Statistics And Scientific Method

An antidote to technique-orientated approaches, this text avoids the recipe-book style, giving the reader a clear understanding of how core statistical ideas of experimental design, modelling, and data analysis are integral to the scientific method. No prior knowledge of statistics is required and a range of scientific disciplines are covered.

In this book I have taken on the challenge of providing an insight into Statistics and a blueprint for statistical application for a wide audience. For students in the sciences and related professional areas and for researchers who may need to apply Statistics in the course of scientific experimenta tion, the development emphasizes the manner in which Statistics fits into the framework of the scientific method. Mathematics students will find a unified, but non-mathematical structure for Statistics which can provide the motivation for the theoretical development found in standard texts on theoretical Statistics. For statisticians and students of Statistics, the ideas contained in the book and their manner of development may aid in the de velopment of better communications between scientists and statisticians. The demands made of readers are twofold: a minimal mathematical prerequisite which is simply an ability to comprehend formulae containing mathematical variables, such as those derived from a high school course in algebra or the equivalent; a grasp of the process of scientific modeling which comes with ei ther experience in scientific experimentation or practice with solving mathematical problems.

This book shows how science works, fails to work, or pretends to work, by looking at examples from such diverse fields as physics, biomedicine, psychology, and economics. Social science affects our lives every day through the predictions of experts and the rules and regulations they devise. Sciences like economics, sociology and health are subject to more ‘operating limitations’ than classical fields like physics or chemistry or biology. Yet, their methods and results must also be judged according to the same scientific standards. Every literate citizen should understand these standards and be able to tell the difference between good science and bad. Scientific Method enables readers to develop a critical, informed view of scientific practice by discussing concrete examples of how real scientists have approached the problems of their fields. It is ideal for students and professionals trying to make sense of the role of science in society, and of the meaning, value, and limitations of scientific methodology in the social sciences.

One of the pathways by which the scientific community confirms the validity of a new scientific discovery is by repeating the research that produced it. When a scientific effort fails to independently confirm the computations or results of a previous study, some fear that it may be a symptom of a lack of rigor in science, while others argue that such an observed inconsistency can be an important precursor to new discovery. Concerns about reproducibility and replicability have been expressed in both scientific and popular media. As these concerns came to light, Congress requested that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine conduct a study to assess the extent of issues related to reproducibility and replicability and to offer recommendations for improving rigor and transparency in scientific research. Reproducibility and Replicability in Science defines reproducibility and replicability and examines the factors that may lead to non-reproducibility and non-replicability in research. Unlike the typical expectation of reproducibility between two computations, expectations about replicability are more nuanced, and in some cases a lack of replicability can aid the process of scientific discovery. This report provides recommendations to researchers, academic institutions, journals, and funders on steps they can take to improve reproducibility and replicability in science.

Providing a much-needed bridge between elementary statistics courses and advanced research methods courses, Understanding Advanced Statistical Methods helps students grasp the fundamental assumptions and machinery behind sophisticated statistical topics, such as logistic regression, maximum likelihood, bootstrapping, nonparametrics, and Bayesian methods. The book teaches students how to properly model, think critically, and design their own studies to avoid common errors. It leads them to think differently not only about math and statistics but also about general research and the scientific method. With a focus on statistical models as producers of data, the book enables students to more easily understand the machinery of advanced statistics. It also downplays the "population" interpretation of statistical models and presents Bayesian methods before frequentist ones. Requiring no prior calculus experience, the text employs a "just-in-time" approach that introduces mathematical topics, including calculus, where needed. Formulas throughout the text are used to explain why calculus and probability are essential in statistical modeling. The authors also intuitively explain the theory and logic behind real data analysis, incorporating a range of application examples from the social, economic, biological, medical, physical, and engineering sciences. Enabling your students to answer the why behind statistical methods, this text teaches them how to successfully draw conclusions when the premises are flawed. It empowers them to use advanced statistical methods with confidence and develop their own statistical recipes. Ancillary materials are available on the book’s website.

This innovative text offers a completely integrated approach to teaching research methods and statistics by presenting a research question accompanied by the appropriate methods and statistical procedures needed to address it. Research questions and designs become more complex as chapters progress, building on simpler questions to reinforce student learning. Using a conversational style and research examples from published works, this comprehensive book walks readers through the entire research process and includes ample pedagogical support for SPSS, Excel, and APA style.

The book approaches research from a perspective different from that taken in other educational research textbooks. The goal is to show educators that the application of research principles can make them more effective in their job of promoting learning. The basic point is that we do not have to stop teaching to do research; research is something we can do while teaching and if we do good research, we will do better teaching. This book includes most of the topics treated in traditional educational research books, but in a different order and with a different emphasis. The important content cons.

This textbook will enable scientists to be better scientists by offering them a deeper understanding of the scientific method.