Elementary Statistics in Social Research
The Essentials
2nd Edition
Published on 18. August 2006
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-0-205-48493-5 (ISBN)
Description
This text provides a streamlined and accessible introduction to statistics for students in sociology, criminal justice, political science, social work, and other social sciences.
This text offers an essential and accessible overview to the introduction to social statistics. Clearly written with detailed step-by-step illustrations of statistical procedures, this text provides clear and logical explanations for the rationale and use of statistical methods of social research. Numerous end-of-chapter questions in every chapter reinforce key concepts to students.
This text offers an essential and accessible overview to the introduction to social statistics. Clearly written with detailed step-by-step illustrations of statistical procedures, this text provides clear and logical explanations for the rationale and use of statistical methods of social research. Numerous end-of-chapter questions in every chapter reinforce key concepts to students.
More details
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Pearson Education (US)
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Width: 234 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
544 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-205-48493-5 (9780205484935)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Book
08/2003
Pearson
€78.17
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
Jack Levin, Ph.D. is the Brudnick Professor of Sociology and Criminology at Northeastern University in Boston, where he co-directs its Center on Violence and Conflict. He has authored or co-authored 30 books, including the recently published volumes Serial Killers and Sadistic Murderers-Up Close and Personal and The Violence of Hate. Dr. Levin was honored by the MassachusettsCouncil for Advancement and Support of Education as its "Professor of the Year." He has spoken to a wide variety of community, academic, and professional groups, including the White House Conference on Hate Crimes, the Department of Justice, the Department of Education, OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (a membership of 59 countries) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Content
Each chapter concludes with "Summary" and "Questions and Problems."
Preface.
1. Why the Social Researcher Uses Statistics.
The Nature of Social Research.
Why Test Hypotheses?
The Stages of Social Research.
Using Series of Numbers to Do Social Research.
The Functions of Statistics.Looking at the Larger Picture: A Student Survey
I. DESCRIPTION.
2. Organizing the Data. Frequency Distributions of Nominal Data.
Comparing Distributions.
Proportions and Percentages.
Simple Frequency Distributions of Ordinal and Interval Data.
Grouped Frequency Distributions of Interval Data.
Cumulative Distributions.
Dealing with Decimal Data.
Flexible Class Intervals.
Cross-Tabulations.
Graphic Presentations.
3. Measures of Central Tendency. The Mode.
The Median.
The Mean.
Taking One Step at a Time. Step-by-Step Illustration: Mode, Median and Mean
Comparing the Mode, Median, and Mean.
4. Measures of Variability. The Range.
The Variance and Standard Deviation. Step-by-Step Illustration: Standard deviation
The Raw-Score Formula for Variance and Standard Deviation. Step-by-Step Illustration: Variance and Standard Deviation Using Raw Scores
The Meaning of the Standard Deviation.
Comparing Measures of Variability.
Terms to Remember.Looking at the Larger Picture: Describing Data.
II. FROM DESCRIPTION TO DECISION MAKING.
5. Probability and the Normal Curve. Probability.
Probability Distributions.
The Normal Curve as a Probability Distribution.
Characteristics of the Normal Curve.
The Model and the Reality of the Normal Curve.
The Area Under the Normal Curve
Finding Probability Under the Normal Curve. Step-by-Step Illustration: Probability under the Normal Curve.
6. Samples and Populations. Random Sampling.
Sampling Error.
Sampling Distribution of Means.
Standard Error of the Mean.
Confidence Intervals.
The t Distribution. Step-by-Step Illustration: Confidence Interval Using t
Estimating Proportions. Step-by-Step Illustration: Confidence Intervals for ProportionsLooking at the Larger Picture: Generalizing From Samples to Populations
III. DECISION MAKING.
7. Testing Differences Between Means. The Null Hypothesis: No Difference Between Means.
The Research Hypothesis: A Difference Between Means.
Sampling Distribution of Differences Between Means.
Testing Hypotheses with the Distribution of Differences Between Means.
Levels of Significance.
Standard Error of the Difference Between Means.
Testing the Difference Between Means. Step-by-Step Illustration: Test of Difference Between Means.
Comparing the Same Sample Measured Twice. Step-by-Step Illustration: Test of Difference between Means for Same Sample Measured Twice.
Two Sample Tests of Proportions. Step-by-Step Illustration: Test of Difference Between Proportions.
Requirements for Testing the Difference Between Means.
Terms to Remember.
8. Analysis of Variance. The Logic of Analysis of Variance.
The Sum of Squares.
Mean Square.
The F Ratio. Step-by-Step Illustration: Analysis of Variance.
Requirements for Using the F Ratio.
Terms to Remember.
9. Nonparametric Tests of Significance. The Chi-Square Test. Step-by-Step Illustration: Chi-Square Test of Significance. Step-by-Step Illustration: Comparin Several groups
The Median Test. Step-by-Step Illustration: Median TestLooking at the Larger Picture: Testing Differences
IV. FROM DECISION MAKING TO ASSOCIATION.
10. Correlation. Strength of Correlation.
Direction of Correlation.Curvilinear Correlation
The Correlation Coefficient.
Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. Step-by-Step Illustration: Pearson's Correlation Coefficient.
Terms to Remember.
11. Regression Analysis. The Regression Model.
Interpreting the Regression Line.
Regression and Pearson's Correlation. Step-by-Step Illustration: Step-by-Step Illustration: Regression Analysis.
12. Nonparametric Measures of Correlation. Spearman's Rank-Order Correlation Coefficient. Step-by-Step Illustration: Spearman's Rank-Order Correlation Coefficient.
Goodman's and Kruskal's Gamma. Step-by-Step Illustration: Goodman's and Kruskal's Gamma.
Correlation Coefficient for Nominal Data Arranged in a 2 x 2 Table.
Correlation Coefficients for Nominal Data in Larger Than 2 x 2 Tables.Looking at the Larger Picture: Measuring Association.
V. APPLYING STATISTICS.
13. Applying Statistical Procedures to Research Problems. Research Situations.
Research Solutions.
Appendix A. A Review of Some Fundamentals of Mathematics. Appendix B. Tables. Appendix C. List of Formulas. Glossary. Answers to Selected Problems. Index.
Preface.
1. Why the Social Researcher Uses Statistics.
The Nature of Social Research.
Why Test Hypotheses?
The Stages of Social Research.
Using Series of Numbers to Do Social Research.
The Functions of Statistics.Looking at the Larger Picture: A Student Survey
I. DESCRIPTION.
2. Organizing the Data. Frequency Distributions of Nominal Data.
Comparing Distributions.
Proportions and Percentages.
Simple Frequency Distributions of Ordinal and Interval Data.
Grouped Frequency Distributions of Interval Data.
Cumulative Distributions.
Dealing with Decimal Data.
Flexible Class Intervals.
Cross-Tabulations.
Graphic Presentations.
3. Measures of Central Tendency. The Mode.
The Median.
The Mean.
Taking One Step at a Time. Step-by-Step Illustration: Mode, Median and Mean
Comparing the Mode, Median, and Mean.
4. Measures of Variability. The Range.
The Variance and Standard Deviation. Step-by-Step Illustration: Standard deviation
The Raw-Score Formula for Variance and Standard Deviation. Step-by-Step Illustration: Variance and Standard Deviation Using Raw Scores
The Meaning of the Standard Deviation.
Comparing Measures of Variability.
Terms to Remember.Looking at the Larger Picture: Describing Data.
II. FROM DESCRIPTION TO DECISION MAKING.
5. Probability and the Normal Curve. Probability.
Probability Distributions.
The Normal Curve as a Probability Distribution.
Characteristics of the Normal Curve.
The Model and the Reality of the Normal Curve.
The Area Under the Normal Curve
Finding Probability Under the Normal Curve. Step-by-Step Illustration: Probability under the Normal Curve.
6. Samples and Populations. Random Sampling.
Sampling Error.
Sampling Distribution of Means.
Standard Error of the Mean.
Confidence Intervals.
The t Distribution. Step-by-Step Illustration: Confidence Interval Using t
Estimating Proportions. Step-by-Step Illustration: Confidence Intervals for ProportionsLooking at the Larger Picture: Generalizing From Samples to Populations
III. DECISION MAKING.
7. Testing Differences Between Means. The Null Hypothesis: No Difference Between Means.
The Research Hypothesis: A Difference Between Means.
Sampling Distribution of Differences Between Means.
Testing Hypotheses with the Distribution of Differences Between Means.
Levels of Significance.
Standard Error of the Difference Between Means.
Testing the Difference Between Means. Step-by-Step Illustration: Test of Difference Between Means.
Comparing the Same Sample Measured Twice. Step-by-Step Illustration: Test of Difference between Means for Same Sample Measured Twice.
Two Sample Tests of Proportions. Step-by-Step Illustration: Test of Difference Between Proportions.
Requirements for Testing the Difference Between Means.
Terms to Remember.
8. Analysis of Variance. The Logic of Analysis of Variance.
The Sum of Squares.
Mean Square.
The F Ratio. Step-by-Step Illustration: Analysis of Variance.
Requirements for Using the F Ratio.
Terms to Remember.
9. Nonparametric Tests of Significance. The Chi-Square Test. Step-by-Step Illustration: Chi-Square Test of Significance. Step-by-Step Illustration: Comparin Several groups
The Median Test. Step-by-Step Illustration: Median TestLooking at the Larger Picture: Testing Differences
IV. FROM DECISION MAKING TO ASSOCIATION.
10. Correlation. Strength of Correlation.
Direction of Correlation.Curvilinear Correlation
The Correlation Coefficient.
Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. Step-by-Step Illustration: Pearson's Correlation Coefficient.
Terms to Remember.
11. Regression Analysis. The Regression Model.
Interpreting the Regression Line.
Regression and Pearson's Correlation. Step-by-Step Illustration: Step-by-Step Illustration: Regression Analysis.
12. Nonparametric Measures of Correlation. Spearman's Rank-Order Correlation Coefficient. Step-by-Step Illustration: Spearman's Rank-Order Correlation Coefficient.
Goodman's and Kruskal's Gamma. Step-by-Step Illustration: Goodman's and Kruskal's Gamma.
Correlation Coefficient for Nominal Data Arranged in a 2 x 2 Table.
Correlation Coefficients for Nominal Data in Larger Than 2 x 2 Tables.Looking at the Larger Picture: Measuring Association.
V. APPLYING STATISTICS.
13. Applying Statistical Procedures to Research Problems. Research Situations.
Research Solutions.
Appendix A. A Review of Some Fundamentals of Mathematics. Appendix B. Tables. Appendix C. List of Formulas. Glossary. Answers to Selected Problems. Index.