Synopses & Reviews
This book provides research workers with the statistical background needed in order to collect and analyze data in an intelligent and critical manner. Key examples and case studies are used to illustrate commonly encountered research problems and to explain how they may be solved or even avoided altogether. Professor Manly also presents a clear understanding of the opportunities and limitations of different research designs, as well as an introduction to some new methods of analysis that are proving increasingly popular. Topics covered include: the differences between observational and experimental studies, the design of sample surveys, multiple regression, interrupted time series, computer intensive statistics, and the ethical considerations of research. In the final chapter, there is a discussion of how the various components of a research study come together.
Review
"...an excellent text. The discussions of complex statistical procedures are comprehensible and include clear descriptions of the goals and assumptions of each technique. This book will be a useful addition to the library of anyone who relies on quantitative techniques." Lawrence P. Greksa, Human Biology
Synopsis
This book provides students and research workers in the biological, medical and social sciences with the statistical background needed to collect and analyse data in an intelligent and critical manner. Key examples and case studies are used to illustrate commonly encountered research problems and to explain how they may be solved or even avoided altogether. Professor Manly also presents a clear understanding of the opportunities and limitations of different research designs, as well as an introduction to some new methods of analysis that are proving increasingly popular. Topics covered include the differences between observational and experimental studies; the design of sample surveys; multiple regression and its generalizations to log-linear and logistic models; experimental and quasi-experimental designs; interrupted time series; computer intensive methods of statistical inference; and the ethical considerations of research. In the final chapter, there is a useful discussion of how the various components of a research study (including deciding on the objectives, planning, designing, and the collection and analysis of data) come together. This practical and well-structured book will be essential reading for graduate students and researchers in a wide range of disciplines, including biology, anthropology, medicine and the social sciences.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 336-344) and indexes.
Table of Contents
1. Preview; 2. The sample survey; 3. Other sampling designs; 4. The linear regression model; 5. Experimental designs to assess the effect of a treatment; 6. Interrupted time series; 7. More advanced experimental designs; 8. Some special types of data; 9. Computer intensive statistics; 10. Ethical considerations; 11. Synthesis: carrying out a research study; References; Index.