Evaluating Existing Research

Examples of Evidence

Biometrics (BIOL 3000) – Winter 2023
This was the first course I took which helped me with understanding data and statistics. I found biometrics valuable as it provided me with tools I could use to take data from a topic and evaluate it using RStudio and different statistical analyses. Being able to see statistics is one thing, but once I was able to read something and actually interpret what those statistics meant, it made the evaluation of existing research much easier.

In the examples below, you will see that a solid foundation of statistical understanding is a vital aspect of understanding some of the more complicated graphs and figures.

Plant Physiology Paper Review Presentation (BIOL 3510)- Fall 2024
I reviewed a paper for my plant physiology class and then summarized the key interpretations of the paper in a succinct presentation. For me, the real challenge was to simplify what the paper was really telling me. I learned through this project that less is more, especially when you are trying to explain something complicated. This project was a stepping stone to help me focus on the big picture and general understandings from the literature rather than getting sucked into the minute details.

Plant Physiology Presentation – Fall 2024Download

Reading and Writing Great Biology Creative Literature Review (BIOL 3400) – Fall 2025
In BIOL 3400–Reading and Writing Great Biology–I was challenged to write a classic style essay on any biological topic of interest. The breath and the lungs have always fascinated me so I decided to learn more about the topic. After writing about this topic, I came to realize that the better I understood the literature I was writing about, the easier it was for me to write creatively.

  • I can use this knowledge to my advantage for any future writing or literature reviews I do by asking myself: “Do I know enough about this topic that I would be able to write creatively on it? Or do I need to dive deeper?”
Cretive Literature Review on the Lungs – Fall 2025Download

Disorders Across the Lifespan Alzheimers Reaction Paper (PSYC 3010) – Fall 2023
I analyzed a paper on Alzheimers and wrote a critical reaction for my PSYCH 3010 course: Disorders Across the Lifespan. The paper taught me that understanding literature takes time. It was a case study meta-analysis so there was a lot to interpret. I tried to skim through the paper and do the project fast, but I just could not grasp the concepts by trying to rush my understanding.

  • The paper taught me a key lesson: If you want to understand something deeply, you have to dive deep and break the paper down into smaller, digestible chunks. Once I went back to the beginning and broke down the paper step by step, I was proud of myself for gaining a confident understanding on various research protocols used from the different papers they analyzed and the general trends and findings pertaining to alzheimers.
Alzheimers Reaction Paper – Fall 2023Download

Introduction to Animal Behaviour Bumblebees Paper Review Presentation (BIOL 3100) – Fall 2024
This was a simple paper review that I summarized and presented to my BIOL 3100, Intro to Animal Behaviour, class. I learned that video is a great way for myself to understand a research paper. I used a video in my presentation to help the members in my class fully understand what the paper was about.

  • Ultimately, I learned that the supplementary figures and videos can be super useful in helping me and others deepen our understanding of the literature.
Bumblebees Paper Review Presentation – Fall 2024Download