Statistics for Business and Economics (8th Edition) [Hardcover]

James T. McClave (Author), P. George Benson (Author), Terry L. Sincich (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130272930 | ISBN-13: 978-0130272935 | Publication Date: August 9, 2000 | Edition: 8

For a one/two-term business statistics course. Designed for students with a background in basic algebra, this best- selling introduction to statistics for business and economics emphasizes inference, with extensive coverage of data collection and analysis as needed to evaluate the reported results of statistical studies and make good business decisions. It stresses the development of statistical thinking, the assessment of credibility and value of the inferences made from data-both by those who consume and those who produce them-and features numerous case studies, examples, and exercises, all drawing on real business situations and recent economic events.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Preface

This eighth edition of Statistics for Business and Economics is an introductory business text emphasizing inference, with extensive coverage of data collection and analysis as needed to evaluate the reported results of statistical studies and to make good decisions. As in earlier editions, the text stresses the development of statistical thinking, the assessment of credibility and value of the inferences made from data, both by those who consume and those who produce them. It assumes a mathematical background of basic algebra.

A briefer version of the book, A First Course in Business Statistics, is available for single semester courses that include minimal coverage of regression analysis, analysis of variance, and categorical data analysis. NEW IN THE EIGHTH EDITION Major Content Changes

Chapter 2 includes two new optional sections: methods for detecting outliers (Section 2.8) and graphing bivariate relationships (Section 2.9).

Chapter 5 now covers descriptive methods for assessing whether a data set is approximately normally distributed.

Chapter 11 is a new multiple regression chapter. The material on multiple regression models and model building (Chapters 11 and 12 in previous editions) is reorganized into a single, streamlined chapter, with initial emphasis on the first-order model. More complex models (e.g., interaction, quadratic, and dummy variable models) are presented in increasing order of difficulty. Coverage of residual analysis (Section 11.13) is expanded to include treatment of heteroscedastic errors.

Exploring Data with Statistical Computer Software and the Graphing Calculator—Throughout the text, computer printouts from four popular Windows-based statistical software packages (SAS, SPSS, MINITAB, STATISTIX) are displayed and used to make decisions about the data. New to this edition, we have included instruction boxes and output for the TI-83 graphing calculator.

Statistics in Action—One or two features per chapter examine current real-life, high-profile issues. Data from the study is presented for analysis. Questions prompt the students to form their own conclusions and to think through the statistical issues involved.

Real-World Business Cases—Six extensive business problem-solving cases, with real data and assignments. Each case serves as a good capstone and review of the material that has preceded it.

Real-Data Exercises—Almost all the exercises in the text employ the use of current real data taken from a wide variety of publications (e.g., newspapers, magazines, and journals).

Quick Review—Each chapter ends with a list of key terms and formulas, with reference to the page number where they first appear.

Language Lab—Following the Quick Review is a pronunciation guide for Greek letters and other special terms. Usage notes are also provided. TRADITIONAL STRENGTHS

We have maintained the features of Statistics for Business and Economics that we believe make it unique among business statistics texts. These features, which assist the student in achieving an overview of statistics and an understanding of its relevance in the business world and in everyday life, are as follows: The Use of Examples as a Teaching Device

Almost all new ideas are introduced and illustrated by real data-based applications and examples. We believe that students better understand definitions, generalizations, and abstractions after seeing an application. Many Exercises—Labeled by Type

The text includes more than 1,400 exercises illustrated by applications in almost all areas of research. Because many students have trouble learning the mechanics of statistical techniques when problems are couched in terms of realistic applications, all exercise sections are divided into two parts:

Learning the Mechanics. Designed as straightforward applications of new concepts, these exercises allow students to test their ability to comprehend a concept or a definition.

Applying the Concepts. Based on applications taken from a wide variety of journals, newspapers, and other sources, these exercises develop the student's skills to comprehend real-world problems and describe situations to which the techniques may be applied. A Choice in Level of Coverage of Probability (Chapter 3)

One of the most troublesome aspects of an introductory statistics course is the study of probability. Probability poses a challenge for instructors because they must decide on the level of presentation, and students find it a difficult subject to comprehend. We believe that one cause for these problems is the mixture of probability and counting rules that occurs in most introductory texts. We have included the counting rules in a separate and optional section at the end of the chapter on probability. In addition, all exercises that require the use of counting rules are marked with an asterisk (*). Thus, the instructor can control the level of coverage of probability.

Extensive Coverage of Multiple Regression Analysis
and Model Building (Chapter 11)

This topic represents one of the most useful statistical tools for the solution of applied problems. Although an entire text could be devoted to regression modeling, we believe we have presented coverage that is understandable, usable, and much more comprehensive than the presentations in other introductory statistics texts.

We devote three chapters to discussing the major types of inferences that can be derived from a regression analysis, showing how these results appear in computer printouts and, most important, selecting multiple regression models to be used in an analysis. Thus, the instructor has the choice of a one-chapter coverage of simple regression, a two-chapter treatment of simple and multiple regression, or a complete three-chapter coverage of simple regression, multiple regression, and model building. This extensive coverage of such useful statistical tools will provide added evidence to the student of the relevance of statistics to the solution of applied problems. Footnotes

Although the text is designed for students with a non-calculus background, footnotes explain the role of calculus in various derivations. Footnotes are also used to inform the student about some of the theory underlying certain results. The footnotes allow additional flexibility in the mathematical and theoretical level at which the material is presented. SUPPLEMENTS FOR THE INSTRUCTOR

The supplements for the eighth edition have been completely revised to reflect the revisions of the text. To ensure adherence to the approaches presented in the main text, each element in the package has been accuracy checked for clarity, and freedom from computational, typographical, and statistical errors. Annotated Instructor's Edition (AIE) (ISBN 0-13-027985-4)

Marginal notes placed next to discussions of essential teaching concepts include:

Teaching Tips—suggest alternative presentations or point out common student errors Exercises—reference specific section and chapter exercises that reinforce the concept A disk icon identifies data sets and file names of material found on the data disks Short Answers—section and chapter exercise answers are provided next to the selected exercises Instructor's Notes by Mark Dummeldinger (ISBN 0-13-027410-0)

This printed resource contains suggestions for using the questions at the end of the Statistics in Action boxes as the basis for class discussion on statistical ethics and other current issues, solutions to the Real-World Cases, a complete short answer book with letter of permission to duplicate for student use, and many of the exercises and solutions that were removed from previous editions of this text.

Instructor's Solutions Manual by Nancy S. Boudreau
(ISBN 0-13-027421-6)

Solutions to all of the even-numbered exercises are given in this manual. Careful attention has been paid to ensure that all methods of solution and notation are consistent with those used in the core text. Solutions to the odd-numbered exercises are found in the Student's Solutions Manual. Test Bank by Mark Dummeldinger (ISBN 0-13-027419-4)

Entirely rewritten, the Test Bank now includes more than 1,000 problems that correlate to problems presented in the text. Test Gen EQ Menu-driven random test system Networkable for administering tests and capturing grades online Edit and add your own questions—or use the new "Function Plotter" to create a nearly unlimited number of tests and drill worksheets

PowerPoint Presentation Disk by Mark Dummeldinger
(ISBN 0-13027365-1)

This versatile Windows-based tool may be used by professors in a number of different ways:

Slide show in an electronic classroom Printed and used as transparency masters Printed copies may be distributed to students as a convenient note-taking device

Included on the software disk are learning objectives, thinking challenges, concept presentation slides, and examples with worked-out solutions. The PowerPoint Presentation Disk may be downloaded from the FTP site found at the McClave Web site. Data Disk—available free with every text purchased from Prentice Hall

The data sets for all exercises and cases are available on a 3 1/2" diskette in ASCII format in the back of the book. When a given data set is referenced, a disk symbol and the file name will appear in the text near the exercise.

McClave Internet Site (prenhall/mcclave)

This site will be updated throughout the year as new information, tools, and applications become available. The site contains information about the book and its supplements as well as FTP sites for downloading the PowerPoint Presentation Disk and the Data Files. Teaching tips and student help are provided as well as links to useful sources of data and information such as the Chance Database, the STEPS project (interactive tutorials developed by the University of Glasgow), and a site designed to help faculty establish and manage course home pages. SUPPLEMENTS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS Student's Solutions Manual by Nancy S. Boudreau
(ISBN 013-027422-4)

Fully worked-out solutions to all of the odd numbered exercises are provided in this manual. Careful attention has been paid to ensure that all methods of solution and notation are consistent with those used in the core text.

Companion Microsoft Excel Manual by Mark Dummeldinger
(ISBN 013-029347-4)

Each companion manual works hand-in-glove with the text. Step-by-step keystroke level instructions, with screen captures, provide detailed help for using the technology to work pertinent examples and all of the technology projects in the text. A cross-reference chart indicates which text examples are included and the exact page reference in both the text and technology manual. Output with brief instruction is provided for selected odd-numbered exercises to reinforce the examples. A Student Lab section is included at the end of each chapter.

The Excel Manual includes PHstat, a statistics add-in for Microsoft Excel (CD-ROM) featuring a custom menu of choices that lead to dialog boxes to help perform statistical analyses more quickly and easily than off-the-shelf Excel permits. Student Versions of SPSS and SYSTAT

Student versions of SPSS, the award-winning and market-leading commercial data analysis package, MINITAB, and SYSTAT are available for student purchase. Details on all current products are available from Prentice Hall or via the SPSS website at spss.

Learning Business Statistics with Microsoft® Excel
by John L. Neufeld (ISBN 0-13-234097-6)

The use of Excel as a data analysis and computational package for statistics is explained in clear, easy-to-follow steps in this self-contained paperback text.

A MINITAB Guide to Statistics by Ruth Meyer and David Krueger
(ISBN 0-13-784232-5)

This manual assumes no prior knowledge of MINITAB. Organized to correspond to the table of contents of most statistics texts, this manual provides step-by-step instruction to using MINITAB for statistical analysis. ConStatS by Tufts University (ISBN 0-13-502600-8)

ConStatS is a set of Microsoft Windows-based programs designed to help college students understand concepts taught in a first-semester course on probability and statistics. ConStatS helps improve students' conceptual understanding of statistics by engaging them in an active, experimental style of learning. A companion ConStatS workbook (ISBN 0-13-522848-4) that guides students through the labs and ensures they gain the maximum benefit is also available.

From the Back Cover

Statistics for Business and Economics, Eighth Edition, introduces the world of data collection and analysis in Real-World business settings using an applied, hands-on approach that engages and stimulates students. This revision stresses the development of analytical skills and manipulation of technological tools to reach informed decisions and become conscientious producers and consumers of data.

Pedagogical tools include:

• Statistics in Action sections examine real-life, high-profile issues
• Real-World Business Case Studies include real data and exercises and give students practice analyzing real-life business and economic situations
• Computer Software and Graphing Calculator Explorations provide screen printouts from SAS, SPSS, MINITAB, STATISTIX, and the TI-83 that show students how data is processed and that prompt them to make inferences about the data

Student supplements include:

• Student Solutions Manual contains carefully worked-out solutions to all of the odd-numbered exercises in the text
• Microsoft Excel Companion Manual is specifically correlated to the text. Step-by-step keystroke level instructions, with screen captures, provide detailed help for using the technology to work problems in the text. Includes PHstat, a statistics add-in for Microsoft Excel (CD-ROM).
Student versions of SPSS, SYSTAT, and MINITAB
• ConStats, a Microsoft Windows based program that stimulates students' conceptual understanding of statistics.
• Companion Website located at http://www.prenhall.com/mcclave supports the text as a powerful teaching and learning tool.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1000 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 8 edition (August 9, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130272930
• ISBN-13: 978-0130272935
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #563,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre entre to statistical analysis, June 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Statistics for Business and Economics (8th Edition) (Hardcover)

I used the 7th Edition in a graduate course in statistics and was frustrated both by the text's poor organization and its failure to present key statistical concepts clearly. I had to resort frequently to other sources to clarify topics that were poorly presented in the Prentice Hall text, and tended to find much simpler explanations outside of the text. The problem sets are particularly troublesome, as many of them do not appear to relate to the section in which they are contained and insufficient explanations are offered in the answer key. I recommend you look elsewhere.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very mediocre textbook, November 1, 2003

By 

Alan Chen (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Statistics for Business and Economics (8th Edition) (Hardcover)

Two things amaze me about this book:
#1 This book is in it's eigth edition
#2 Prentice Hall actually published this book

Wow I can't believe quality control at Prentice Hall allowed this one to slip through. It has no proof anywhere, rather it just throws equations at the reader and tries to convince the reader through examples. Several key probability and statistics concepts are no where present in this book. I was able to fill in the gaps through prior experience. I think the author must have assumed a very low mathematical capability of the reader which is strange because both business and economics get very mathematical. The data exercises are for the most part uninteresting. Also my copy has serious printing errors on several pages and the binding is weak.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Tons of Mistakes, December 8, 2003

By 

"rdchristoph" (Madison, Wisconsin United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Statistics for Business and Economics (8th Edition) (Hardcover)

Just a quick note... This book is filled with reference mistakes and inconsistencies. Trying to study for a test, and I'm frustrated with trying to figure out what this book is saying. C'mon guys, this is the 8th edition!!