Statistical Methods and Introduction to Data Analysis

Author: R.L. Ott
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2003-06-01
Features: This book is suitable as an introductory textbook for statistics for various liberal arts majors in China. It can also serve as a teaching reference book for applied statistics courses in science and engineering majors, or as an introductory book on statistics for practical workers in relevant fields. No prior background in statistics or advanced mathematics is required to read this book. The content is divided into eight parts, with a total of 20 chapters, arranged in two volumes, each containing 10 chapters. Each chapter includes numerous exercises. The book provides a large number of practical examples that cover many disciplines and real-world fields, yet are not overly specialized and are easy to understand. In most chapters, examples are used to introduce the topics, and statistical concepts are explained in connection with these very practical problems, making the content accessible and avoiding the superficial perception that statistics is merely another math course. The author summarizes the process of collecting and analyzing statistical data into a "four-step method" and weaves its explanation throughout the book. Using examples, the book gradually unfolds and clarifies the statistical techniques and thinking required for designing surveys or experiments, then explains how to collect and analyze data using the intuitive and effective "four-step method," which is very helpful for beginners and practical workers to grasp the essence of statistical methods and models. The book provides a variety of illustrations, such as normal probability plots, box plots, scatter plots, matrix plots, and residual plots. Through these visuals, readers can not only understand the characteristics of data and methods for summarizing data but also further grasp the basic ideas and features of statistical methods. The author places great emphasis on the role of statistics in solving practical problems. Throughout the book, many pages are dedicated to discussing how to interpret the results of data analysis, and a dedicated chapter is devoted to explaining how to write data analysis reports.