Customer Reviews

Dictionary of Statistics & Methodology: A Nontechnical Guide for the Social Sciences

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I ordered this book on a whim after being completely lost in the readings for my first PhD level statistics course. So far, it has been incredibly useful! The definitions it gives are thorough, succinct, and, best of all, comprehensible. For every entry the author gives the what and the why (what it is and why we use it) in plain English. If there are other technical terms involved they're marked with a *, so you can flip to that entry if the term is unfamiliar to you. One of the things that has really helped me is that he also includes all of the applicable formulas for a term as well as the various ways a term is notated. This has been a problem for me as different books use different notation which can get really obnoxious. (Who are these jerks? Just pick a symbol and stick with it!) This book won't teach you statistics, but it's an excellent supplement. Basically, if you crack open a stats book and feel like you are reading a foreign language, this guide is the perfect translator. It's also great to have on hand when flipping through journal articles so that when you see a term or technique for the first time you can look it up quickly and easily (and without relying on Wikipedia). It's not the cheapest supplemental book, but it's definitely worth buying.

Vogt's Dictionary doesn't cover every concept used or issue raised in contemporary social science, but it comes remarkably close. Odd as it may sound when referring to a dictionary, this book is actually fun to read. I learned a great deal, and, thanks to the clarity of Vogt's prose, did so painlessly. I suppose the best part is the reinforcement that comes from realizing how much one already knows. If you're a student, instructor, or on-the-job social scientist feeling a bit frustrated and maybe even burned out, pick up a copy of Vogt's Dictionary. Open it to any page and start reading. It's such a lift to realize that the social sciences really are loaded with interesting ideas, and to recognize that you already know how to think with some of them.

Dictionary of Statistics & Methodology: A Nontechnical Guide for the Social Sciences was exactly what I was looking for and it was in excellent condition.

The book I ordered arrived on time and was in great condition! I would use this seller again!