Choosing and Using Statistics - A Biologists¿ Guid e, 4th Edition

A Biologist's Guide
4. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-119-83812-8
Verlag: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Buch, Englisch, 336 Seiten, Format (B × H): 178 mm x 254 mm

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 and straightforward approach to the application of statistical tests in biology. There are chapters giving useful advice on the basics of statistics, experimental design and guidance on the presentation of data. The book is built around a key to selecting an appropriate 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 R. Only the basics of formal statistics are described and the emphasis is on jargon-free English. Key features of the book are that it: - Uses a simple key and flow chart to help you choose the right statistical test
- Is aimed at students using statistics for projects and in practical classes
- Includes an extensive glossary and key to symbols to explain any statistical jargon
- Assumes no previous knowledge or experience of statistics

This fourth edition of Choosing and Using Statistics is a trusted companion for all students who use a computer package to apply statistics in practical and project work.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Dytham, Calvin

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Mikrobiologie
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Molekularbiologie
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Ökologie
• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Angewandte Ökologie
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Angewandte Biologie Biomathematik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface

How to use this book

Packages used

Example data

Acknowledgements

1 - Eight steps to successful data analysis

2 - The basics

Observations

Hypothesis testing

P-values

Sampling

Experiments

Statistics:

Descriptive statistics

Tests of difference

Tests of relationships

Tests for data investigation

3 - Choosing a test: a key

Remember - eight steps to successful data analysis

The art of choosing a test

A key to assist in your choice of statistical test

4 - Hypothesis testing, sampling and experimental design

Hypothesis testing

Acceptable errors

P-values

Sampling

Choice of sample unit

Number of sample units

Positioning of sample units to achieve a random sample

Timing of sampling

Experimental design

Control

Procedural controls

Temporal control

Experimental control

Statistical control

Some standard experimental designs

5 - Statistics, variables and distributions

What are statistics?

Types of statistics

Descriptive statistics

Parametric statistics

Non-parametric statistics

What is a variable?

Types of variables or scales of measurement

Measurement variables

Continuous variables

Discrete variables

How accurate do I need to be?

Ranked variables

Attributes

Derived variables

Types of Distributions

Why do you need to know about distributions?

Discrete distributions

Poisson distribution

Binomial distribution

Negative binomial distribution

Hypergeometric distribution

Continuous distributions

Rectangular distribution

Normal distribution

Standardised normal distribution

Convergence of a Poisson distribution to a normal distribution

Sampling distributions and the ‘central limit t

Über Autor(innen)

Calvin Dytham has a wide range of research interests in ecology and evolutionary biology from bacteria-phage interactions to human evolution. He taught statistics to undergraduate and postgraduate students for more than thirty years and is now Professor Emeritus in the Department of Biology at the University of York, UK.