Statistical Methods for Engineers [Hardcover]

G. Geoffrey Vining (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0534237061 | ISBN-13: 978-0534237066 | Publication Date: July 22, 1997 | Edition: 1

Writing from years of experience. Geoff Vining provides real engineering data that results in a truly modern approach. A running engineering case study offers conceptual continuity throughout the book. An excellent introduction discusses the engineering method and its intimate link to statistical decision making.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Geoffrey Vining received his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech., Blacksburg. He is a Professor and Department Head in the Statistics Department at Virginia Tech. He also served on the faculty of the Statistics Department at the University of Florida, Gainesville, as a practicing engineer with the Faber-Castell Corporation and as an industrial consultant.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: Duxbury Press; 1 edition (July 22, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534237061
• ISBN-13: 978-0534237066
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #481,697 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Horrible, August 13, 2008

By 

Math Geek - See all my reviews

This review is from: Statistical Methods for Engineers (Hardcover)

I must reiterate everything in Jamie Davey's review, and add a few of my own comments. I've had to teach from this book four times now, and I grow more irate with it every time. There is absolutely no diversity in the types of homework exercises it has. Within every section, every single problem takes the exact same form, only different words and numbers describing the situation. I've resorted to referring my class to other textbooks and taking a large number of examples and homework problems from this book's competitors. To add insult to injury, the solutions manual (both the instructor's CD and the solution in the back of the text) are replete with errors, which has caused a countless number of headaches. The only good thing I can think about this book is it is relatively thin, reducing the number of trees sacrificed to make this product.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed on many levels, March 22, 2000

By 

Jamie Davey (CANADA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Statistical Methods for Engineers (Hardcover)

The book clearly fails to converse any information to the reader. Further, it also fails to relate topics from one chapter to another. I would not recommend this text to anyone who has basic, or even general, understanding of statistical methods. Please allow me to explain.

I am a student in engineering at the University of Ottawa. The class has been using the text for this semester and several previous semesters. To be quite blunt, the class averages have been well below satisfactory. I think the general lesson students have learned from this course is how and when a "bell" curve is implemented during course grading.

More Importantly, the text clearly fails to relate one idea to another. For example, in chapter two, the text introduces different data displays. The author fails to identify how these different displays are related, what is unique about each specific data display, and when to use a specific display. More over, in chapter three, Modeling Random Behavior, the author begins with an introduction to probability. He then introduces random variables but fails to clearly define and explain the different types of random variables. Next, the normal distribution is discussed. The author again fails to make the relationship between the normal distribution and random variables. Overall, the text poorly relates topics to one and other.

Additionally, problem examples are too short and lack clarity. Throughout the text, many practical examples are compiled into case studies. The problem is clearly identified, however, the solution is short, poorly justified, and not well explained. In general, it becomes very frustrating for a student attempting practice questions at the end of each section. Obviously, if the author successfully communicated the idea to the reader, the question would be logical and easy. The terminology "for engineers" used in the title of the text implies, in my opinion, that the ideas in the text are logically explained and clearly defined. Unfortunately, short examples that lack clarity prevent the reader from understanding the material logically.

In conclusion, if you must purchase this text, I would recommend a used copy. It's not worth the paper its printed on. The text fails to relate ideas together and does not have any detailed examples. Clearly, reading this book is about as enlightening as watching toilette flush.

Your in continuing disappointment,

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing text selection, March 2, 2011

By 

EC Dayton - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Statistical Methods for Engineers (Hardcover)

You will not learn what you need to know from this text. It is terribly written and does not give clear definitions or examples. Get something else, especially if you have to use this for a class. You will be lost without an exceptional instructor.