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The Statistical Sleuth: A Course in Methods of Data Analysis by Fred L. Ramsey and Daniel W. Schafer. Duxbury Press, Belmont, CA, 1997. xviii+742 pp. $80.95
Reviewer: Marvin M. Kilgo, III., Tamarack Scientific Co., Inc., Anaheim, CA 92806.
MAKING the transition between solving "textbook" problems and analyzing "real-world" data can be difficult. Furthermore, while many good introductory statistics texts are available, the choice of intermediate, practically oriented books is more limited. The Statistical Sleuth is a welcome addition to that field.
The target audience for this book is graduate students who are developing and analyzing research activities. A familiarity with basic statistics is presumed, but since the emphasis is on application, facility with calculus and linear algebra is not needed. The authors suggest in the Preface that readers will improve their "understanding of statistical reasoning ..." and will learn "the language, general tools and the spirit of statistical analysis." In keeping with this approach, very little emphasis is placed on proving results; rather, methods are...