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Are you struggling with introductory statistics? Are you trying to get ahead in your course, but feel like you're going around in circles? This short and down-to-earth textbook will give you the knowledge and confidence you need to get acquainted with the fundamentals of statistical concepts and techniques.
Assuming no prior knowledge, and avoiding jargon and dense equations, it will ease your anxiety and demonstrate the value of good descriptive analysis. With a focus on practical use and outcomes, the book:
• provides an accessible grounding in the key elements of descriptive statistical analysis;
• has a clear focus on techniques to describe patterns and relationships in your data;
• provides helpful summaries and exercises, and a glossary of terms to reinforce understanding.
With over 20 years’ experience in teaching statistics at all levels and to students from many different subject areas, Patrick White has written an invaluable guide to key concepts and basic statistical techniques. Regardless of your background, this is the book that will help you interpret and use numbers to make the breakthrough that you need to achieve success in your university course.
"This book provides a great introduction for students who want to undertake quantitative or mixed-methods research for their dissertation. Many are not well versed in mathematics and statistics, and this book provides a gentle introduction. Chapters 9 and 10 are especially helpful, as they cover how to present numerical information and analysis, which some other textbooks do not do as well." Carrie Philips, University of Sunderland
Introduction: Why this book actually is different
1. Everybody’s talking about it: important terms explained in everyday language
2. What are numbers really about?
3. Absolute beginnings: starting statistical analysis one variable at a time
4. What you see is only half the story: why you need more than averages to describe distributions
5. How the tables turn: examining relationships between categorical variables
6. What does it all mean? Comparing distributions between groups
7. You’re so predictable: using correlations
8. Where do we draw the line? How regression analysis can tell you more than correlation
9. A graph is like a joke: if you have to explain it, it isn’t any good
10. Telling statistical stories: how to present your findings and conclusions