Methodology of Science - Biology (OMSB9) Course Tips

Are you taking Methodology of Science - Biology (OMSB9, aka MSB) this year, looking for strategies to succeed? Are you considering taking MSB in a future year? We interviewed an instructor for this course, and here’s their advice about success in OMSB9, as well as general information about it.

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Course Overview

Methodology of Science - Biology combines the fields of statistics and biology through the lens of scientific reasoning. By the end of MSB, students will understand the basic methodology behind scientific research, including carrying out their own research project at the end of the year. The course also aims to give students the necessary background in statistics to understand statistics as they are used in the real world—e.g., in the media.

Course Topics

The fall semester covers ecology and descriptive statistics, including:

• Biomes and ecosystems

  • Nutrient cycles

• Community ecology (different species in the same biome)

• Population ecology (interaction of the members of the same species)

• Sampling techniques

• Measurement scales for variables

• Measures of central tendency and variability

• How to estimate characteristics of a population from a sample

• Central Limit Theorem

The spring semester covers inferential statistics and hypothesis testing. It also covers topics in organismal and behavioral ecology. Topics include:

• Organismal/behavior ecology

  • Types of behavior: learned vs. innate be

  • Mendel and genetics

  • Evolution and Darwin

  • DNA: structure, replication, mutations

• Lots of statistical tests

• Interesting statistical phenomena, such as Simpson’s Paradox

• Correlation vs. causation

Learning Process

Before class, there are pre-recorded video lectures (which range from 15 - 60 minutes) for students to watch. Watching the lectures prior to class is very important to students’ success in MSB; if you don’t watch the lectures, it becomes very difficult to understand what’s going on in class and to do well on the quizzes. Taking notes is helpful—but even more than that, try to synthesize the material in your head, figure out what sorts of questions a quiz or teacher might ask you about the material, and write down any questions you have.

Before class, there is typically also some optional reading. Though optional, the reading is highly recommended and will help enhance your understanding of the concepts taught. Even if you just have time to skim it, that’s helpful. Students are expected to spend about 2-3 hours preparing for class.

During class, the focus will be on applying the material to various case studies or situations. Students may work in breakout rooms or in the main room. Take advantage of the time with your teacher and peers! If something was unclear, don’t be afraid to ask questions; asking questions shows that you understand the material and want to engage with it. 

After class, there is a weekly quiz to complete. The quizzes are unproctored and untimed, and students may reference their notes. Students are expected to not spend more than 1-1.5 hours taking or prepping for the quiz per week. (If it’s taking you more time than that, speaking with or emailing your teacher can help.)

In addition, there are, from time to time, writing assignments to submit or exams to prepare for. There is also a final project at the end of the second semester. For more information on these assignments, see the sections below.

Frequent Challenges

Of course, which topics and aspects of the course students find challenging is very individual. However, there are a couple of things that many past students have found difficult.

The concepts of statistical power and significance are difficult ones. We frequently see statistics that say, for example, that something is 92% likely. But what does this really mean? The shift from summary statistics to thinking in terms of when a result is statistically significant can be a challenging one.

Furthermore, many students find the quizzes (and exams) difficult. The quizzes are weekly, and there are four exams through the year (two midterms and two finals). For more information on how to succeed on quizzes and exams, see the “Exams and Quizzes” section below.

This information is intended to help you anticipate what challenges you may find during this course, so you can best direct your study efforts and be prepared.

Available Supports

• Peer tutors are students who have previously taken the course and are available to help students.

  • Peer tutors can be reached through appointments at the Writing and Tutoring Center. Schedule an appointment here: Stanford OHS Writing & Tutoring Center (mywconline.com)

  • Sometimes, a fellow student can explain something better than a teacher can, because they know what it’s like to be a student and where another student is likely to struggle to understand something.

  • Many peer tutors are also easily reachable through Pronto. Feel free to message a peer tutor if you’re stuck on an assignment and need a nudge in the right direction!

• Your instructor is also there to help you.

  • Instructors hold office hours once or twice a week, where students can come to discuss course topics.

    • Note that you do not need to have a particular question to attend office hours—you can come to discuss a general topic, explore an idea you have, ask a specific question about homework, and much more!

    • You are never inconveniencing your teacher by attending office hours—they want to talk to you!

    • If you find it hard or embarrassing to ask questions in class, office hours can be a great place to ask questions, when you can just talk to your instructor 1-on-1. It is very normal to feel hesitant about asking questions—you are not alone! However, since all the material builds on previous material, finding a comfortable way to ask questions is very important.

  • Instructors can also be reached by email. You might decide to email your teacher, for example, if you have a (relatively quick) question that needs to be answered before their next office hours.

Exams and Quizzes

After class, there is a weekly untimed, unproctored quiz to complete. You can use your notes, and these quizzes aren’t expected to take more than 1-1.5 hours per week to complete. In addition, MSB has a midterm and a final exam both semesters. These exams are also unproctored and students may reference notes and study guides while taking them. However, they are timed. The exams contain a Multiple-Choice section and a Written Explanation section.

To prepare for both quizzes and exams, the best thing you can do is keep up with the video lectures (and optionally the reading) before class, to participate in class, and to ask questions when you have them. Additionally, take some time after or while watching the lecture to think about what sorts of questions your teacher, a quiz, or an exam) might ask about the given material.

Some of the most effective study time isn't spent staring at your notes, trying to memorize answers. Try to take a break from your computer, perhaps walk around for a minute to let the information settle in your mind, and then attempt to write down the main topics of the course along with as much detail as you can recall. After jotting down everything you remember, go back to your notes and compare them with what you wrote.

You could also try teaching what you've learned to someone else, whether it's another person, a pet, or even by pretending to teach your younger self. Keep in mind that everyone has different learning and memory styles, so find study methods that work best for you instead of following popular methods.

If you’re stuck on an exam or quiz question, you can try using process of elimination. Often, you’ll know that one or more answers is obviously wrong, and you can work your way to the right answer from that starting point.

Additionally, make sure to pay close attention to the precise wording of questions on quizzes or exams, as the phrasing can significantly influence your understanding and response. It is crucial not to let the wording trick you into selecting the wrong answer! For instance, take special care to make sure whether the question is asking for which of the following is true or which of the following is false. Misreading a single word can result in a completely incorrect response, so it is important to read each question thoroughly and consider the implications of the wording.

For midterm/final exams specifically: There is a lot of support that’s provided by the course. Besides the weekly video lectures and readings, along with class recordings, there are special exam review lectures and study guides. Don’t be afraid to reference these materials during your exam! They’re here to help you succeed. If you have any questions, make sure to ask your teacher or a peer tutor.

Projects

In the spring semester, students have a final research project. They select a topic, gather data, and use the statistical tests discussed in class to analyze their that data and reach conclusions about their hypothesis.

Make sure to start the project early. This is especially important if you want to put out a survey to OHS students and gather data that way, as there will be many OHS students all doing surveys at the same time. But whether or not you’re doing a survey, starting early gives you more time to gather and analyze data and overcome any challenges that arise along the way.

Writing Assignments

Each semester, there are several writing assignments. In these assignments, students provide written responses to a series of questions provided in the prompt. The goal of these assignments is to give students an opportunity to apply the concepts learned in class to more real-world scenarios.

For support on these assignments, office hours are a great resource. Ask your teacher about what they are looking for in a good writing assignment and seek clarification about any unclear aspects of the prompt. The Writing and Tutoring Center (WTC) is also an excellent resource. You can meet with a peer tutor to clarify the material or discuss how to get started. You can also meet with a WTC writing instructor. Although writing instructors focus on English classes, they are able to help improve the quality of your writing in all academic areas, and you can seek help from them on MSB writing assignments.

Why Take This Course:

Methodology of Science - Biology (aka MSB) is a unique course that combines biology, statistics, and philosophy. It aims to teach students about how science is conducted—i.e., its methodology. The ultimate goal of MSB, though, is more than just learning statistics or biology. The tools learned in this course lay the foundation for thinking about countless studies of a variety of sorts and critically considering the plentiful data that students encounter in their daily lives.