This book presents a practical introduction to statistical consulting through 36 carefully designed hypothetical case studies drawn from realistic problems that resemble those commonly encountered in statistical consulting and applied research using data. Every case study is self-contained and focuses on the essential ideas needed to understand and apply the relevant methods. Discussions are intentionally concise and centered on key concepts, modelling choices, and interpretation of results. A standardized workflow is used across different cases so that readers can quickly orient themselves when approaching a new problem. The case studies collectively cover a broad range of statistical methods commonly used in practice.

The book can serve both as a teaching resource and as a practical reference. Students can use it as an exercise-oriented companion for developing applied statistical skills through many case studies, while researchers and practitioners from diverse fields may consult it to find a case study resembling their own analytical situation and adapt the accompanying codes and workflow to their own work.

Key Features:

1. Hypothetical yet realistic case studies allow comprehensive coverage of topics and practical issues.
2. Familiar everyday cases remove unnecessary mental load while focusing on essential ideas and concepts.
3. The example-to-method approach leads to growth of abilities while deepening understanding of methods.
4. A standardized workflow makes complex problems approachable and abstract problem-solving skills learnable.
5. Complete R codes make learnt methods immediately applicable and adaptable to readers' own work.

Lei Hua is a professor in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at the Northern Illinois University. His research focuses on multivariate non-Gaussian, dependence modelling, and quantitative risk management. He earned a Ph.D. degree in Statistics from the University of British Columbia.