan and contingency plans
and processes for keeping members of the team in the
loop and for regularly reviewing progress. In addition what
would be the ethics application for the project should be
attached.
Ethics Application 5% Students will complete an appropriate ethics application for
their group project, to be handed in at the time of Proposal
submission
Statistics Assignments 5 separate assignments (4% each) based on completion of
20%
the exercises provided in the laboratory statistical sessions
Statistics Test
1 hour test on a pre-prepared dataset that students have
10%
had prior access to, to familiarise themselves with it.
Analyses will be chosen similar to examples given during
the statistics laboratory sessions.
Abstract test 10%
The students will be given a scientific manuscript with the
abstract removed. They will then compose a new abstract
based ont he information in the manuscript
Project Report /
Final write-up of the project in the condensed form of a
Scientific Paper
scientific paper for a particular nominated journal.
35%
In-class presentation
In class presentation will be by group with roles shared out
10%
by negotiation. Mark will be an average of the average staff
mark and the average class evaluation. 1 mark reserved for
completing a set of evaluations with feedback for other
presenting groups

online LMS direct text entry through a

forum (not as attached document)

LMS assignment with attached documents

upload to LMS

upload to LMS
Sit and hand write papers (unless special
arrangement for disability)

Sit and type Abstract then upload to LMS

Turnitin (or LMS, depending on ability of

system to cope)
Stand and deliver as a group

Textbooks and resources

Recommended texts
Optional Texts:
Chalmers, A. F What Is This Thing Called Science?, University of Queensland Press, Open University press, 3rd revised edition,
Hackett,1999
Lindsay, D Scientific Writing = Thinking in Words, CSIRO PUBLISHING, 2010

Suggested alternate texts

As alternatives to Lindsay
Godfrey, J "Reading and Making Notes" Pocket Study Skills, Palgrave Macmillan 2010
Williams, K "Getting Critical" Pocket Study Skills, Palgrave Macmillan 2009
Thomas, G "Doing Research" Pocket Study Skills, Palgrave Macmillan 2011
Williams, K & Carroll, J "Referencing & Understanding Plagiarism" Pocket Study Skills, Palgrave Macmillan 2009
Godfrey, J "Writing for University" Pocket Study Skills, Palgrave Macmillan 2011
Copus, J "Brilliant Writing Tips for Students" Pocket Study Skills, Palgrave Macmillan 2009
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Other important information

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