Essentials of Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences [Paperback]

Frederick Gravetter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 5, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0534586171 | ISBN-13: 978-0534586171 | Edition: 4

Does the thought of taking a statistics course make your students nervous? Authors Frederick Gravetter and Larry B. Wallnau use interesting real-world examples and applications to quell student fears and to reveal the ESSENTIALS OF STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. This book helps students get beyond thinking of statistics as merely a course they have to take and come to appreciate it as a set of essential tools that helps us make sense of data in our information-driven world. Gravetter and Wallnau skillfully demonstrate that having a basic understanding of a variety of statistical procedures will help students understand published findings, as well as become savvy consumers of information. The authors employ an intuitive, straightforward writing style as well as numerous learning checks, both of which support students' interest in and understanding of the material.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The writing is one of the text's greatest strengths and I would not attempt to improve it. Another strength lies in the writing and organization of Chapters 7 and 8, which introduce hypothesis testing. These chapters are unusually good, which is important, because of the central role the concepts play in future topics."

"What I love about the textbook and what makes me recommend it to anyone who will listen is the level at which it is written. Too often I review statistics texts that (I feel) are above an introductory level. They don't spend enough time on the fundamental concepts that students need to understand before they move on."

"It seems appropriate for both strong and weak students. I'd quickly recommend this text to others to gain a readable and engaging presentation that is accuratge, clear, and concise. This text is one of the best out there - for both students and instructors."

"This text is very readable and student-friendly, and presents the material at a level appropriate for our undergraduate psychological statistics course'. There are ample examples from psychological research and from statistical software output." --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Frederick J Gravetter is the best-selling author of STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, Seventh Edition, ESSENTIALS OF STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, Fifth Edition, and RESEARCH METHODS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, Second Edition. Dr. Gravetter is Professor of Psychology at the State University of New York College at Brockport. He has taught at Brockport since the early 1970s, specializing in statistics, research design, and cognitive psychology. He received his Bachelor"s degree in mathematics from M.I.T. and his Ph.D. in psychology from Duke University.

Larry B. Wallnau is Professor of Psychology at the State University of New York College at Brockport. The recipient of grants and awards in both research and teaching, Dr. Wallnau has published numerous research articles primarily on the effect of psychotropic drugs. With Dr. Gravetter, he has co-authored previous editions of STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, Seventh Edition and ESSENTIALS OF STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, Fifth Edition. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 4 edition (July 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534586171
• ISBN-13: 978-0534586171
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,370,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understandable Statistics at Last!, December 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Essentials of Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (Paperback)

This is the first statistics textbook that I have actually understood and enjoyed, and I have read many of them. The authors take students through the material step by step and do not make assumptions about prior knowledge. The charts and examples are very helpful and clearly presented. As textbooks go, this is the best!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Clear, Concise, Excellent Book, May 18, 2005

By 

Statistically Challenged - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essentials of Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (Paperback)

Having seriously struggled for the last two years with the statistics side of my Psychology studies, this book has really made things so much clearer. An excellent book for anyone struggling to grasp the basic statistical concepts required in behavioral sciences.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for people who ask "but why..." at the end of every statement., May 10, 2006

By 

Ashley Dixon (Annandale-on-Hudson, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essentials of Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (Paperback)

This book is absolutely excellent. I have looked through other stats books and lost interest immediately, but this book is written in such a way that it actually makes you want to learn the material. Rather than just telling you how to solve the problem, the authors inform you as to why learning it is necessary, and frequently give you real-life, interesting scenarios regarding how specific formulas are used by psychologists.

Statistics, of course, becomes progressively more difficult over time, and you may need to seek outside help once you reach the last few chapters in particular. However, I believe that this book is the best of its kind, and it might be worth purchasing even if it is not your primary source for class, etc.