Statistical analysis of human growth and development (Q2859324)

This monograph presents on a total of 356 pages a comprehensive introduction into the statistical analysis of human growth and development. The book is designed for clinical researchers, epidemiologists, social scientists and postgraduate students with basic statistical background knowledge. Analyses of real and simulated data are illustrated using the statistical software Stata\(\circledR\).NEWLINENEWLINE In chapter 1 the author motivates and reviews the main aspects of human growth processes and human developments in different phases of life (fetal, infancy, childhood, adulthood) and presents basic statistical considerations. The key concepts of causality and study designs are introduced in chapter 2. Chapter 3 is devoted to basic statistical concepts and tools (normal distributions, statistical inference and significance, standardized scores and statistical programming). In chapter 4 existing tools for transformations of raw data into analysable variables and vice versa are presented. The following three chapters deal with regression analysis for various types of data (chapter 5 for quantitative outcomes, chapter 6 for binary outcomes and chapter 7 for censored outcomes). Analysis of repeated measurements and clustered data is introduced in chapter 8.NEWLINENEWLINE Chapter 9 describes the development of new growth references by capturing nonlinear relationships or quantile regression. The quantification of development based on binary items as well as the development of references and the use of factor analysis are provided in chapter 10. Chapter 11 deals with the longitudinal measurements of growth and development. Finally, the following four chapters discuss main statistical concepts like validity and reliability in chapter 12, missing values and imputation in chapter 13, multiple comparisons in chapter 14, and regression analysis strategies in chapter 15. The volume ends with an appendix providing Stata\(\circledR\) codes for selected procedures.NEWLINENEWLINE In summary, the book under review is recommended to readers in clinical research as well as for postgraduate students with basic statistical background knowledge.