Includes bibliographical references (p. [371]-378) and index.

The whys and wherefores of statistics -- Descriptive statistics -- Probability and probability distributions -- Sampling and sampling distributions -- Experimental design and clinical trials -- An introduction to hypothesis testing -- Hypothesis tests 1 the t-test : comparing one or two means -- Hypothesis tests 2 the F-test : comparing two variances or more than two means -- Hypothesis tests 3 the chi-squared test : comparing proportions -- Linear correlation and regression -- Further regression analyses -- Non-parametric statistical methods -- Further aspects of design and analysis -- Additional techniques -- Some specialized issues and procedures -- Evidence-based veterinary medicine -- Reporting guidelines -- Critical appraisal of reported studies.