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| Junior
Independent Study in Biology |
401. INDEPENDENT
STUDY An
introduction to the techniques and practices of biological
research focusing specifically on the design of experiments,
data analysis and reduction, and information retrieval
systems. Exploration of the literature related to
the proposed I.S. thesis and the design of the research
upon which the thesis will be based will be incorporated
into a term paper. Two 90-minute classroom meetings
weekly. Offered only in the Spring.
-- The College of Wooster
Catalogue
Junior Independent Study is designed to help Biology majors
develop a variety of skills that are fundamental in planning
and carrying out an independent scientific research project,
as well as in communicating research findings to one's intellectual
community.
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Course
Organization
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Biology 401 is partitioned, for administrative and
scheduling purposes, into two parts. In the Tuesday
class sessions, students prepare the Junior independent
study paper in consultation with a faculty advisor
(see below). Each student gains experience in reading
and analyzing scientific papers, in writing clearly
and concisely, and in framing testable experimental
questions appropriate for a research project.
In the Thursday class sessions, students conduct
a concentrated study of basic biostatistics. Lectures
and class exercises cover descriptive statistics,
hypothesis testing, and parametric and non-parametric
statistical procedures for data analysis, as well
as principles of experimental design. Students prepare
problem sets to practice statistical procedures.
The biostatistics portion of the course concludes
with appropriate examinations to test comprehension.
In addition, students enrolled in Biology 401 are
required to attend weekly departmental seminars.
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Independent Study Research Projects
| The assignment of
an Independent Study research project is a two-step
process: First, you will identify three research
projects that are of interest to you; then assignments
will be made by the Department after examining
everyone's preferences.
Possible Research
Projects: After enrolling in Biology 401
Independent Study, you will be given a list of
research research projects available in the Biology
Department. In addition to projects on this list,
you can also propose a project of your own design
or to work with an investigator off-campus, such
as at the OARDC. In such cases, you must also
make arrangements for a Biology professor to
serve as your I.S. advisor.
Assignments: Once
all Biology 401 students have submitted their list
of preferred research projects, the Biology Department
will make I.S. project assignments. The intent
is that each student will be assigned a project
of interest, while evenly distributing I.S. assignments
among Biology faculty. |
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Preparation
of the Junior Independent Study Paper
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Once you have been assigned a project,
you will meet with the faculty advisor of that project
weekly to prepare your Biology 401 Independent Study
paper. This person will also serve as your academic
advisor. In general, this person will continue to
advise your Senior IS thesis, unless that faculty
member is going on sabbatical leave or there are
other extenuating circumstances that suggest a change
in advisor is appropriate.
The Biology 401 paper
consists of two-parts: (i) a literature survey
and (ii) a proposal for the independent study research
to be conducted in the senior year.
Part I, Literature Review
In
Part I of the junior independent study paper,
the student is expected to include a thorough
review of the existing literature on the
topic being proposed. To achieve this objective,
the student must conduct an extensive electronic
bibliographic search, the results of which
should be submitted to your advisor by the
assigned date (typically the end of the sixth
week of classes). You should begin your literature
review and library research as soon as possible,
since it may take 4-6 weeks to obtain materials
from interlibrary loan (ILL). Based on this
bibliographic search, the student should
then use abstracts, review articles, and
primary research articles to (i) identify
and summarize previous studies relevant to
the topic, (ii) explore the theoretical background
of the question, and (iii) identify directions
for future research efforts. Part I of the
junior independent study paper is due on
the date assigned by your advisor (typically
the first day following Spring Break).
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Part II, Research Proposal
In
Part II of the junior independent study paper,
the student prepares a research proposal,
which should include (i) a statement of the
problem being investigated, (ii) a concise
discussion of the questions being asked in
the student's research plan, and (iii) a
description of the methods and materials
needed to carry out the project. The format
of the research proposal generally should
follow the guidelines described in Pechenik's A
Short Guide to Writing about Biology (see
the chapter on "Writing Research Proposals"),
but may vary depending on the requirements
of individual faculty advisors. Part II of
the junior independent study paper is due
on the date assigned by your advisor (typically
the last day of classes).
Ask your advisor what she or he would like
you to cover in your Junior I.S. paper.
Different faculty members have
different expectations. Some want a general introduction to the topic at
large. Some want a timetable. Some want a list of equipment. Don't depend
on what your friend did last year for her advisor, who might be different
from yours. Faculty members also differ in whether or not they will review
rough drafts of the junior paper before you turn it in, and in how they
choose to schedule meetings with you during
the semester. |
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Summer Research Projects
| If you plan
to collect data on your I.S. project in the summer,
you need to decide on a topic and to make substantial
progress on the literature research as early in the
semester as possible. Be sure that the work you will
do is appropriate for an I.S. project, especially if
it is being done as a laboratory or field assistant
for someone else in their own ongoing project. If you
use your knowledge of statistics to develop protocols
and to design your variables with final statistical
analysis in mind, the tools you acquire during your
junior independent study training will serve you well. |
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Evaluation of Junior
Independent Study
| Your junior independent study advisor
will assign you a letter grade based on your bibliographic
search, parts I and II of your junior I.S. paper, and
attendance at the weekly departmental seminars. Together,
these will constitute 50% of your final grade in Biology
401. You will also receive a letter grade for the statistics
portion of the course, which will also constitute 50%
of your final grade in Biology 401. However, the department
feels that a passing grade in the statistics portion
of the course is essential for a Biology major graduating
from this department. A failing grade in the statistics
portion of the course will mean that you must take remedial
steps to master this material in some other format, even
if that failing grade does not result in a D or an F
in Biology 401 overall. |
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