Statistics for Human Service Evaluation

Assuming no prior instruction for statistics, the text utilizes a "learn by doing" approach: readers see the use of statistics demonstrated and then are encouraged to apply their own data to statistical analysis with step-by-step guidance. Decision trees, practice exercises, and quizzes ensure readers will be well prepared to practice data analysis in a wide variety of human services situations.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments About the Author Chapter 1 Why Do We Use Statistics? Why We Use Statistics What You Will Find in the Rest of This Chapter Two Key Issues Addressed by Data Analysis—Practical Significance and Statistical Significance Using Statistics to Describe Clients, Evaluate Services, and Explain Client Behavior Descriptive and Inferential Statistics How Do We Analyze Data the User-Friendly Way? What You Will Learn From This Book Quiz Key Terms Chapter 2 Using the Computer for Statistical Analysis of Data Using Excel for Statistical Analysis Using SPSS for Statistical Analysis The Structure of Excel and SPSS for Data Analysis Using Excel in a User-Friendly Approach to Data Analysis— An Illustration Reporting Your Findings Summary of How to Use Excel Quiz Chapter 3 Selecting a Statistic to Answer Your Research Question Finding a Descriptive Statistic Finding a Statistic to Test Your Hypothesis in Evaluative Research The Study Hypothesis Things to Do Before You Seek a Statistic for an Evaluative Hypothesis Finding Your Statistic for Testing the Evaluative Research Hypothesis: One Example Practice Exercise Key Terms Chapter 4 Using Descriptive Statistics to Describe Your Study Sample Deciding What Variables to Describe Deciding What Statistics to Report About Your Study Subjects Some Common Descriptive Statistics Variance and the Normal Distribution Using the Special Excel Files for Descriptive Statistics Using SPSS for Descriptive Statistics Summary Quiz Key Terms Chapter 5 Analyzing Data With Pretest and Posttest Measurements of One Group Using the t Test Examining Statistical Significance and Practical Significance With the t Test Testing Your Hypothesis With the Paired-Samples t Test When You Have Matching Pretest and Posttest Scores Testing Your Hypothesis With the One-Sample t Test When You Have Pretest and Posttest Scores That Cannot Be Matched Testing Your Hypothesis With the Binomial Test When You Have Pretest and Posttest Measurements of a Dichotomous Variable Using the Binomial Test for the Posttest-Only Design When You Have a Threshold Proportion for Comparison Summary Quiz Practice Exercise Key Terms Chapter 6 Analyzing Data When You Are Comparing Two Groups Using the Independent-Samples t Test When You Are Comparing the Gain Scores of Two Groups Using Chi Square to Compare Two Groups When You Have a Dichotomous Dependent Variable Quiz Practice Exercise Key Terms Chapter 7 Analyzing Data When You Are Evaluating a Single Client Using the One-Sample t Test When You Have a Single Baseline Score and Several Treatment Scores Using the Standard Deviation Approach When You Have Several Baseline Scores and Several Treatment Scores Using Other Single-Subject Designs With Data Measured at the Interval Level Using the Binomial Test for the AB Design When Data Are Measured as a Dichotomy Quiz Practice Exercise Key Terms Chapter 8 Explaining Client Gain Examining the Relationship Between Client Gain and a Variable Measured at the Nominal Level Examining the Relationship Between Client Gain and a Variable Measured at the Interval or Ordinal Level Using Multiple Regression Analysis to Examine the Relationship Between Client Gain Scores and More Than One Other Variable Quiz Practice Exercise: Youth Diversion Program Key Terms Chapter 9 A Synopsis of Selected Statistical Tests for Examining Nominal Data Chi Square and the Binomial Test: A Review Examination of the Relationship Between Two Nominal Variables With Independent Data Using Chi Square, the Phi Coefficient, and the Contingency Coefficient Examination of the Relationship Between Two Nominal Variables With Related Data Using the McNemar Test Using the Binomial Test to Compare the Categories of a Dichotomous Variable Key Terms Chapter 10 A Synopsis of Selected Statistical Tests for Examining Ordinal Data Using the Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient When You Have Two Ordinal Variables Using the Mann–Whitney U Test When You Have Independent Data With One Ordinal Variable and a Dichotomous Nominal Variable Using the Wilcoxon Matched-Pairs Signed Ranks Test When You Have Related Data With a Dichotomous Variable and an Ordinal Variable Using the Kruskal–Wallis One-Way Analysis of Variance When You Have Independent Data With an Ordinal Variable and a Nominal Variable That Has More Than Two Categories Key Terms Chapter 11 Statistics for Evidence-Based Practice What Is Evidence-Based Practice? Levels of Evidence Statistics for Review of Evidence Some Tips for Reviewing the Evidence Key Terms Key Terms Answers to Quizzes and Review Questions Appendixes References Index

About the Author :
Reginald O. York, PhD, is a professor in the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Previously, he served on the social work faculties of East Carolina University and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He is the author of Human Service Planning (The University of North Carolina Press, 1982), Building Basic Competencies in Social Work Research (Allyn and Bacon, 1997), Conducting Social Work Research (Allyn and Bacon, 1998), Evaluating Social Work Practice (Pearson, 2009), and Statistics for Human Service Evaluation (Sage Publications, 2017). Prior to his entry into academia, he served as a foster care social worker, a child protective services supervisor, and the director of two human service organizations. His research interests include evidence-based practice, social work education, and human service management.

Review :
"This is definitely the right book for students and human service workers who have anxiety around statistics. It is easy to follow and one does not need any pre-knowledge of statistics to be able to use this book."  "York’s text provides an easy-to-follow ‘how-to’ text for practitioners who want to evaluate client progress. It guides practitioners in the selection of appropriate statistical tests to compare groups, assess change from pre- to post-tests, and assess outcomes in single system design. York’s text is one that practitioners will want to keep on their bookcase and refer back to over the years." "This is the most comprehensive book on statistical analysis of data for human service evaluation. Social work educators, psychologists, clinicians, and sociologists would be well served in making use of this all-inclusive text."  "This textbook empowers students to understand not only how to run statistics, but why they will run their chosen statistics. It closes the gap between ‘scary statistics’ and practical alienation of statistics in the profession."  "The author sees data analysis and statistics through a student’s perspective. Use of a task-based approach to statistics makes it more relevant to students and easier to grasp."