Customer Reviews

Reading Statistics and Research (with Research Navigator), Fourth Edition

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fantastic book! Full of good advice on how to interpret the usual statistical tests, and on how to critically revise the interpretations of other researchers. It also gives useful insight into analysis techniques and on possible interpretation traps. A must have for the beginner researcher who does not want to overstate the significance of his/her results.

I've said it before, and I will say it again. I hate Statistics! It is not just that statistics originated as a means to classify and rank people according to their perceived social worth. Statistics is still used that way as evidenced by the publication and use of the book The Bell Curve. In comparision to a pure science like Neuroscience and also to mathematics, statistics is a subjective science. Everyone knows that statistics can be manipulated and used to show whatever the researcher wants to show...and it is more prone to abuse then most other hard sciences and math.

Ok, having said that...I had to take a statistics course at the last minute (read that last year) while working on my dissertation, because it was determined I did not have enough measurements classes. This book was required, but it really has not been used as much as the other textbook which is equation-based, but I quickly found that I preferred this book!

This textbook explains how and why statistics are used in all sciences, social sciences, etc. and how they are to be interpreted when seen in a journal. It is very concise...the authors for once are not writing for their peers, they are writing for their audience (which are going to be students, grad students, patient/consumers, etc). The book is written with an eye towards helping the reader understand the reasoning and logic behind using statistics. It is done with minimal decorative writing, and with a sense of humor. It makes use of good examples of both good and bad statistic use in papers and journals, it lambasts those who need lambasting, and it has a sense of humor.

If you have to understand statistics so you can read medical journals, sociology, educational journals, etc. this is the book to get. It is immensely helpful. I will rid my library of all other statistical books, but this one I will keep (since my statistics outside of class will be either on computers or I will do qualitative research!)
Karen Sadler,

Science Education,
University of PIttsburgh

As a doctoral student who is trying to get a handle on statistics, I found this book very helpful. Huck does a nice job of supporting what you learn in statistic classes (all the formula and theory `stuff') with real world interpretations and examples. I find his book to be a good resource when I am reading and critiquing journal articles, and when I am trying to word my statistical results in appropriate research vernacular.
Please note - this book is not a stats how to book and as such contains no formulas.

This book not only assist the researcher in reading and understanding sometimes difficult statistical topics but it also is a excellent guide to decision making when writing your own research.

This book was written to be understood by all. Great reference and learning guide for advanced statistics. Would buy again. Huck! Huck! Huck!

Very thorough and at times difficult to understand. It's a great reference book to have when doing research and understanding how to be a good consumer of research.

The language of stats and research can be so difficult to grasp, but this book really explains the results of analysis in general terms - easy to follow and apply the information. I highly recommend this for students that are required to take a stats course and don't really "get" it.

This book provides a great summary of the all the important statistical tools you need to begin doing you own analyses. It is however not for people with a lot of experience in statistics.

This text, which was required for a graduate course I am taking, has excellent resources included to help you with the subject matter. There are internet sites you can visit to get more in-depth on any sections you choose, as well as a supplementary site by the author with extra articles, self-quizzes, etc...The material is a bit dry to read at times, but overall it's interesting and is divided up into sections that make it easier to read.

I got this book in good shape and in a hurry when I needed it for a summer school class.