There are many books written about statistics some brief some detailed some humorous some
colorful and some quite dry. Each of these texts is designed for a specific audience. Too
often texts about statistics have been rather theoretical and intimidating for those not
practicing statistical analysis on a routine basis. Thus many engineers and scientists who
need to use statistics much more frequently than calculus or differential equations lack
sufficient knowledge of the use of statistics. The audience that is addressed in this text is
the university-level biomedical engineering student who needs a bare-bones coverage of the most
basic statistical analysis frequently used in biomedical engineering practice. The text
introduces students to the essential vocabulary and basic concepts of probability and
statistics that are required to perform the numerical summary and statistical analysis used in
the biomedical field. This text is considered a starting point for important issues to consider
when designing experiments summarizing data assuming a probability model for the data
testing hypotheses and drawing conclusions from sampled data. A student who has completed this
text should have sufficient vocabulary to read more advanced texts on statistics and further
their knowledge about additional numerical analyses that are used in the biomedical engineering
field but are beyond the scope of this text. This book is designed to supplement an
undergraduate-level course in applied statistics specifically in biomedical engineering.
Practicing engineers who have not had formal instruction in statistics may also use this text
as a simple brief introduction to statistics used in biomedical engineering. The emphasis is
on the application of statistics the assumptions made in applying the statistical tests the
limitations of these elementary statistical methods and the errors often committed in using
statistical analysis. A number of examples from biomedical engineering research and industry
practice are provided to assist the reader in understanding concepts and application. It is
beneficial for the reader to have some background in the life sciences and physiology and to be
familiar with basic biomedical instrumentation used in the clinical environment. Contents:
Introduction Collecting Data and Experimental Design Data Summary and Descriptive
Statistics Assuming a Probability Model from the Sample Data Statistical Inference Linear
Regression and Correlation Analysis Power Analysis and Sample Size Just the Beginning
Bibliography
