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 | | The Statistical Imagination (with Free Computer Applications CD-ROM and Student Version SPSS 9.0) by Ferris J. Ritchey ISBN-10: 9780072371925 ISBN-10: 0-07-237192-7 ISBN-13: 9780072371925 ISBN-13: 978-0-07-237192-5 Hardcover 1999-12-20 McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages Find Lowest Price |
Editorials | ||
Product Description The Statistical Imagination, a basic social science statistics text with illustrations and exercises for sociology, social work, political science, and criminal justice courses, teaches readers that statistics is not just a mathematical exercise; it is a way of analyzing and understanding the social world. Praised for a writing style that takes the anxiety out of statistics courses, the author explains basic statistical principles through a variety of engaging exercises, each designed to illuminate the unique theme of examining society both creatively and logically. In an effort to make the study of statistics relevant to students of the social sciences, the author encourages readers to interpret the results of calculations in the context of more substantive social issues, while continuing to value precise and accurate research. Ritchey begins by introducing students to the essentials of learning statistics; fractions, proportions, percentages, standard deviation, sampling error and sampling distribution, along with other math hurdles, are clearly explained to fill in any math gaps students may bring to the classroom. Treating statistics as a skill learned best by doing, the author supplies a range of student-friendly questions and exercises to both demystify the calculation process, and to encourage the kind of proportional thinking needed to master the subject. In addition to pencil-and-paper exercises, The Statistical Imagination includes computer-based assignments for use with the free Student Version SPSS 9.0 CD-ROM that accompanies each new copy of the book. | ||
Reviews | ||
Actually made learning statistics possible for me. As a Sociology Ph.D. student without much (okay, ANY) background in statistics, I found myself struggling to keep up with what the hell my professor was going over in the classroom. The required textbook assumed I knew (much) more than I actually did and it seemed like I was the only one in the world who had no idea what terms like regression and correlation meant. What I needed was a solid textbook that would give me the skills and the confidence to catch me up to where my classmates were. Ritchey's style of presenting clear explanations and corresponding examples was invaluable in my understanding of the course concepts. The textbook seems more appropriate for undergrads than it does grad students, but that was the level where I was at so it suited me just fine. It is certainly feasible to read a few chapters in a sitting without feeling like you're experiencing statistical overload. This textbook would probably be best read by grad students about to take a stats course in order to hit the ground running... | ||