The Use of Statistical Analyses in Papers and Graduate Programs in the Environmental Sciences area in Brazil

Abstract

Environmental issues emerge in complex dimensions, which require an interdisciplinary framework in Environmental Sciences. Due to the diversity in statistic methods, the graduate programs need to update to form the environmental scientists. We test the hypothesis that QUALIS A1 Journals in the Environmental Science area use more complex statistical analyses. We describe the tests offered by graduate programs with PhD degree in the Environmental Sciences. 33.5% of 1560 papers evaluated, didn’t present statistical analysis. A1 Journals used more T-test, Chi-Square and Mann-Whitney than B1 Journals. There was no difference in the use of univariate, multivariate and Bayesian analyses. In Brazil there are 37 undergraduate programs in Environmental Sciences, of which 10 don’t offer statistics course. Of 38 courses offered, 73.7% provide only univariate statistics and 34.2% provide multivariate statistics. We conclude that the quality in papers doesn’t depend on the complexity of used statistical analyses, but on their theoretical framework.

Keywords

• Capes
• Qualis
• Interdisciplinarity