Customer Reviews

Prediction in Forensic and Neuropsychology: Sound Statistical Practices

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4 star:		(1)
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This is an extremely important and valuable book that presents a number of important ideas in a straightforward fashion. I've seen nothing like it. So, why 4 stars and the caveat? This is not for the casual or credulous reader. There are quite a number of very significant errors which one can only detect by following the text very closely and solving the problems in the book as well as one's own problems (that one might come across in practice or make up, that is). Since you probably don't know the material in the first place (at least I didn't), if you are reading the book, and the material is far from intuitive, you won't know if the error is in the formula, the conceptualization, the computation, or your own lack of cognitive power. Sometimes, entire parts of paragraphs are cut and pasted somewhere else, and you will wonder if you just arrived from an alternate universe, or have been dreaming. Erlbaum has been extremely generous (philanthropic) to psychology, so I don't want to discourage people from buying the book, or be unappreciative. So, buy the book, learn, and send them (or Franklin himself) something about the errors, and maybe they will get a 2nd edition out that is closer to being effectively proofread. You may want to read it with a colleague - the errors are that disconcerting and hard to sort out. Bear in mind that I think they are errors - but, why trust me? I've likened it to trying to learn, experientially, how to ski while blindfolded, with no boots, and without knowing if there is any snow.