Basic Statistical Methods and Models for the Sciences

The use of statistics in biology, medicine, engineering, and the sciences has grown dramatically in recent years and having a basic background in the subject has become a near necessity for students and researchers in these fields. Although many introductory statistics books already exist, too often their focus leans towards theory and few help readers gain effective experience in using a standard statistical software package.

Designed to be used in a first course for graduate or upper-level undergraduate students, Basic Statistical Methods and Models builds a practical foundation in the use of statistical tools and imparts a clear understanding of their underlying assumptions and limitations. Without getting bogged down in proofs and derivations, thorough discussions help readers understand why the stated methods and results are reasonable. The use of the statistical software Minitab is integrated throughout the book, giving readers valuable experience with computer simulation and problem-solving techniques. The author focuses on applications and the models appropriate to each problem while emphasizing Monte Carlo methods, the Central Limit Theorem, confidence intervals, and power functions.

The text assumes that readers have some degree of maturity in mathematics, but it does not require the use of calculus. This, along with its very clear explanations, generous number of exercises, and demonstrations of the extensive uses of statistics in diverse areas applications make Basic Statistical Methods and Models highly accessible to students in a wide range of disciplines.