Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I have used other biostatistics texts before, and this is indeed one of the better ones. Generally, the explanations are clear and easy to follow, but not always. Sometimes, the author will go into far too much detail and risks losing all but the most capable students under a mountain of excessive information for an intro textbook.
Other times, the example calculations will not match up with the instructions given. For example, when doing a two-tailed test and testing for significance, you can either double the obtained p-value OR halve the critical p-value. In some cases, the author will explain a given test and discuss halving the critical p-value, but then in example calculations will double the obtained p-value without comment. This is a small example, but this type of thing happens all the time.
The appendices are excellent. For instance, the author provides both "sides" of the area under the normal curve (Z-scores and p-values) for a given half, whereas most authors require you to solve .5-n to get the other part. Again, this sounds minor, but it is a help and a timesaver. I also like how all the equations are set off in boxes, and the author does a fine job of immediately explaining what variables are what.
All in all, I like this book. I wish it left out some amount of what I consider to be excessive detail, and I also wish that all the example calculations were consistent with the instructions given. But otherwise, great book!
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This book provides a solid foundation in introductory biostatistics with up-to-date methods, lucid explanations, and a modern approach. Explains commonly used biostatistical methods, such as odds and risk ratios, and Fisher's exact test, in a clear and thorough manner. Introduces equivalence testing in a variety of research settings. Presents nonparametric methods in a modern light, couched in the broader context of permutation-based methods. Provides real-world data with case studies consisting of synopses of published research. Provides step-by-step solutions to exercises, along with pertinent equations used in obtaining the solution and page numbers of relevant discussions. For health science students and professionals who need to increase their understanding of biostatistics.
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