Interpreting Basic Statistics
A Guide and Workbook Based on Excerpts
from Journal Articles
(Sixth Edition)
•

Students get valuable practice in interpreting statistical reporting as it actually appears in journals. In each of the 62 exercises, your students will read a brief excerpt of statistical reporting from a published research article.
• Each exercise begins with guidelines for interpreting the statistics in the excerpt.
•

The questions on the excerpts promote learning by requiring
students to

  • interpret information in tables and figures,
  • perform simple calculations to further their interpretations,
  • critique data-reporting techniques, and
  • evaluate procedures used to collect data.
• Each exercise covers a limited number of statistics, making it easy for you to coordinate the exercises with lectures and a main textbook.
• The questions in each exercise are divided into two parts: (1) Factual Questions, and (2) Questions for Discussion. The factual questions require careful reading for details while the discussion questions show students that interpreting statistics is more than a mathematical exercise. These questions require them to apply good judgment as well as statistical reasoning in arriving at appropriate interpretations.
• New to this edition: Thirteen new exercises interspersed throughout show how to interpret a greater array of statistical reporting.
 

A sample of professors' reactions:

"This is a wonderful workbook to use in an introductory statistics course. The exercises (based on excerpts from journals) are perfect for take-home class projects and in-class group interactive assignments."
    — Richard J. Torz, St. Joseph’s College

"This book is essential for complete understanding of statistics. By seeing how statistics are used in research, students come away with an in-depth comprehension of statistics—which doesn't come from mere calculations. Questions that follow each exercise help students to figure out what the statistics really mean."
    — Marcel Yoder, University of Illinois, Springfield

"It is a great supplemental resource to reiterate concepts covered in introductory research methods."
    — Veronica Lynne Van Ry, California State University,
         Bakersfield

"The exercises in this book give students practice on interpreting the various concepts they learn in statistics with the use of actual research results. The exercises show relevance of statistics to real-life research."
    — Y. J. Moses, Union College

"This is the third year I have used this text. It is excellent for beginning students in statistics and for advanced class review in social science research."
    — Kathleen A. Fox

"The author has made the dreaded subject easy and comprehensible. The author offers the contents in an easy and understandable manner. A must for every beginning student in statistics."
    — Jitendra Kapoor, Alabama A&M University

“This text is used in a graduate study program as a class preparation assignment. We have found through the years the clearly prepared exercises prompt recall and prepare the student for advanced classwork. Excellent book. We have been using this book through all of its editions.”
    — Bob Welch, Southwestern Baptist
        Theological Seminary
 

Each exercise in this book makes a great small-group discussion topic or homework assignment.

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