Abstract
The improper use of statistics in research has become a plague to science; several publications show that more than 50% of papers have at least one statistical error. These may be attributed to a combination of lack of knowledge, misapplication of statistics, or misconduct. The epidemic has caused many journals to implement sections devoted to teaching basic statistical principles to educate both readers and authors. This thesis describes proper statistical techniques through three case studies. It also seeks to elucidate the effects of performance assumptions of equipment through statistical analysis.