INTERPRETATION AND USES OF MEDICAL STATISTICS

It has long been the contention of this reviewer that the traditional required biostatistics course in medical schools, schools of public health, or like institutions, is suitable only for statisticians and those concerned with research. In general, for other students reinforcement of arithmetic ability results in little lasting understanding of statistical concepts. This slim volume, expressing what is really needed, can form the basis of an appropriate alternative for these others. The authors say, "It is designed to aid graduates and undergraduates to understand the scope, logic and techniques of approach of statistical method as applied to medicine and allied subjects." They have indeed accomplished their purpose. One cannot learn from this text how to compute a variance or a correlation coefficient, nor is one shown how to set up a chi-square computation or an analysis of variance. However, without the travail that turns off most students, one can learn what statistics is all about and in considerably less time than the usual text. Important definitions are woven into the narrative unobtrusively but emphatically for understanding. Regular summaries review major points. Personal predilections may suggest greater emphasis on some points or disagreement with the manner of expressing specific ideas, but the essence is there for elaboration by an instructor. An adequate index is provided, but a serious deficiency is the complete absence of any references. Readers should be guided to more extended discussions of particular points. Nevertheless, this exposition, directed primarily at comprehension, fills a major gap in statistical literature. CARL L. ERHARDT