Statistics for Terrified Biologists

About this book

This unique textbook aims to demystify statistical formulae for the average biology student. Written in a lively and engaging style, Statistics for Terrified Biologists, 2nd Edition draws on the author's 30 years of lecturing experience to teach statistical methods to even the most guarded of biology students. It presents basic methods using straightforward, jargon-free language. Students are taught to use simple formulae and how to interpret what is being measured with each test and statistic, while at the same time learning to recognize overall patterns and guiding principles. Complemented by simple examples and useful case studies, this is an ideal statistics resource tool for undergraduate biology and environmental science students who lack confidence in their mathematical abilities.

Statistics for Terrified Biologists presents readers with the basic foundations of parametric statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, linear regression and chi-square, and guides them to important extensions of these techniques. It introduces them to non-parametric tests, and includes a checklist of non-parametric methods linked to their parametric counterparts. The book also provides many end-of-chapter summaries and additional exercises to help readers understand and practice what they've learned.
- Presented in a clear and easy-to-understand style
- Makes statistics tangible and enjoyable for even the most hesitant student
- Features multiple formulas to facilitate comprehension
- Written by of the foremost entomologists of his generation

This second edition of Statistics for Terrified Biologists is an invaluable guide that will be of great benefit to pre-health and biology undergraduate students.

Contents

Preface to Second Edition

Chapter 1 How to use this book
Chapter 2 Introduction
Chapter 3 Summarising variation
Chapter 4 When are sums of squares NOT sums of squares?
Chapter 5 The normal distribution
Chapter 6 The relevance of the normal distribution to biological data
Chapter 7 Further calculations from the normal distribution
Chapter 8 The t-test
Chapter 9 One tail or two?
Chapter 10 Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) - what is it? How does it work?
Chapter 11 Experimental designs for Analysis of Variance
Chapter 12 Introduction to factorial experiments
Chapter 13 2-factor factorial experiments
Chapter 14 Factorial experiments with more than two factors
Chapter 15 Factorial experiments with split plots
Chapter 16 The t-test in the Analysis of Variance
Chapter 17 Linear regression and correlation
Chapter 18 Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA)
Chapter 19 Chi-square tests
Chapter 20 Non-parametric methods (what are they?)

Appendix
A1 How many replicates?
A2 Statistical tables
A3 Solutions to 'Spare-time activities'
A4 Bibliography

Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

H. F. van Emden, PhD, is an internationally respected entomologist who in the UK has been President of both the Royal Entomological Society and the Association of Applied Biologists. He is currently Emeritus Professor of Horticulture in the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development at the University of Reading, UK, where for 35 years he has taught entomology at Masters level to international students of Crop Protection. He has taught and carried out research on applied entomology in six continents.