Statistical Modeling for Biomedical Researchers : A Simple Introduction to the Analysis of Complex Data

William D. Dupont

Cambridge University Press   Buy Price: $110.00 Price Used: $101.20
Release Date: 28 November, 2002 Hardcover	Review " I believe the book is user friendly...I also like the book's approach of using problem-based learning, accompanied by explanatory text...One of the most helpful features of this text is the collection of excellent examples included in each chapter...In conclusion I highly recommend [this book]." TSHS Book Description This text enables biomedical researchers to use a number of advanced statistical methods that have proven valuable in medical research, and uses a statistical software package (Stata® ) to avoid mathematics beyond the high school level. Intended for people who have had an introductory course in biostatistics, the volume emphasizes the assumptions underlying each method, using exploratory techniques to determine the most appropriate method. It presents results in a way that will be readily understood by clinical colleagues. Numerous real examples from medical literature and graphical methods are used to illustrate these techniques. Book Info Vanderbilt Univ. School of Medicine, Nashville, TN. Text provides a number of advanced statistical methods in research. Emphasizes the assumptions underlying each method, using exploratory techniques to determine the most appropriate method, and presents results in a way that will be readily understood. Outline format with illustrations. Hardcover, softcover available. About the Author Educated at McGill University, and the Johns Hopkins University, Bill Dupont is presently Professor and Director of the Division of Biostatistics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He is best known for his work on the epidemiology of breast cancer, but has also published papers on power calculations, the estimation of animal abundance, the foundations of statistical inference, and other topics. Rating 3.5 Accessible Intermediate Text Dupont's "Statistical Modeling for Biomedical Researchers" is an accessible, straightforward, easy-to-read text for students and/or researchers w/ some elementary background in biostatistics. As previous reviewers have indicated, this is largely a problem-based text, so for those of you who seek a detailed theoretical explanation of the tools presented therein, you may want to look elsewhere. A major advantage, however, is Dupont's presentation of how to run the respective analyses using the statistical software package, Stata, although it should be noted that the syntax presented is for version 7 of Stata -- not version 8. Parenthetically, all of the code -- w/ the exception of the graphing commands -- are essentially the same between versions. In short, this text is a good introduction to some of the techniques typically not discussed in an elementary biostatistics course, although the book is best characterized as an invaluable adjunct to more theoretical, comprehensive biostatistics textbooks. Very useful during statistics class I used this book as the text for a biostatistics class that used STATA as the statistitical package. I found the organization, problems, and the STATA output the book provides, all very helpful. In addition, as I moved systematically through the book, the tips regarding using the STATA features were key to my learning many of the practical aspects of the STATA program. Useful in conjuction with the manuals As a non-statistician with some stat background, I find Dupont book a delightful book. It is packed with interesting and useful information. It starts at t-test and ends with GEE models, covering Cox model with time covariates along the way. But as the author noted, the book assumes some statistical knowledge and access to STATA maual. One minor note: While the book introduction asserts that it only assumes "high school mathematics" knowldege, the high school the author attended must be very different than the one I went to.
Price: $110.00 Price Used: $101.20   Buy