Customer Reviews

Understanding Basic Statistics

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

 

 

As a teacher of basic statistics, I am always on the lookout for a better text. Right now, I use "The Basic Practice of Statistics" by David Moore. Therefore, when I looked at this book, it was being compared to the Moore book as well as to what I want to cover in the class.
The coverage of this book is barely adequate for my needs although the order of presentation is well within my desires. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is not covered, which I consider to be a serious omission. The presentation style is appropriate for the level of student that I have in my classes, I would rank it right in the middle of what is acceptable in terms of level of difficulty. The demonstrations are generally clear, although at times a bit too concise. In my opinion it would have been better if there had been more examples worked in a step by step manner. My students need that at least once for each problem type.
If you are looking for a book where the exercises are real-world, then this book is just right for you. The problems that appear at the ends of the sections are nearly always based on a plausible scenario that someone could face. While this is good, it would have been better if there were at least a few problems where only the numbers are given. This is a way to get the students started before they have to face the "story problem" complex.
I will not be adopting this book for my class. If I were to use it, I would have to provide handouts of specific examples that are less technical than what appears here.

The authors' logistics in this book is as confusing as their language used to try to teach this simple math subject. Often, they forget to introduce essential formulas and concepts, or relegate them to parts of the book long after they should have been mentioned. The main example of this is the empirical rule. They substitute lengthy processes in lieu of essential formulas, such as the confidence interval formula, and the formulas used in hypothesis testing. Examples of problems are sparse, and the authors' work is generally not shown, but rather they imply that the student already knows what they are doing (kind of like moving across four lanes with no turn signal, "Everyone knew what I was doing!")

This book got two stars because, since it is a paperback, it is cheap.

I'm a student and have never taken Statistics before. I found it to be too confusing, the instructions to be too vague and the examples to be hard to follow. They automatically assume that you know immediately what they're talking about; some new concepts they explain in one sentence, which I found to be seriously lacking for someone who's trying to learn.

Another thing is that you have to keep flipping back and forth through pages to get to formulas, charts, etc., including the references in the back of the book. There is nothing "basic" about this book at all.

I highly recommend this textbook for the Statistics requirement in nursing programs. The statistical analyses are pertinent to nurses, and makes the information easier for nurses to understand. Very good textbook! (I made an A in this class, and I am a "math-tard.")

I waite about one month but i can't get my book.

it disappear through transportation.

if you are order this stuff outside America?

think twice please.