Cambridge Biology for the IB Diploma

Teaching ideas for Chapter 1, Statistical analysis

This small topic provides a background to statistics for the Biology course. Although some aspects
can be taught independently, the best strategy is to develop student skills as they use statistics in
practical work.

Practical activities

• Error bars should be used wherever sufficient data is collected and should form part of assessed
practical data processing. Measurements of oxygen volumes produced during photosynthesis
experiments or in enzyme-catalysed reactions with catalase and hydrogen peroxide are good
examples of experiments where several readings can be taken. Link to Chapter 3, 7, 6 and 11.
• Most students will be familiar with mean and standard deviation from mathematics but must be
able to calculate these using calculators and spreadsheets. Data collected during ecological
studies or from measurements of students’ heights etc. can be used to demonstrate the spread of
the mean of different data sets. Link to Chapter 5.
• Students can apply the t-test to any two sets of data containing more than 10 values. This data
could be collected from quadrat sampling or from two transects that are being compared. Link
to Chapter 5.

Links to TOK

• Statistics are used to provide evidence for claims made in many walks of life from politics to
medicine. Students could consider the validity of such claims and the objectivity of scientific
statements that are made using the support of statistics.

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