Common Errors in Statistics (and How to Avoid Them) [Paperback]

Phillip I. Good (Author), James W. Hardin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 7, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0470457988 | ISBN-13: 978-0470457986 | Edition: 3

Praise for the Second Edition

"All statistics students and teachers will find in this book a friendly and intelligentguide to . . . applied statistics in practice."
—Journal of Applied Statistics

". . . a very engaging and valuable book for all who use statistics in any setting."
—CHOICE

". . . a concise guide to the basics of statistics, replete with examples . . . a valuablereference for more advanced statisticians as well."
—MAA Reviews

Now in its Third Edition, the highly readable Common Errors in Statistics (and How to Avoid Them) continues to serve as a thorough and straightforward discussion of basic statistical methods, presentations, approaches, and modeling techniques. Further enriched with new examples and counterexamples from the latest research as well as added coverage of relevant topics, this new edition of the benchmark book addresses popular mistakes often made in data collection and provides an indispensable guide to accurate statistical analysis and reporting. The authors' emphasis on careful practice, combined with a focus on the development of solutions, reveals the true value of statistics when applied correctly in any area of research.

The Third Edition has been considerably expanded and revised to include:

• A new chapter on data quality assessment

• A new chapter on correlated data

• An expanded chapter on data analysis covering categorical and ordinal data, continuous measurements, and time-to-event data, including sections on factorial and crossover designs

• Revamped exercises with a stronger emphasis on solutions

• An extended chapter on report preparation

• New sections on factor analysis as well as Poisson and negative binomial regression

Providing valuable, up-to-date information in the same user-friendly format as its predecessor, Common Errors in Statistics (and How to Avoid Them), Third Edition is an excellent book for students and professionals in industry, government, medicine, and the social sciences.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The new edition incorporates more graphics and examples using more recent data. … Good's advice is usually wise, and always worth considering. Recommended as stimulating reading for the statistical sophisticate." (Journal of Biopharmaceutical Statistics, January 2010)

From the Back Cover

Praise for the Second Edition

"All statistics students and teachers will find in this book a friendly and intelligentguide to . . . applied statistics in practice."
—Journal of Applied Statistics

". . . a very engaging and valuable book for all who use statistics in any setting."
—CHOICE

". . . a concise guide to the basics of statistics, replete with examples . . . a valuablereference for more advanced statisticians as well."
—MAA Reviews

Now in its Third Edition, the highly readable Common Errors in Statistics (and How to Avoid Them) continues to serve as a thorough and straightforward discussion of basic statistical methods, presentations, approaches, and modeling techniques. Further enriched with new examples and counterexamples from the latest research as well as added coverage of relevant topics, this new edition of the benchmark book addresses popular mistakes often made in data collection and provides an indispensable guide to accurate statistical analysis and reporting. The authors' emphasis on careful practice, combined with a focus on the development of solutions, reveals the true value of statistics when applied correctly in any area of research.

The Third Edition has been considerably expanded and revised to include:

• A new chapter on data quality assessment

• A new chapter on correlated data

• An expanded chapter on data analysis covering categorical and ordinal data, continuous measurements, and time-to-event data, including sections on factorial and crossover designs

• Revamped exercises with a stronger emphasis on solutions

• An extended chapter on report preparation

• New sections on factor analysis as well as Poisson and negative binomial regression

Providing valuable, up-to-date information in the same user-friendly format as its predecessor, Common Errors in Statistics (and How to Avoid Them), Third Edition is an excellent book for students and professionals in industry, government, medicine, and the social sciences.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 3 edition (July 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470457988
• ISBN-13: 978-0470457986
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #309,485 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Text for Novices and Experts Alike, September 24, 2006

By 

William B. Dwinnell IV (King of Prussia, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Common Errors in Statistics (and How to Avoid Them) (Paperback)

Good:

-This text is written in a friendly, accessible style.

-Issues covered are relevant and solutions offered are practical.

-Frequent reference is made to the technical literature in support of arguments presented.

-Clear rules are articulated as to when one should consider using certain techniques.

-Material is fairly timely, including coverage of many recent advances in statistics.

Bad:

-By its nature, this book will involve the authors' opinions, with which we may not all agree. On the other hand, this is at least a good place to start the discussion.

-I wish the book were longer, giving the authors' the opportunity to cover more topics.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Should be required reading, February 8, 2007

By 

Dr. Lee D. Carlson (Baltimore, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Common Errors in Statistics (and How to Avoid Them) (Paperback)

It is very common, and even necessary, to make mistakes while performing modeling or statistical studies. Some of these are easily corrected when one has the knowledge or expertise to understand that a mistake has been made. These could be designated as "blunders" and are part of the everyday life of a statistician or modeler. Other mistakes though are more serious, in that the investigator fails to recognize them and believes that the techniques used are valid for the problem that is studied. In addition, one can frequently fall into the trap of believing that mathematical or computational techniques or algorithms, whether done by hand or with the use of software, are always reliable and therefore require no independent checks or scrutiny. When statistical studies or modeling is done in an area where there is no danger to human or animal life, errors only have the effect of diminishing the validity of the study (and possibly the career of the investigator). In areas such as medicine and civil engineering however, errors in statistical studies can have serious ramifications for human life and safety, and therefore it is crucial that investigators be aware of how they arise and how to avoid them.

This short book is very valuable in that it discusses many of the errors that can arise in statistical modeling and gives advice on how to avoid them in practice. It should be on the bookshelf of all practitioners, regardless of their accumulated years of experience or level of expertise. Sometimes it is difficult for modelers to admit that they have made mistakes, let alone admit that they need advice for performing tasks they may been doing for years. But it never hurts to acknowledge that certain practices, even if they are carved in stone, may not be applicable to certain situations, and this book gives examples of this that are drawn from real world experiences. The authors are careful not to patronize the reader, but they do not hesitate to point out some of the misadventures that have occurred in statistical modeling. Throughout the book they caution against a religious attitude about computer software and mathematical formalism, and give explicit examples of how unquestioned use of these can result in serious errors. This goes hand in hand with their belief, usually only implicitly expressed in the book, that time constraints (such as emergencies) and deadlines may restrict an optimal statistical analysis from being conducted, but that any analysis done using improper tools should not be christened as such by the statistician community. The length of the book of course prohibits an exhaustive analysis of statistical studies that have gone awry but the authors include references for the curious reader.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun hands on Stat guide tool, March 19, 2009

By 

Brent A. Wahl - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Common Errors in Statistics: (and How to Avoid Them) (Paperback)

A fast well written user guide for a technical profesional. Would buy again and recomend for most Quality Engineers in all fields.