Stat Labs: Mathematical Statistics Through Applications

This book uses a model we have developed for teaching mathematical statistics through in depth case studies. Traditional statistics texts have many small numer ical examples in each chapter to illustrate a topic in statistical theory. Here, we instead make a case study the centerpiece of each chapter. The case studies, which we call labs, raise interesting scienti?c questions, and ?guring out how to answer a question is the starting point for developing statistical theory. The labs are substan tial exercises; they have nontrivial solutions that leave room for different analyses of the data. In addition to providing the framework and motivation for studying topics in mathematical statistics, the labs help students develop statistical thinking. We feel that this approach integrates theoretical and applied statistics in a way not commonly encountered in an undergraduate text. The Student The book is intended for a course in mathematical statistics for juniors and seniors. We assume that students have had one year of calculus, including Taylor series, and a course in probability. We do not assume students have experience with statistical software so we incorporate lessons into our course on how to use the software.

From the reviews:

TECHNOMETRICS

"This is not your typical mathematical statistics book. ...It turns the traditional teaching of mathematical statistics on its head by making a case study the centerpiece of each chapter. ...This novel approach to bringing data analysis into the theoretical course is ideal for motivating and illustrating standard statistical techniques, for helping students understand mathematical statistics, and for showing how statistics can be useful in a wide variety of situations."

ZENTRALBLATT MATH

"This is an excellent pioneering book intended and suitable as the main text, or as a supplement to a more theoretical text, for a semester course in amthematical situations."

MSOR CONNECTIONS

"This is a very good book of its kind, and represents a great deal of useful modern classroom experience."

"This book demonstrates that it is possible to cover the essential topics in one semester and make the course effective, as well. ... this book is intended for a course in mathematical statistics for third year and fourth year undergraduates ... . The book can be used as the main text for a course ... . I strongly feel that this book ... should be followed in the introductory course in mathematical statistics for the undergraduates." (Somesh Das Gupta, Sankhya, Vol. 64 (1), 2002)

"The book by Nolan and Speed turns the traditional teaching of mathematical statistics on its head to several case studies. This novel approach shows how statistics can be useful in a wide variety of contexts. ... This is a fun book with less theory. ... I enjoyed reading and learning ... . I recommend ... highly for statisticians and computer scientists who are interested in mastering bioinformatics and related concepts." (Ramalingam Shanmugam, Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation, Vol. 75 (1), 2005)

"This book is different. Each chapter presents a scientific problem ... . ‘Stat Labs’ is an attempt to introduce to statistical thinking as well as to teach the theory. In the hands of a good instructor this should excellently work. Nolan and Speed intend the book for a course in mathematical statistics for juniors and seniors and have themselves used the material in this way. I would also recommend it ... for beginning graduate students." (Wolfgang J. Bühler, Metrika, June, 2005)

"Nolan and Speed describe their approach to teaching mathematical statistics through in-depth case studies. ... the strengths of the book are its clear statements of scientific problems and their associated background information ... . I would recommend it as a practically orientated supplementary course text ... . I believe it will be of immense use to teachers and students alike. ... Various supplementary material, including the data sets themselves, can be obtained from http://www.stat.berkeley.edu/users/statlabs/." (Paul Northrop, Journal of Applied Statistics, Vol. 28 (6), 2001)

"The authors of this text believe that more advanced students in a course in mathematical statistics ... will benefit from an applications-oriented course. This is an original and sophisticated book that could stimulate a transformation in the method by which mathematical statistics is taught. ... the book is ... most suitable as a supplemental text to support the exploration of an extensive set of data bases." (Journal of Mathematical Psychology, May, 2001)