Biometry: The Principles and Practices of Statistics in Biological Research [Hardcover]

Robert R. Sokal (Author), F. James Rohlf (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0716724111 | ISBN-13: 978-0716724117 | Publication Date: September 15, 1994 | Edition: 3rd

Sokal and Rohlf's classic text deals with statistics from numerous areas of biological research, focusing on practical applications and incorporates computer calculations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ROBERT SOKAL, State University of New York, Stony Brook, USA. JAMES ROHLF, State University of New York, Stony Brook, USA. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 880 pages
• Publisher: W. H. Freeman; 3rd edition (September 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0716724111
• ISBN-13: 978-0716724117
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #129,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #60 in Books > Medical Books > Basic Sciences > Biostatistics
  • #84 in Books > Medical Books > Basic Sciences > Biotechnology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent basic text of statistical methods, May 22, 2000

By 

Alan R. Holyoak - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biometry: The Principles and Practices of Statistics in Biological Research (Hardcover)

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

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Standard Introductory Textbook on Biostatistics, May 6, 2007

By 

John Kwok (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Biometry: The Principles and Practices of Statistics in Biological Research (Hardcover)

"Biometry" should be regarded - if it isn't already - as the standard practical guide to both parametric and nonparametric univariate biostatistics. Although it is aimed primarily for researchers and students in the biological sciences and medicine, there are ample practical examples which should be useful to those in psychology, sociology and other fields where knowledge of statistics and statistical methods is quite essential. I own a copy of the second edition, which I've had for more than two decades, regarding it as my "go-to" book if I have questions about various univariate statistical techniques. As another reviewer has noted, this book is especially strong in discussing nonparametric statistics. I might add too that it is quite good in discussing tests of significance related to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and simple linear regression. Much to their credit, the authors have written a superb text in clear, often concise, English that could be used as a self-teaching introductory guide for a practical understanding of univariate biostatistics. However, I will note that those interested in learning the theoretical foundations of the parametric and nonparametric univariate biostatistics covered in "Biometry" should consult another book which does emphasis these topics: Zarr's "Biostatistical Analysis", which I agree is a superb introductory text on theoretical biostatistics.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good reference, February 9, 2008

By 

Michael R. Chernick "statman31147" (Holland PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Biometry: The Principles and Practices of Statistics in Biological Research (Hardcover)

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.

This book is commonly used in the medical device/ pharmaceutical clinical trials industry. A colleague of mine who I worked with in medical devices used this text as one of his primary statistical reference books. He is not a statistician but rather a regulatory affairs specialist.