34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
OK if you want to learn how to use statistical tests, inadequate if you want to LEARN statistics, October 13, 2008
This review is from: Intermediate Statistics For Dummies (Paperback)
As someone who has taught a college level course in basics statistics for over a quarter century, I am both intrigued and disturbed by the phrase "Intermediate Statistics." In general, there is basic and advanced statistics, so my first thought is that to create the intermediate category, you must reduce the coverage in the basic and advanced levels to make room or simply repeat the last part of the basic section and the first part of the advanced section. I am intrigued because if it is properly done, a section called intermediate statistics could be used to fill holes otherwise missed.
In terms of content, I really cannot argue with the "intermediate" descriptor. The coverage is:
*) The fundamentals of statistical models and hypothesis testing.
*) Using linear and nonlinear regression to make predictions based on data.
*) Using one and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA)
*) Using the chi-square test to test associations, independence and goodness-of-fit
*) Using nonparametric statistics such as the sign, signed rank, rank sum, Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcox and Spearman's rank tests.
When I teach the basic statistics course, these are subjects that tend to get left out, in general I never get to two-way ANOVA, goodness-of-fit and nonparametric statistics.
The problem that I have with this book, and it is a major one, is that there are few formulas and no worked examples. A brief description of the statistical test is given with a set of sample data. The author then crunches the data through Minitab and reports the results in an output table. In my experience, students really do not learn how to do the statistical tests or what they are really measuring by simply having results listed. They must see the formulas worked through and physically work through them at least once. Mathematics and statistics is very much a participation sport, and there is very little participation here.
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20 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Sequel to Statistics for Dummies, December 29, 2007
This review is from: Intermediate Statistics For Dummies (Paperback)
I'm glad the author has provided us with a good sequel to her previous "for dummies" books. This book addresses "intermediate" topics like linear and non-linear regression, ANOVA, and non-parametric tests. Also, the author uses again her successful formula of providing useful tips and hints at the end of the book (see Part VI).
Book Contents:
Part I: Data Analysis and Model-Building Basics.
Chapter 1: Beyond Number Crunching: The Art and Science of Data Analysis.
Chapter 2: Sorting through Statistical Techniques.
Chapter 3: Building Confidence and Testing Models.
Part II: Making Predictions by Using Regression.
Chapter 4: Getting in Line with Simple Linear Regression.
Chapter 5: When Two Variables Are Better than One: Multiple Regression.
Chapter 6: One Step Forward and Two Steps Back: Regression Model Selection.
Chapter 7: When Data Throws You a Curve: Using Nonlinear Regression.
Chapter 8: Yes, No, Maybe So: Making Predictions By Using Logistic Regression.
Part III: Comparing Many Means with ANOVA.
Chapter 9: Going One-Way with Analysis of Variance.
Chapter 10: Pairing Things Down with Multiple Comparisons.
Chapter 11: Getting a Little Interaction with Two-Way ANOVA.
Chapter 12: Rock My World: Relating Regression to ANOVA.
Part IV: Building Strong Connections with Chi-Square Tests.
Chapter 13: Forming Associations with Two-Way Tables.
Chapter 14: Being Independent Enough for the Chi-Square Test.
Chapter 15: Using Chi-Square Tests for Goodness-of-Fit (Your Data, Not Your Jeans).
Part V: Rebels without a Distribution.
Chapter 16: Going Nonparametric.
Chapter 17: The Sign Test and Signed Rank Test.
Chapter 18: Pulling Rank with the Rank Sum Test.
Chapter 19: Do the Kruskal-Wallis and Rank the Sums with Wilcox.
Chapter 20: Pointing Out Correlations with Spearman's Rank.
Part VI: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 21: Ten Errors in Statistical Conclusions.
Chapter 22: Ten Practice Problems.
Appendix: Tables for Your Reference.
Index.
In short, a good introductory book at a fair price.
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