Choosing and Using Statistics remains an invaluable guide for students using a computer package to analyse data from research projects and practical class work. The text takes a pragmatic approach to statistics with a strong focus on what is actually needed. There are chapters giving useful advice on the basics of statistics and guidance on the presentation of data. The book is built around a key to selecting the correct statistical test and then gives clear guidance on how to carry out the test and interpret the output from four commonly used computer packages: SPSS, Minitab, Excel, and (new to this edition) the free program, R. Only the basics of formal statistics are described and the emphasis is on jargon-free English but any unfamiliar words can be looked up in the extensive glossary. This new 3rd edition of Choosing and Using Statistics is a must for all students who use a computer package to apply statistics in practical and project work. Features new to this edition: Now features information on using the popular free program, R Uses a simple key and flow chart to help you choose the right statistical test Aimed at students using statistics for projects and in practical classes Includes an extensive glossary and key to symbols to explain any statistical jargon No previous knowledge of statistics is assumed

More than a textbook—it’s also a valuable reference book for researchers and crop science professionals! The Handbook of Statistics for Teaching and Research in Plant and Crop Science presents the fundamental concepts of important statistical methods and experimental designs to the students and researchers who need to apply them to their own specific problems. This comprehensive handbook takes what can be the difficult and confusing topics of statistics and experimental design and explains them in easily understandable terms, making them accessible to nearly every reader. More than a student textbook, it is an essential reference for researchers and professionals in a multitude of fields. Designed as a two-semester statistical textbook, the first section of the Handbook of Statistics for Teaching and Research in Plant and Crop Science focuses on statistical concepts, providing a foundation of useful knowledge on which you can base your own research. The second section concentrates on experimental designs in plant and crop sciences. The material is presented in a way that helps readers with a minimum of mathematical background to understand important theories and concepts. Derivations of formulas are avoided, and mathematical symbols are used only when essential. To illustrate the computational procedures, data is drawn from actual experiments. At the end of each chapter, examples and exercises are given to provide clear insight into real-life problems. A comprehensive appendix of clearly presented statistical tables is included. Part One of Handbook of Statistics for Teaching and Research in Plant and Crop Science focuses on statistical methods, principles, and procedures, exploring: methods of display of statistical information, such as tables, diagrams, graphs, etc. symbols and their use in denoting variables descriptions of types of statistical data methods of computation from raw and graphed data the importance of studying variables and dispersion in research the use of normal probability integral tables and their application to practical problems descriptions of different types of experiments, such as determinate and nondeterminate the significance of expected value in research special techniques in descriptive statistics explanations of population, sample, and statistical inference the significance of null hypothesis in research methods of correlation studies assumptions and principles in regression analysis Part Two concentrates on experimental design, principles and procedures, exploring: basic principles of experimental design the fundamental concepts of linear models and analysis of variance method and layout of Completely Randomized Design (CRD) the advantages and disadvantages of Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) methods and procedures for comparison of several treatment means the important features of Latin Square Design factorial experiments split plot design completely confounded design analysis of covariance the Chi Square Test of Significance the transformation of experimental data quality control and so much more! The Handbook of Statistics for Teaching and Research in Plant and Crop Science serves not only as a textbook for instructors and students in experimental design and statistics but also as a reference book on plant and crop sciences for professionals and researchers. The comprehensive text is also useful for professionals in other statistic-heavy fields.

Generations of biologists have relied on this useful book, which presents the basic concepts of statistics lucidly and convincingly. It recognizes that students must be aware of when to use standard techniques and how to apply the results they obtain. Because many biologists do not have a strong mathematical background, the arguments are gauged in terms that can be easily understood by those with only an elementary knowledge of algebra. Mathematical derivations are avoided and formulae are only used as a convenient shorthand. Although the subject is presented with great simplicity, the coverage is wide and will satisfy the needs of those working in many disciplines. New material for this third edition includes consideration of pocket electronic calculators and a special chapter devoted to a discussion of problems associated with numerical calculation, electronic calculators, and computers.