Following on from last month's review which had a ‘research’ theme, this book takes it a step further and is concerned with interpreting research using regression methods. For those of you not overly familiar with research paradigms, this is essentially the interpreting of research findings using a variety of statistical methods.
Any employee of an ambulance service will undoubtedly have been exposed to a virtual bombardment of statistics from their employer, ranging from call volumes and response times to fleet stats and financial considerations. So they could regard themselves as somewhat of an expert in interpreting data. But in actual fact interpreting data can be complex, even more so when adopting more advanced statistical methods.
The text is primarily focused on explaining the application of statistical models to a variety of medical investigative studies and clinical trials. Not so much a description of the various regression methods themselves, rather their application to different models of research. For those not involved in medical research or have little experience in this field, the content may prove challenging.
The target readership is quite small with this one, given its very specific focus. While not holding a broad appeal, that should not be interpreted as a criticism of the content. It is well written with a coherent structure throughout. A number of worked examples of interpreting research data are included and are well presented. Regression techniques are considered in context and all told, this book addresses the subject area well.
‘The target readership is quite small with this one, given its very specific focus’
If fractional polynomials and time-varying covariates are your ‘thing’, then this book is well-suited to you. If you are new to research or are looking for a more generic overview of research methods, other texts may be more suitable.