Probability Theory and Biostatistics

Author: Ni Haier, edited by Qian Guoying
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: With the advancement of biological sciences, the ancient and descriptive research methods in various branches of biology have been gradually replaced by precise and more reliable quantitative research methods. Among the various quantitative research methods, statistical methods are one of the most widely used approaches. By the early 20th century, a marginal discipline combining biology and probability and statistics—biostatistics—had emerged. It is a field that analyzes and infers random phenomena in the field of biology using the principles and methods of probability theory and mathematical statistics. The objects of study in biostatistics are various random phenomena in the field of biological sciences, while probability theory serves as the tool for studying random phenomena, making it the foundation of biostatistics. Learning biostatistics merely by mechanically applying its formulas is insufficient. Only by mastering the principles of statistical analysis can one correctly analyze various problems in biological sciences using appropriate statistical methods and rationally interpret and infer the results of calculations. Therefore, this book first introduces the fundamental principles of probability theory, and on this basis, it clearly explains the basic concepts and principles of biostatistics. To demonstrate the widespread application of statistical methods in the field of biological sciences, some examples have been selected from literature and works. However, due to teaching considerations, modifications have been made to some of these examples, so their sources are not noted here. Additionally, the conclusions in the examples or exercises of this textbook should not be treated as definitive conclusions in biology. The reference teaching hours for this textbook are 50–70 hours, and the content of multivariate statistical analysis can be selected according to the major and teaching hours. In conjunction with the content of this textbook, teachers can introduce some commonly used statistical analysis software, such as SAS, SPSS, etc. The application of these statistical software has been covered in many specialized textbooks and reference materials. Due to space constraints, this book does not provide detailed explanations.