Hi, I taught undergrads for nearly 40 years. In the early days, we expected very little of them in the way of statistical understanding. Eventually, we were requiring all to take a stat methods course, and we introduced stat methods in appropriate undergrad courses such as ecology. Some programs require undergraduate biology (or related) majors now to take an introduction to research course with extensive use of statistics. How much they can and will tolerate/enjoy varies by institutional and individual goals. Certainly with the modern emphasis on beginning research early rather than waiting until graduate school, introducing usable statistics is important. Complex models and analysis can wait until advanced levels.
So far as matrix algebra, any competent undergraduate seeing the utility of it should be able to handle it. It is generally taught in mathematics departments as sophomore or junior level courses, and introduced earlier. Certainly, it is useful for modeling, and should be intuitive for students who are prepared for it. If not intuitive, it can be learned, anyway. Students can and will learn statistics if learning it is an expectation of progressing in their programs. They'll learn it with good humor if they see it's application through reading research papers and doing some data collection and analysis themselves. How far to go will vary from institution to institution and from program to program. I'd say that generally a program should take it's students as far as they can go. David McNeely ---- "Abraham de Alba A." <[email protected]> wrote: > Does seem like a bit heavy expectations > Nathan and fellow ecologgers, Does seem like a bit heavy expectations for undergrads, but most definitely back the review of Hulbert's paper on pseudoreplication, and perhaps add one or two on "multiple testing" if I remember correctly there was one by Chew ? Abraham de Alba Avila Terrestrial Plant Ecology INIFAP-Ags Ap. postal 20, Pabellón Arteaga, 20660 Aguascalientes, MEXICO SKYPE: adealba55 Tel: (465) 95-801-67, & 801-86 ext. 126, FAX ext 102 alternate: [email protected] cel: 449-157-7070 -- David McNeely
