Principles of Applied Statistics

Applied statistics is more than data analysis, but it is easy to lose sight of the big picture. David Cox and Christl Donnelly distil decades of scientific experience into usable principles for the successful application of statistics, showing how good statistical strategy shapes every stage of an investigation. As you advance from research or policy question, to study design, through modelling and interpretation, and finally to meaningful conclusions, this book will be a valuable guide. Over a hundred illustrations from a wide variety of real applications make the conceptual points concrete, illuminating your path and deepening your understanding. This book is essential reading for anyone who makes extensive use of statistical methods in their work. "This is an outstanding book in search of a proper audience. ...The authors do a really outstanding job of covering key elements of practice; they illustrate each point with examples (often more than one) nicely offset in gray boxes, and drawn from a huge range of fields. There are insights throughout the book, often ones that are not covered by more typical texts or courses. Despite being a statistical consultant for more than a decade, I learned a good deal and was, perhaps more importantly, given much to think about." Peter Flom, SignificancePreface; 1. Some general concepts; 2. Design of studies; 3. Special types of study; 4. Principles of measurement; 5. Preliminary analysis; 6. Model formulation; 7. Model choice; 8. Techniques of formal inference; 9. Interpretation; 10. Epilogue; References; Index.