Statistics in Plain English

by Urdan, Timothy C.

• ISBN13: 9780805834420
• ISBN10: 0805834427
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: LEA, Inc.

Summary

This book presents statistical concepts and techniques in simple, everyday language. It provides short, simple descriptions and explanations of a number of statistics or concepts. Part 1 provides a brief description of the statistic, including how it is used and what information it provides. Part 2 reviews how it works, how to calculate the formula, the strengths and weaknesses of the technique, and the conditions needed for its use. Part 3 concludes with an example that uses and interprets the statistic. A glossary of terms and symbols is also included. This brief paperback is an ideal supplement for statistics, research methods, or any course that uses statistics, or as a handy reference tool to refresh one's memory about key concepts. The actual research examples are from a variety of fields, including psychology and education.

Author Biography

Dr. Timothy Urdan is an Assistant Professor at Santa Clara University. He received his Ph.D. in Education and Psychology from the University of Michigan; his Ed.M. in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard University; and his B.A. in Psychology from the University of California at Berkeley

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Measures of Central Tendency	1	(6)
Measures of Central Tendency in Depth	2	(1)
Example: The Mean, Median, and Mode of a Skewed Distribution	3	(2)
Glossary of Terms and Symbols for Chapter 1	5	(2)
Measures of Variability	7	(10)
Measures of Variability in Depth	8	(3)
Example: Examining the Range, Variance, and Standard Deviation	11	(4)
Glossary of Terms and Symbols for Chapter 2	15	(2)
The Normal Distribution	17	(8)
The Normal Distribution in Depth	18	(4)
Example: Applying Normal Distribution Probabilities to a Non-Normal Distribution	22	(1)
Glossary of Terms for Chapter 3	23	(2)
Standardization and z Scores	25	(8)
Standardization and z Scores in Depth	25	(4)
Examples: Exploring Raw Scores and z Scores	29	(3)
Glossary of Terms and Symbols for Chapter 4	32	(1)
Standard Errors	33	(10)
Standard Errors in Depth	33	(7)
Example: Sample Size and Standard Deviation Effects on the Standard Error	40	(2)
Glossary of Terms and Symbols for Chapter 5	42	(1)
Statistical Significance and Effect Size	43	(14)
Statistical Significance in Depth	44	(4)
Effect Size in Depth	48	(3)
Example: Statistical Significance and Effect Size of Gender Differences in Motivation	51	(3)
Glossary of Terms and Symbols for Chapter 6	54	(3)
Correlation	57	(14)
Pearson Correlation Coefficients in Depth	59	(7)
A Brief Word on Other Types of Correlation Coefficients	66	(1)
Example: The Correlation Between Grades and Test Scores	67	(1)
Glossary for Terms and Symbols for Chapter 7	68	(3)
t Tests	71	(10)
Independent Samples t Tests in Depth	72	(4)
Paired or Dependent Samples t Tests in Depth	76	(1)
Example: Comparing Boys' and Girls' Grade Point Averages	77	(2)
Example: Comparing Fifth and Sixth Grade GPA	79	(1)
Glossary of Terms and Symbols for Chapter 8	80	(1)
One-Way Analysis of Variance	81	(12)
One-Way ANOVA in Depth	81	(7)
Example: comparing the Preferences of 5-, 8-, and 12-Year-Olds	88	(2)
Glossary of Terms and Symbols for Chapter 9	90	(3)
Factorial Analysis of Variance	93	(12)
Factorial ANOVA in Depth	94	(8)
Example: Performance, Choice, and Public Versus Private Evaluation	102	(2)
Glossary of Terms and Symbols for Chapter 10	104	(1)
Repeated-Measures Analysis of Variance	105	(12)
Repeated-Measures ANOVA in Depth	106	(5)
Example: Changing Attitudes About Standardized Tests	111	(4)
Glossary of Terms and Symbols for Chapter 11	115	(2)
Regression	117	(17)
Regression in Depth	118	(6)
Multiple Regression	124	(5)
Example: Predicting the Use of Self-Handicapping Strategies	129	(3)
Glossary of Terms and Symbols for Chapter 12	132	(2)
Appendixes	134	(10)
Appendix A: Area Under the Normal Curve Between μ and z and Beyond z	135	(2)
Appendix B: The t Distribution	137	(1)
Appendix C: The f Distribution	138	(4)
Appendix D: Critical Values of the Studentized Range Statistic (for the Tukey HSD Test)	142	(2)
References	144	(1)
Index of Terms	145	(3)
Glossary of Symbols	148