1. Start with the question you are asking or the biological hypothesis you are testing and make a testable prediction.
2. Look at your data. Make an appropriate graph.
3. Determine which statistical test would be appropriate. If there is not a test that would be appropriate, you may want to return to your prediction and revise it such that it will be testable. (Or, talk to a statistician!)
4. State the null and alternative hypotheses appropriate to the statistical test you chose.
5. Decide on your significance level (α).
6. Run your statistical test.
7. Compare your P-value to your α level.
8. Make a conclusion about your statistical hypothesis.