ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the reader to statistical analyses routinely used by researchers and to aspects of experimental design that should be considered prior to collecting laboratory and field data. Statistics is a science of making decisions with incomplete data. It is a branch of mathematics dealing with the collection, analysis, and interpretation of population subsamples. The collection, analysis, and interpretation of data are conducted according to certain rules and statistical designs. To perform experiments properly and analyze results successfully, one must understand the different types of data and the usage and value of such data. In toxicological research, optimal design and interpretation of experiments require that the researcher understand the system under study and the data generated. The name “analysis of variance” is appropriate for testing means in that it determines whether treatments produce a significant amount of variation in a population.
