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Beginning Statistics
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Beginning Statistics
An Introduction for Social Scientists

Second Edition


December 2014 | 304 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
In the Second Edition of this bestselling textbook, the authors use real-world examples to introduce basic principles in statistics with no prior knowledge or experience assumed. With an emphasis on describing concepts, showing through example and illustrating points with graphs and displays, this book will provide readers with a step-by-step introduction to using statistics.

Chapters address the following questions:
  • Why bother learning statistics in the first place and are they relevant to real life?
  • How do I make sensible tables and informative graphs?
  • What are descriptive and inferential statistics and how are they used?
  • What are regression and correlation anyway?

 
Introduction: Are Statistics Relevant to Real Life?
 
Data and Table Manners
 
Graphs and Charts
 
Averages and Percentiles
 
Spreads
 
Transforming Data
 
The Normal Distribution
 
From Samples to Populations
 
Getting Confident
 
Fun with Proportions
 
How to Decide How to Decide
 
More Tricky Decisions
 
Correlation and Regression
 
Analysing Tables with Categorical Data
 
Conclusion
 
Appendix 1 Statistical Tables
 
Appendix 2 Answers to Practice Questions
 
Appendix 3 Algebra and Mathematical Notation Explained

This would be an essential reading for students' induction into an MSc with advanced quantitative methods

Dr Maria Pampaka
Social Science , Univ. of Manchester
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This is a great introduction to statistics for students who feel daunted by the prospect of quantitative research.

Dr Martyn Harling
Faculty of Education, Health, Sciences, Derby University
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A really useful reference book for those embarking on their statistics journey in the social sciences or a great handbook for introductory stats courses.

Dr Niamh Flanagan
Social Science , University College Dublin
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A really useful reference book for those embarking on their statistics journey in the social sciences or a great handbook for introductory stats courses.

Dr Niamh Flanagan
Social Science , University College Dublin
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Generally a good introductory text, however I would have like to see coverage up to ANOVA. I do like the may worked examples and answers to additional questions allowing self study and testing by students. The section on graphics is welcome, however I would have not spend as much time on pie charts.

Dr Robert Hogg
Dept of Sport & Exercise Science, University of Sunderland
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This is a really helpful book for students who are new to stats or who are stats phobic and one that I will be recommending to my first years.

Dr Sal Watt
Sociology and Criminology, Manchester Metropolitan University
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I am going to recommend this book for reading, especially to students without much previous knowlegde in statistics.

Dr Thomas Spiegler
Dep of Social Sciences, Theologische Hochschule Friedensau
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A simple, but elegant and eloquent book. A good start to help you passing your first Statistics module exam.

Dr Tim Constantin
Health , Nottingham University
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This book is a really nice introduction to statistics that is very student friendly, with great exercises.

Miss Charlotte Brigden
Equine , Myerscough Colelge
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Very useful introduction to statistics for students. A good place to start.

Mr David James
Sociology , University Campus Suffolk
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