Probability distribution

When analysing data we have a choice between methods that make distributional assumption, called parametric methods, and those which make no assumptions about distributions, called distribution-free or non-parametric methods. The importance of probability distributions in statistical analysis reflects the dominance of parametric methods..



If two statistics A and B are both unbiased estimators of a parameter, then the better estimate will come from the statistic with the smaller standard deviation, so that over a large number of samples this statistic will be closer to the parameter.

Oxford Univ. Statistics for Health Researchers





...........The "gravest threat" to bats is seen in New York where up to 11,000 were found dead last winter and many more are showing signs illness this winter. Researchers scrambling to find the cause of mysterious condition dubbed "white nose syndrome."

................Millions of French honeybees suffering from "mad bee disease" and are unable to find their way back to their hives, causing a dramatic drop in honey production. Honey bees will die within hours if they cannot find their way home.