Book Review

by Paul Ganderton

Pentecost A. 1999. Analysing Environmental Data. Longman. Pp ix + 214. ISBN 0 582 31058 X. £14.99.

The need for data analysis is obvious; finding the right mathematical technique and using it properly is not. Today, with computer programs carrying out the work it might seem that this problem has been solved but one might venture that it is almost the reverse - with ease of use comes a lack of desire to delve further. This text provides an excellent antidote - a simple text with worked examples requiring only a basic statistical education. The opening chapter deals with the design of experiments. The next two chapters deal with descriptive statistics and data presentation - means, tables and graphs etc. Subsequent chapters examine a portion of the statistical repertoire - the normal distribution, frequency distributions, z and t tests, confidence, variance, correlation and regression. This is all standard statistical fare with the advantage of straightforward worked examples. The final four chapters are a departure in that they deal with modelling, toxicity, multivariate analysis, questionnaires and design. This is a very useful text. It gives sufficient background to allow the test's advantages to be understood. The examples are useful additions to the chapter and the inclusion of design methods (albeit briefly) is to be welcomed.