Are Environmental Scientists using Statistics Correctly? A Review of Common Mistakes

The importance of statistics in environmental toxicology is obvious because much of what is learned about the environment is based on numerical data. Therefore, the appropriate use of data analysis and statistical methods is vital in environmental research. However, a growing body of literature points to persistent statistical errors, flaws, and deficiencies in published scientific work. In this paper we discuss frequently occurring errors noted in scientific literature with the hope of avoiding or at least reducing these mistakes in the future.