Statistics is the science of collecting, organizing, summarizing, analyzing, and interpreting information. But before we begin exploring different types of statistical methods, a brief review of descriptive statistics is needed. The next step is inferential statistics, which allows us to use our sample statistics and extend the results to the population, while measuring the reliability of the result. We then use descriptive statistics to organize and summarize our sample data. In order to answer these questions, a good random sample must be collected from the population of interests. These are typical questions that require statistical analysis for the answers.
Did fertilizer A, B, or C have an effect on the corn yield?.What proportion of white tail deer in New Hampshire have weights below the limit considered healthy?.Has there been an increase in the number of invasive species found in the Great Lakes?.Has there been a significant change in the mean sawtimber volume in the red pine stands?.As scientists, researchers, and managers working in the natural resources sector, we all rely on statistical analysis to help us answer the questions that arise in the populations we manage. Statistics has become the universal language of the sciences, and data analysis can lead to powerful results.
