Choosing and Using Statistics: A Biologist's Guide
Choosing and Using Statistics remains an invaluable guide for students using a computer package to analyse data from research projects and practical class work. The text takes a pragmatic approach to statistics with a strong focus on what is actually needed. There are chapters giving useful advice on the basics of statistics and guidance on the presentation of data. The book is built around a key to selecting the correct statistical test and then gives clear guidance on how to carry out the test and interpret the output from four commonly used computer packages: SPSS, Minitab, Excel, and (new to this edition) the free program, R. Only the basics of formal statistics are described and the emphasis is on jargon-free English but any unfamiliar words can be looked up in the extensive glossary.
Features new to this edition:
- Now features information on using the popular free program, R
- Uses a simple key and flow chart to help you choose the right statistical test
- Aimed at students using statistics for projects and in practical classes
- Includes an extensive glossary and key to symbols to explain any statistical jargon
- No previous knowledge of statistics is assumed
1 Eight steps to successful data analysis
2 The basics
3 Choosing a test: a key
4 Hypothesis testing, sampling and experimental design
5 Statistics, variables and distributions
6 Descriptive and presentational techniques
7 The tests 1: tests to look at differences
8 The tests 2: tests to look at relationships
9 The tests 3: tests for data exploration
Glossary
Assumptions of the tests
Hints and tips
A table of statistical tests
Index
- Microbiology Today, Feb 2000
"It would be an interesting experiment (with appropriate statistical tests of course), to see how often a lab copy was used by researchers and academic staff. I suspect it would be rather frequently and with good reason!"
- Biologist Vol 46 No 4
"In summary, an excellent text with a refreshing viewpoint."
- TecNews, May 1999
"A valuable handbook for all biologists completing statistical analysis."
- Sherkin Comment, October 2000
"The first edition of this excellent handbook was extremely well received by both students and lecturers alike. It has helped to simplify the often complex and difficult task of choosing and using the right statistics package. This is a book for any student or professional biologist who wants to process data using a statistical package on the computer, to select appropriate methods and extract the important information from the often confusing output that is produced...The new edition has been updated to cover the very latest versions of the computer packages described, expanded to include coverage for logistic regression, a more detailed considration of multivariate analysis, data exploration and further examples of Principle Component Analysis and Discriminate Function Analysis are given."
- Ethology, Ecology and Evolution, Volume 15, No 3, September 2003
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