Biostatistics: A Bayesian Introduction

Biostatistics: A Bayesian Introduction

An essential introductory text linking traditional biostatisticswith bayesian methodsIn recent years, Bayesian methods have seen an explosion ofinterest, with applications in fields including biochemistry,ecology, medicine, oncology, pharmacology, and public health. As aninterpretive system integrating data with observation, the Bayesianapproach provides a nuanced yet mathematically rigorous means ofconceptualizing biomedical statistics--from diagnostic tests to DNAevidence.Biostatistics: A Bayesian Introduction offers a pioneering approachby presenting the foundations of biostatistics through the Bayesianlens. Using easily understood, classic Dutch Book thoughtexperiments to derive subjective probability from a simpleprinciple of rationality, the book connects statistical sciencewith scientific reasoning. The author shows how to compute,interpret, and report Bayesian statistical analyses in practice,and illustrates how to reinterpret traditional statisticalreporting--such as confidence intervals, margins of error, andone-sided p-values--in Bayesian terms. Topics coveredinclude:* Probability and subjective probability* Distributions and descriptive statistics* Continuous probability distributions* Comparing rates and means* Linear models and statistical adjustment* Logistic regression and adjusted odds ratios* Survival analysis* Hierarchical models and meta-analysis* Decision theory and sample size determinationThe book includes extensive problem sets and references in eachchapter, as well as complete instructions on computer analysis withthe versatile SAS and WinBUGS software packages as well as theExcel spreadsheet program. For professionals and students,Biostatistics: A Bayesian Introduction offers an unique, real-worldentry point into a remarkable alternative method of interpretingstatistical data.