Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences [Hardcover]

Frederick J Gravetter (Author), Larry B. Wallnau (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0495602205 | ISBN-13: 978-0495602200 | Publication Date: December 10, 2008 | Edition: 8

By far the best-selling introduction to statistics for students in the behavioral and social sciences, this text continues to offer straightforward instruction, accuracy, built-in learning aids, and real-world examples. The goal of STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, 8th Edition is to not only teach the methods of statistics, but also to convey the basic principles of objectivity and logic that are essential for science and valuable in everyday life. Authors Frederick Gravetter and Larry Wallnau help students understand statistical procedures through a conceptual context that explains why the procedures were developed and when they should be used. Students have numerous opportunities to practice statistical techniques through Learning Checks, examples, step-by-step Demonstrations, and problems. A strong ancillary package includes PowerLecture™, which contains lecture slides, JoinIn™ Student Response System content, and a computerized test bank; Enhanced WebAssign, a complete and easy-to-use homework management system; WebTutor™; an Instructor's Manual/TestBank, plus other online and print resources.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

---

About This Edition

From the Publisher

New Features

• The authors continue to refine and improve each edition, and this one is no exception. Content changes include an expanded discussion of continuous and discrete variables (Chapter 1), a new discussion relating measures of variability to the scales of measurement introduced in Chapter 1 (Chapter 4), and expanded coverage of z-scores, including increased emphasis on the definition and concept of z-scores rather than formulas (Chapter 5).
• Chapters 13 through 15 include greater emphasis on concepts and less on computation, and a significantly expanded Chapter 17 includes new material on the interpretation of multiple regression and partial correlations.
• Research examples have been updated throughout, and end-of-chapter problems have been extensively revised for currency and improved clarity.
• The chapter-opening Preview sections have been revised to emphasize the fact that each new statistical technique is intended to serve a specific purpose or solve a specific problem.
• The step-by-step Demonstration problems at the end of each chapter, which walk users through statistical procedures in a variety of ways, have been simplified to focus on the content of the chapter rather than tedious computations.

Additional Features

• Conceptual context: To help make learning statistics as simple as possible for users who may be intimidated by the subject, statistical formulas are presented in both standard mathematical notation and in everyday language, with explanations of how and why formulas are used.
• APA reporting guidance: In the Literature sections, which appear in nearly every chapter, demonstrate how statistical results (e.g., for the mean and the standard deviation, t tests, and independent-measures tests) are reported in APA style and explain the notation and jargon used.
• Helpful visuals: Summary charts and graphs throughout the text are lauded by instructors and users. For example, a Statistics Organizer at the end of the text provides a decision tree to guide users to appropriate statistical procedures within the text.

---

See this title's supplement:

Study Guide for Gravetter and Wallnau's "Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences" (Eighth Edition)

About the Author

Frederick J 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. Dr. Gravetter is co-author of the best-selling STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, Eighth Edition, ESSENTIALS OF STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, Sixth Edition, and (with Lori-Ann B. Forzano) RESEARCH METHODS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, Third Edition.

Larry B. Wallnau is Professor Emeritus 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 Frederick J Gravetter, he has co-authored previous editions of STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, Eighth Edition, and ESSENTIALS OF STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, Sixth Edition. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 783 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 8 edition (December 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0495602205
• ISBN-13: 978-0495602200
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #69 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Mathematics

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Taming The Statistics Beast, October 15, 2000

By 

C. Fleming "selkhet7" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences: A First Course for Students of Psychology and Education (Hardcover)

When I had to take statistics as an undergraduate psychology student, I struggled to get through the course and was fortunate to get a "C". As a doctoral student in clinical psychology, I had to once again take statistics and I had nightmares of once again trying to get a passing grade. However, I am happy to say that I passed statistics and actually got an "A". I firmly believe it is due in large part to this textbook by Gravetter & Wallnau.

The tone of the textbook is relaxed and conversational. The authors definitely believe in keeping their explanations of sometimes complex statistical concepts as simple as possible. The book is filled with figures, step-by-step explanations of how to solve problems, and learning checks within each chapter to test your understanding of the material. After completing each chapter, I felt that I was more than prepared to tackle the problems at the end of each chapter.

If you have to take statistics, you might as well try to make the experience as pleasant as possible. And this book will definitely help you maintain your sanity, while actually teaching you about statistics.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars statistics for the math phobics, August 27, 2001

By 

Maria from London (London UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences: A First Course for Students of Psychology and Education (Hardcover)

OK, here it is: I am a math phobic, have been all my life, as long as I can remember myself! So, when I started studying psychology as a second degree, I was kind of anxious about taking all kinds of statistics courses: it seems that statistics are a major part of any psychology degree, & so it was important for me to learn them well, from the beginning. Well, with this book (which I shopped around for, looking for the best introductory book on the subject) my math-phobia has not disappeared, but is slowly & surely getting smaller & smaller. This is a textbook that guides you, step by step, so you can understand all the basic concepts of statistics, without feeling you're making an effort. Lots of problem-solving & learning checks help, lots of revision at the end of each chapter...the book is organized in an excellent & thoughtful way, perfect for a student who will take the time sto study (it covers almost everything) but who wants to do it in an organized way.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must buy!, June 15, 2002

By 

"vmnash" (Cleveland, MS USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences: A First Course for Students of Psychology and Education (Hardcover)

This is great book for learning statistics. The best I've seen so far. Statistics is a subject I hate, but this book has given me hope. I know use it as a supplement for other textbooks. It was a book that was written with the student in mind. I am in a class with an awful stats book now, Statistical Methods for Psychology. But, the Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences text will be a permanent fixture on my shelf and I recommend it often. I will continue to look for textbooks written by these guys. Thanks, you made one of my semesters much better.