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Informationen zum Autor Nigel Walford has taught Geographical Information Systems courses at Kingston University for 12 years and previously worked in the Data Archive at Essex University. He graduated from the University of Sussex and did his postgraduate work at the University of London. His thematic research interests relate mainly to rural issues and include agriculture, land use planning and population. Recent book publications include Geographical Data Analysis and Reshaping the Countryside: Perceptions and Processes of Rural Change as well as several journal articles in Health and Place, Geography, Planning Practice and Research, Applied Geography and International Journal of Population Geography . Klappentext Practical Statistics for Geographers and Earth Scientists provides an introductory guide to the principles and application of statistical analysis in context. This book helps students to gain the level of competence in statistical procedures necessary for independent investigations, field-work and other projects. The aim is to explain statistical techniques using data relating to relevant geographical, geospatial, earth and environmental science examples, employing graphics as well as mathematical notation for maximum clarity. Advice is given on asking the appropriate preliminary research questions to ensure that the correct data is collected for the chosen statistical analysis method. The book offers a practical guide to making the transition from understanding principles of spatial and non-spatial statistical techniques to planning a series analyses and generating results using statistical and spreadsheet computer software. Learning outcomes included in each chapter International focus Explains the underlying mathematical basis of spatial and non-spatial statistics Provides an geographical, geospatial, earth and environmental science context for the use of statistical methods Written in an accessible, user-friendly style Datasets available on accompanying website at www.wiley.com/go/Walford Zusammenfassung Practical Statistics for Geographers and Earth Scientists is a text that all students can work through, regardless of their geography or earth science stream degree pathway and their existing mathematical knowledge. The text demystifies the mathematical component of statistics and presents these techniques in an easy-to-understand fashion. Case studies that illustrate the workings of each technique through photographs and diagrams will help students visualize some of the processes involved. Also covered in the book is a clear explanation of how statistical software packages work. Inhaltsverzeichnis Preface xi Acknowledgements xiii Glossary xv Section 1 First principles 1 1 What's in a number? 3 Learning outcomes 1.1 Introduction to quantitative analysis 4 1.2 Nature of numerical data 9 1.3 Simplifying mathematical notation 14 1.4 Introduction to case studies and structure of the book 19 2 Geographical data: quantity and content 21 Learning outcomes 2.1 Geographical data 21 2.2 Populations and samples 22 2.3 Specifying attributes and variables 43 3 Geographical data: collection and acquisition 57 Learning outcomes 3.1 Originating data 58 3.2 Collection methods 59 3.3 Locating phenomena in geographical space 87 4 Statistical measures (or quantities) 93 Learning outcomes 4.1 Descriptive statistics 93 4.2 Spatial descriptive statistics 96 4.3 Central tendency 100 4.4 Dispersion 118 4.5 Measures of skewness and kurtosis for nonspatial data 124 4.6 Closing comments 129 5 Frequency distributions, probability and hypotheses 131 Learning outcomes 5.1 Frequency distributions 132
