Lecture 1: An introduction to analysis of environmental data

Analysis of Environmental Data: Lecture 1: An Introduction

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Two important definitions:
 * Population = Everyone
 * Sample = A group of people within the population to test.

What are statistics used for?
 * You use statistics to interrogate questions.
 * We are interested in how changes occur and why.
 * Everything varies.

A good statistical question and answer will consist of: **You need to be very specific about what you are going to investigate.**
 * A good hypothesis
 * Some evidence base
 * Possible interpretations (H0 and H1).
 * Testing (data collection)
 * A measure of certainty

Other information about research:
 * H1 is that hypothesis that we are going to test


 * H2 is an alternative hypothesis that we are trying to say that it is not.
 * After you have a hypothesis you can gather data, through an appropriate test.
 * However, first you have to decide what type of data you are interested in. (Image on the right).


 * You then choose a statistical test. You have to follow these steps depending on the hypothesis for the work to be valid. (Image on the right).

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 * You can then write up the results.
 * In the write up you want to be very precise, and tell people what you have done.

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