Course Description
This course reviews statistical methods used in paleontology and offers practical training in the statistical analysis (SAS and SAS/IML) as well as in reporting quantitative data and statistical results (graphs, tabulations, written descriptions). Apart from the classic parametric methods, the course also will cover the computer-intensive statistical strategies such as bootstrapping and Monte Carlo methods. The focus of this course are paleontological applications of the statistical analysis and some topics deal exclusively with problems unique to paleontological data (see syllabus). However, most of the materials covered in the course will be useful to all graduate students in geological sciences who are interested in using quantitative data in their research. The topic of morphometrics (an important theme of quantitative paleobiology) is covered elsewhere (Morphometrics) and therefore will not be discussed during this course.

Format
The course includes 2 lecture, and 1 lab meeting (total of 3 credit hours).

Topics/Keywords
Statistical analysis, statistical tests, multivariate methods, computer-intensive strategies, diversity/disparity metrics, phylogenetic methods, quantitative stratigraphy, SAS, SAS/IML

About This Site
This educational site has been created primarily for the internal use of the Virginia Tech graduate students. Other guests are welcome, can access any materials posted here, and, unless otherwise indicated, use them for non-profit, educational activities. Acknowledgments, when appropriate, would be appreciated.
 

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	Department of Geosciences Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University 4044 Derring Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061-0420	This page created by Michal Kowalewski