Starting Statistics: A Short, Clear Guide

About the Book

Statistics: A Short, Clear Guide is an accessible, humorous and easy introduction to statistics for social science students.

In this refreshing book, experienced author and academic Neil Burdess shows that statistics are not the result of some mysterious "black magic", but rather the result of some very basic arithmetic. Getting rid of confusing x′s and y′s, he shows that it′s the intellectual questions that come before and after the calculations that are important: (i) What are the best statistics to use with your data? and (ii) What do the calculated statistics tell you?

Statistics: A Short, Clear Guide aims to help students make sense of the logic of statistics and to decide how best to use statistics to analyse their own data. What′s more, it is not reliant on students having access to any particular kind of statistical software package.

This is a very useful book for any student in the social sciences doing a statistics course or needing to do statistics for themselves for the first time.

Table of Contents:
Welcome to Starting Statistics PART ONE: MEASUREMENT Introducing Measurement Measuring Numbers Measuring Categories PART TWO: STANDARDIZATION Introducing Standardization Standardizing Categories Standardizing Numbers PART THREE: CORRELATIONS Introducing Correlations Correlations between Categories Correlations between Numbers PART FOUR: SAMPLING AND ESTIMATION Introducing Sampling Estimating Numbers Estimating Categories PART FIVE: HYPOTHESIS TESTING Introducing Hypothesis Testing Hypotheses about Categories Hypotheses about Numbers Hypotheses about Categories and Numbers

Review :
This is a book on statistics that is written in a clear fashion. It gently welcomes the reluctant reader of quantitative methodologies into the often complicated world of statistics. It introduces essential knowledge using real-life examples, which makes it more manageable to retain. It provides a good starting point for further exploration of statistics. I will recommend that our library purchases it. we already have other books which are better suited as core text. However, this is quite a good, easy to read book that would be very help for some of our masters students who are finding statistics a bit challenging. Good book for those students to bring them up to speed but not as a core text for the whole cohort, hence added to our recommended book list for the students as supplemental adoption. Not sufficent depth A restrained and digestible introduction to stats for the scared and uninitiated. Provides a valuable interim step for students between lectures and more complex texts This is a useful test which explains concepts clearly with a variety of useful examples. This is a useful supplemental book for students studying research methods. This very readable book will form an excellent primer on Statistics to give those who are slightly hesitant or even afraid of the subject more confidence in dealing with the underlyng concepts and rationale. It covers the methods in straightforward, common-sense terms that our students will appreciate. It has come too late for our current course, but I will certainly let our students know about it and recommend students on next year′s course to start reading through the book before the course starts. A good starting book for social science students with little or no knowledge of statistics, the book is refreshing and very accessible, the author provides explains key statistical concepts using simple language. A useful book for those who do not like maths but want to learn about statistics. I will not be adopting this book was a bit confusing on what I consider the basics for my classes. For example measuring categories was seperated from the other types of measurment, like interval and ratio data. The order of chapters does not suit either with hyposthesis testing coming late on in the text. Thanks. A good book as start. Probably better for undergraduate. But useful for postgraduate as a quick reference. An excellent and accessible introduction for students engaging with statistics for the first time. The clear and cohesive structure of the book and the engaging way in which it is written makes it a must for those students who view statistical analysis as an insurmountable barrier to progress. Starting Statistics is a clear, concise, and frequently funny introduction to statistics. Short, easily digestible chapters are particularly welcome. I have often found that one of the biggest barriers to students’ understanding of statistics is language. Burdess is to be praised for the way he cleverly bridges the gap between everyday language and the statistical lexicon through the use of real-world examples which he returns to time and again, adding complexity each time. This is an accessible book that I would recommend as an introductory text for undergraduates or a helpful refresher for postgraduate students. If truth be told, it is the textbook that I wish was available to me when I was starting statistics several years ago. A clear and concise introduction to statistics - if you′re starting statistics, start here. Too low level for people interested in statistics. good helpful overview text without being too technical I am going to adopt this book as essential reading in a new masters programme in Psychology for Educational Professionals. Very useful, user friendly introduction Excellent introductory text - paticularly enjoyed the introduction A good, clear simple book for students who are new, or who are very worreid about the research process and statistics The book is organized in a manner that may confuse undergraduate students. For this level of courses, I prefer books which are organized according to the common research stages. Something for students to dip into should they decide to try out some quantitative research as part of their modules rather than go down the assignment-writing route. A very user freindly book for those students who do not routinely engage with statistics. It offers a clear insight into the jargon of statistics and uses everyday language in its explanations and examples. This book allows students to understand what statistics are used for & how to write about the results. Easy to follow with clear structured chapters A good guide for students not particularly well-versed in the statistical side of research Particularly good for those students who are direct entrants into 2nd year or for those who want a reminder of the basics covered in 1st year A good clear guide - probably better for the more able nursing student as a guide Good basic text