Statistical Inference in Science

Unfortunately, for practical purposes such as an add-on to a spatial statistics class, the book is not very suitable. Here are some of its major drawbacks: First, the overall visual appearance is not very appealing. In particular, the printing of many of the graphics is extremely poor; for example, labels are unreadable, lines partially disappear, circles are almost invisible, legends are indistinguishable, and so on. Worst cases can be found on pages 97, 101–102, 254, 265, 310, and 361, to mention only a few. It could be that several graphics have been scanned in at a low resolution or simply have been copied from another publication. How else to explain the vertical line between Figure 2.12(a) and (b) on page 104 [not to mention that Figure 2.12(b) has been properly labeled but certainly shows the same data as Figure 2.12(a) and not a residual plot]. Important references are missing or outdated. For example, the authors speak of software for spatial statistical analyses on page ix in the Preface and on page 39; for example, VARIOW IN and the “SC spatial statistics module” are listed. However, the references one would expect do not show up anywhere in the book—that is, Pannatier (1996) for VARIOWIN and Kaluzny, Vega, Cardoso, and Shelly (1998) for SCSpatialStats. Outdated  rst editions—for example, Cressie (1991) and Venables and Ripley (1994)—are listed in the references although major updates did exist prior to the publication of this book—that is, Cressie (1993) and Venables and Ripley (1997). The most exciting part of the book seems to be the datasets. In the preface (p. viii), the authors state, “The data sets analyzed in this book comprise readily available ones (35), some of our own (3), and some unpublished ones from colleagues (4). ” The list of datasets analyzed is given on page xv. Having access to 42 spatial datasets would be like paradise—but where is the data in the book or where can it be located on the Web? The authors thank “Ms. Michele Grif th for helping us retrieve a number of data sets from Internet sources” (p. x), but the corresponding URL’s are not given. In the list of datasets on page xv, the URL or a text reference clearly should have been given to make this information useful. An even better option would have been to use freely available datasets owned by the authors or their colleagues and to provide them on a  oppy disk or CD accompanying the book or to publish them through the Web. Examples of where this approach has been taken are the books by Bailey and Gatrell (1995), in which 28 datasets discussed are available on an accompanying  oppy disk, or Venables and Ripley (1997), in which data and software, including about 20 spatial datasets, are available via the Web (http://www.stats.ox.ac.uk/pub/MASS2). Finally, obtaining new SAS, SPSS, and ArcView/Avenue program code for spatial statistical data analysis could de nitely be worth purchasing this book. But having about 80 pages of printed computer code is a waste of paper. One could do much better via  oppy, CD, or the Web. Examples in which spatial statistical software is available via a  oppy accompanying a book are those of Pannatier (1996) and Bailey and Gatrell (1995). Examples in which spatial statistical software is freely available via the Web are the book by Venables and Ripley (1997) and the SPLANCS software from Rowlingson and Diggle (1993) (http://www.maths.lancs.ac.uk/Software/Splancs/). However, I have to acknowledge that the authors have been very supportive in sending computer code and datasets via email. Nevertheless, this is far from what is the standard elsewhere. For those readers who do not worry too much about these disadvantages, the selection of spatial datasets and their analysis is certainly worth a closer look. But for readers who want a more accurate book that also provides immediate access to software and spatial datasets, Bailey and Gatrell (1995), Venables and Ripley (1997) (now even a third edition from 1999 is available), or Pannatier (1996) might be a better choice. Addressing the listed problems in a second revised edition of this book would considerably raise its overall value. If the authors decide to make additional material available on the Web prior to a second edition, the best guesses where such material may end up are at the Oxford University Press (i.e., the publisher’s) Web site at http://www.oup-usa.org/isbn/0195109589.html or at Daniel Grif th’s personal Web site at http://www.maxwell. syr.edu/geo/ GR IFFITH.htm.