A Handbook of Statistical Graphics Using SAS ODS - Practical Guide

Our review finds A Handbook of Statistical Graphics Using SAS ODS to be a focused, practical resource for analysts who want to produce high-quality visualizations directly from SAS 9.4. The book is written for readers who already use SAS or are committed to learning it, and the single biggest reason to buy is its clear emphasis on using the SAS ODS graphics system to implement a wide range of statistical plots and diagnostic displays. In this review the handbook stands out for walking through how to create graphics that support both exploratory analysis and model diagnosis.

Key Features

• Practical ODS guidance: Shows how to use the SAS ODS graphics system to generate a broad set of statistical plots, making it easier to implement visual analyses in SAS 9.4.
• Focus on model diagnosis: Explains graphical methods useful for diagnosing fitted statistical models so readers can assess model fit and assumptions.
• Exploratory data support: Covers plots and diagrams that aid in initial data assessment and help identify patterns, outliers, and structure.
• Step-by-step examples: Provides procedural detail on producing graphics in SAS so users can reproduce and adapt figures for their own data.
• Author expertise: Draws on the authors' knowledge to prioritize graphical methods commonly needed in practical statistical work.

Who It's For

The handbook is best suited to statisticians, data analysts, and researchers who use SAS 9.4 and want a concise reference for producing and interpreting statistical graphics with the ODS system. It is particularly useful for those who need to integrate graphics into model checking and reporting workflows.

Those who should look elsewhere include readers seeking a general introduction to statistics without a SAS focus, or users of other platforms who prefer software-agnostic visualization texts; the book is centered on SAS implementation rather than universal plotting theory.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Practical emphasis on SAS ODS makes implementation straightforward for SAS users.
• Relevant coverage of exploratory plots and diagnostic displays supports real analysis workflows.
• Clear, example-driven presentation helps readers reproduce graphics in SAS 9.4.

Cons

• Limited appeal to readers who do not use SAS, since examples target SAS ODS specifically.

Specifications

Title	A Handbook of Statistical Graphics Using SAS ODS
Authors	Geoff Der, Brian Everitt
Primary software	SAS 9.4
Focus	Statistical graphics, exploratory plots, model diagnosis
Graphics system	SAS ODS graphics
Use case	Data exploration and model diagnostic visualization

Our Verdict

A Handbook of Statistical Graphics Using SAS ODS is a pragmatic, well scoped reference for SAS users who need to produce informative statistical graphics and diagnose fitted models. It is good value for analysts committed to SAS 9.4 because it translates common graphical needs into concrete ODS workflows, helping readers create reproducible, analysis-ready figures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover current SAS graphics tools?
The book uses SAS 9.4 and focuses on the ODS graphics system as the primary method for producing plots.

Is this suitable for beginners in visualization?
It helps users who are comfortable with SAS; readers new to statistics or not using SAS may find it too implementation-specific.

Will it help with model diagnostics?
Yes, the handbook explicitly covers graphical methods for diagnosing fitted statistical models and assessing fit.