Basic Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences

9780138610555

013861055X

The one text that helps students truly understand statistics and its applications in research. Basic Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences is meant for a first course in statistics offered to students in education, psychology, and other behavioral sciences. This text is characterized by its readability, by a strong, applied focus on getting students to understand how statistics is used within research, and by a focus on conceptual understanding rather than computation. Features: An emphasis on depth and conceptual understanding. Unlike other texts, Basic Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences describes why particular statistical operations were developed and what research questions they are meant to answer. Because of this focus, students are more likely to gain a deep conceptual understanding of statistical procedures. An emphasis on statistics in the context of research. This text discusses statistical methods not as ends in themselves but as tools that are used to answer practical research questions. A number of features in the text help students see statistics as functional research tools. Key among these are two research studies that are woven throughout the text and examined from a variety of statistical perspectives. An accessible text that supports student comprehension. Studentseventhose for whom statistics is intimidating will find the authors' readable prose and clear explanations appealing. Several features, such as the Now You Do It boxes, present students with concrete practical examples and assist them in solving problems. Exceptionally strong coverage of using the computer to do statistics. Extensive computer data appear throughout the text and the accompanying practice manuals. Students receive guidance on using statistical software such as SPSS in How the Computer Does It boxes, and the many related exercises and activities that involve the computer help them gain confidence using technology to perform statistical operations.