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Rating: 
Summary: A timeless classic in statistical thinking
Review: Although many students and educators now learn about statistics by using plug-n-play statistics packages like SAS or SPSS, a basic understanding of even the most fundamental statistical principles is essential to sound statistical reasoning. _Biometry_ is a wonderful introduction to statistics. Although designed for ecologists and evolutionary biologists, and although most of the examples are from the life sciences, it is an excellent introduction to statistical reasoning for anyone in any field. I would highly recommend this book, a title on Exploratory Data Analysis, and hands-on experience with a statistical package as the ideal introduction to statistics.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent self-tutorial
Review: I have previously reviewed this book. My review pertains to the second edition as that is the only edition I have. Recently I did some consulting for a colleague. He had some data that he wanted to test for the presence of a single outlier. I referred him to the procedures due to Grubbs and Dixon. I also mention the book by Barnett and Lewis which has the most detailed account of outlier methods. However, Barnett and Lewis is so detailed that it can be overwhelming for a beginner. Fortunately my friend has a copy of Sokal and Rohlf's book. I believe he has the same second edition that I have. They provide a good elementary treatment of these methods and have tables to use. Unfortunately, I discovered that the tables are in a separate supplement. My colleague has the supplement but I don't. The reader should be aware that the supplement is needed to implement some of the procedures in the book that require tables. It is not expensive but it is essential. I imagine that the same is true for the third edition but I am not sure.
Rating: 
Summary: additional comments on second edition
Review: I have previously reviewed this book. My review pertains to the second edition as that is the only edition I have. Recently I did some consulting for a colleague. He had some data that he wanted to test for the presence of a single outlier. I referred him to the procedures due to Grubbs and Dixon. I also mention the book by Barnett and Lewis which has the most detailed account of outlier methods. However, Barnett and Lewis is so detailed that it can be overwhelming for a beginner. Fortunately my friend has a copy of Sokal and Rohlf's book. I believe he has the same second edition that I have. They provide a good elementary treatment of these methods and have tables to use. Unfortunately, I discovered that the tables are in a separate supplement. My colleague has the supplement but I don't. The reader should be aware that the supplement is needed to implement some of the procedures in the book that require tables. It is not expensive but it is essential. I imagine that the same is true for the third edition but I am not sure. Regardless this is an excellent refer for biostatisticians and practitioners including regulatory affairs analysts and medical writers.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent for developing intuition, but that's about it
Review: I took Biometry as a course at Stony Brook with Rohlf. I think the book does an excellent job at building a conceptual understanding of what different statistical techniques are used for. Coming out of the course (which was essentially Rohlf reading his book to us), one develops an excellent ability to look at an experiment and determine what type of analysis should be done. This is pretty damn important. What the book fails to do is, once you know which test to use, help you analyze your data using popular statistical programs. Other texts (e.g., Tabachnik and Fidel) appreciate that knowing which test to use is only half the battle. Biometry is weak at helping you actually run tests. One great stength of Biometry is its treatment of non-parametric data. It is by far the best treatment I have seen in an introductory text. I would highly recommend this book to anyone whose data violates assumptions of the typical ANOVA model.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent self-tutorial
Review: The book is based upon biostatistics courses taught by the authors. It is designed to be used as a self-tutorial if so desired. The explainations and examples are excellent.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent basic text of statistical methods
Review: This book and BIOSTATISTICAL ANALYSIS by Jerrold Zar are my main "go to" books when I have questions about statistical methods, applications, or interpretation. Zar's book is probably the more understandable primer text on statistics of the two, but BIOMETRY is better at addressing non-parametrics, though it is certainly not a comprehensive treatment of that field of statistical analysis. I typically go to Zar first, then to Sokal and Rohlf -- a great one-two combination that takes care of most of my statistical needs. I appreciate the inside covers of BIOMETRY, with its summary table that provides a starting place for choosing the most likely statistical tests for a give comination of numbers of samples and numbers of variables in an experiment. You should be advised that the book BIOMETRY does not contain tables of critical values. You will need to purchase the book STATISTICAL TABLES by Rohlf and Sokal to get them. All in all, an excellent book on statistical methods. 4.5 to 5 stars...I'll give it 5 stars. Alan Holyoak
Rating:
Summary: Excellent basic text of statistical methods
Review: This book and BIOSTATISTICAL ANALYSIS by Jerrold Zar are my main "go to" books when I have questions about statistical methods, applications, or interpretation. Zar's book is probably the more understandable primer text on statistics of the two, but BIOMETRY is better at addressing non-parametrics, though it is certainly not a comprehensive treatment of that field of statistical analysis. I typically go to Zar first, then to Sokal and Rohlf -- a great one-two combination that takes care of most of my statistical needs. I appreciate the inside covers of BIOMETRY, with its summary table that provides a starting place for choosing the most likely statistical tests for a give comination of numbers of samples and numbers of variables in an experiment. You should be advised that the book BIOMETRY does not contain tables of critical values. You will need to purchase the book STATISTICAL TABLES by Rohlf and Sokal to get them. All in all, an excellent book on statistical methods. 4.5 to 5 stars...I'll give it 5 stars. Alan Holyoak
Rating:
Summary: nice reference for users of biostatistics
Review: This book has served well as a reference source on biostatistical methods for statisticians and non-statisticians alike. It includes many of the important topics. It provides detailed descriptions of regression, correlation and analysis of variance. It emphasizes the required assumptions. It is written at an introductory level. It also covers aspects of biological data and special topics such as "combining probabilities' (i.e. meta-analysis), randomization tests (i.e. permutation methods such as Fisher's exact test), and the jackknife. Important topics that are not included are survival analysis, sample size determination and Bayesian methods.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent for developing intuition, but that's about it
Review: This is one of the best books, I have read. It helps to understand statistics in a very clear way. The most stat books you come across present so much mathematics that applied scientists get lost in those whereas they should be spending more time in formulating the problem and analyzing the results. This book strikes the balance between mathematics and description of methods in a beautiful way. After reading this book you will become good in identifying what you need to use where. Thanks to Robert and James. Pawan P. Singh Graduate Student Agricultural Engineering Purdue University
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book
Review: This is one of the best books, I have read. It helps to understand statistics in a very clear way. The most stat books you come across present so much mathematics that applied scientists get lost in those whereas they should be spending more time in formulating the problem and analyzing the results. This book strikes the balance between mathematics and description of methods in a beautiful way. After reading this book you will become good in identifying what you need to use where. Thanks to Robert and James. Pawan P. Singh Graduate Student Agricultural Engineering Purdue University
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