Scientific Inference: Learning from Data

Providing the knowledge and practical experience to begin analysing scientific data, this book is ideal for physical sciences students wishing to improve their data handling skills. The book focuses on explaining and developing the practice and understanding of basic statistical analysis, concentrating on a few core ideas, such as the visual display of information, modelling using the likelihood function, and simulating random data. Key concepts are developed through a combination of graphical explanations, worked examples, example computer code and case studies using real data. Students will develop an understanding of the ideas behind statistical methods and gain experience in applying them in practice.

Simon Vaughan is a Reader in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, where he has developed and runs a highly regarded course for final year physics students on the subject of statistics and data analysis.