Practical Nonparametric Statistics

Standard statistics make assumptions about how the data are distributed, then give results based on the assumed distribution. Two big problems are that the distribution buried in the analysis may not be the right one, and that the assumption might not even be visible in the analysis. "Nonparametric statistics" (NPS) make no assumptions about the distribution. They work no matter how the data are distributed. Even better, they sometimes work to determine whether the standard techniques have any hope of giving answers. For the practitioner, this book is the broadest catalog I know of how-to for NPS: when each analysis applies and how to apply it. Even more, it gives insight into how some of the tests work. That gives the reader a better chance to understand each technique's strengths, weaknesses, and applicability. For the student, including self-taught, it's a clear and well-organized textbook. The exercises are varied and generally meaningful, and half have answers (though little discussion of how the answers were derived). I wish the book gave more background, including how some of the distributions are derived. Most times, seeing more of the derivation gives me more confidence in using an analysis. Face it, almost every real-life situation needs to be bashed a bit to fit the format expected by a test. Knowing more of the background gives me more assurance that my machinations don't break any important assumptions. Still, it's the author's choice to emphasize practice over theory and I have to respect that. More seriously, I would like to see the bootstrapping section enlarged. Many modern applications, particularly in biology, deal with data so complex that they define analysis or even real understanding. Bootstrapping is just one of many randomization and resampling techniques used for such data. More discussion on the design and analysis of resampling techniques would have been very useful. The book meets its goals, though, and does so admirably. I'm not a stat specialist, but this is the book I'll recommend for heavy users who want a little more than rote recitation of analytic techniques.

Good book, but I received it late.

I got the best deal from the book I bought and the service delivery was well executed. I got the book on the day they told me that I will receive the package. The book is very good condition and I love it. Thanks for the nice job!!!

Never really got past chapter 1.

A very good book. It is written in an accessible way, yet very informative and contain a plenty of examples.

This book even at first flip through is dull. After more use, you find there are not sufficient examples to explain very word-y explanations of stats concepts. There is no solution manual to the practice problems in the book, nor can they be found online, so you have no idea whether or not you are understanding the concepts correctly. The practice problems will often ask questions that haven't been given their own example in the chapter, making it difficult for people who learn by looking at examples. Some steps are skipped in examples which also can lead to confusion. I had to purchase this text for class, but would not recommend otherwise.

The textbook was in very good condition...it almost didn't look used.

I ended up only browsing through this book and ended up needing to return it and the seller was absolutely horrible about returns. I think in the end I spent $15 returning it to them, and I never saw a cent of my money from the return.

dieses Buch ist einfach ganz gut geschrieben. Man kann es gut verstehen, obwohl Statistiks ganz bedrohlich sind und machen die meistens Leute immer Angst...

Excelente libro

The very best introduction to the subject. Excellent material for self study or beginners.

a classic book. The book is printed in India on paper that won't last for years, but is adequate for my purposes and worth the price