Statistical Methods in Agriculture and Experimental Biology. 2nd edition

An introductory text for scientists working in agriculture and experimental biology, Statistical Methods in Agriculture and Experimental Biology includes all the basic statistical methods relevant to their work. Undergraduate and postgraduate majors in those subjects will find its information most essential to their studies. Material on more advanced topics- not usually discussed in an introductory text-focuses on multiple regression, incomplete block experimental design, confounded and split-plot experimental designs, non-linear and log-linear models, and repeated measurements. The authors believe that research scientists should be aware of the potential benefits of those more advanced methods in their work. Particular emphasis is placed upon the assumptions implicit in statistical methods: a full chapter is devoted to that important aspect. It also stresses the importance of designing experiments properly, particularly in using small, natural blocks and factorial treatment structure, and of using available resources efficiently, and extracting all information from the data.

Introduction
The Need for Statistics
The Use of Computers in Statistics
Probability and Distributions
Probability
Populations and Samples
Means and Variances
The Normal Distribution
Sampling Distributions
Estimation and Hypothesis Testing
Estimation of the Population Mean
Testing Hypotheses About the Population Mean
Population Variance Unknown
Comparison of Samples
A Pooled Estimate of Variance
A Simple Experiment
Randomization and Replication
Analysis of a Completely Randomized Design With Two Treatments
A Completely Randomized Design With Several Treatments
Testing Overall Variation Between the Treatments
Analysis Using a Statistical Package
Control of Random Variation by Blocking
Local Control of Variation
Analysis of a Randomized Block Design
Meaning of the Error Mean Square
Latin Square Designs
Analysis of Structured Experimental Data Using a Computer Package
Multiple Latin Squares Designs
The Benefit of Blocking and the Use of Natural Blocks
Particular Questions About Treatments
Treatment Structure
Treatment Contrasts
Factorial Treatment Structure
Main Effects and Interactions
Analysis of Variance for a Two-Factor Experiment
Computer Analysis of Factorials
More on Factorial Treatment Structure
More Than Two Factors
Factors With Two Levels
The Double Benefit of Factorial Structure
many Factors and Small Blocks
The Analysis of Confounded Experiments
Split Plot Experiments
Analysis of a Split Plot Experiment
The Assumptions Behind the Analysis
Our Assumptions
Normality
Variance Homogeneity
Additivity
Transformations of Data for Theoretical Reasons
A More General Form of Analysis
Empirical Detection of the Failure of Assumptions and Selection of Appropriate Transformations
Practice and Presentation
Studying Linear Relationships
Linear Regression
Assessing the Regression Line
Inferences About the Slope of a Line
Prediction Using a Regression Line
Correlation
Testing Whether the Regression is Linear
Regression Analysis Using Computer Packages
More Complex Relationships
Making the Crooked Straight
Two Independent Variables
Testing the Components of a Multiple Relationship
Multiple Regression
Possible Problems in Computer Multiple Regression
Linear Models
The Use of Models
Models for Factors and Variables
Comparison of Regressions
Fitting Parallel Lines
Covariance Analysis
Regression in the Analysis of Treatment Variation
Non-Linear Models
Advantages of Linear and Non-Linear Models
Fitting Non-Linear Models to Data
Inferences About Non-Linear Parameters
Exponential Models
Inverse Polynomial Models
Logistic Models for Growth Curves
The Analysis of Proportions
Data in the Form of Frequencies
The 2 x 2 Contingency table
More Than Two Situations or More Than Two Outcomes
General Contingency Tables
Estimation of Proportions
Sample Sizes for Estimating Proportions
Models and Distributions for Frequency Data
Models for Frequency Data
Testing the Agreement of Frequency Data With Simple Models
Investigating More Complex Models
The Binomial Distribution
The Poisson Distribution
Generalized Models for Analysing Experimental Data
Log-Linear Models
Probit Analysis
Making and Analysing Many Experimental
Measurements
Different Measurements on the Same Units
Interdependence of Different Variables
Repeated Measurements
Joint (Bivariate) Analysis
Investigating Relationships With Experimental Data
Choosing the Most Appropriate Experimental Design
The Components of Design; Units and Treatments
Replication and Precision
Different Levels of Variation and Within-Unit Replication
Variance Components and Split Plot Designs
Randomization
Managing With Limited Resources
Factors With Quantitative Levels
Screening and Selection
Sampling Finite Populations
Experiments and Sample Surveys
Simple Random Selection
Stratified Random Sampling
Cluster Sampling, Multistage Sampling, and Sampling Proportional to Size
Ratio and Regression Estimates
References
Appendix
Index