How to Think About Statistics: Sixth Edition (Series of Books in Psychology) (Paperback)

by John Phillips (Author) "You may be planning to study statistics not because you want to but because you have to..." (more)
Key Phrases: possible misinterpretation, golfing skill, hypothetical distribution, Sample Applications, Central University, Describing Observed Distributions (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Well suited for a course that requires some understanding of statistics to interpret and critique data and studies that are integral to the subject matter of the course." -- Science Books & Films

Product Description
Polls...surveys...economic indicators...research findings...advertising claims...business reports. Everyday we face statistics tailored to influence opinions, sell pain relievers, win votes. Now available in an up-to-date new edition, John Phillips' How to Think About Statistics is the best guide available for helping readers make real sense of the numbers encountered in the media, at work, or at school.

Avoiding arcane mathematics and dull computation, Phillips explores the underlying logic of data analysis, explaining basic statistical concepts step by step to show how the numbers are gathered, organized, tested, interpreted-and in some cases, manipulated and misapplied. Concise, accessible, and engaging as always, the new edition has been thoroughly revised, and now draws on a broader range of current examples from psychology, politics, business, education, medicine, advertising, sports, and other areas.

Popular with both professionals and students, How to Think About Statistics enables even the most math-phobic readers to be more skillful interpreters of the statistical evidence-or "evidence"-used to bolster arguments and claims. 70 illustrations.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 202 pages
• Publisher: W. H. Freeman; 6th edition (August 7, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0716736543
• ISBN-13: 978-0716736547
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,564,865 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to basic statistics, December 28, 1998

By	[e-mail] - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Think About Statistics (A Series of Books in Psychology) (Paperback)

I started using this book as a supplemental text in my introduciton to statistics classes. It is straightforward, intuitive, and explains concpetual issues in statistics very well. Students who have trouble with other statistics book find that Phillip's book is a tremendous help. This book helps "Understand Statistics" in a non-mathematical way.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written introduction to the basic concepts, December 26, 2001

By	Paul Martin (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews

This book focuses on concepts rather than computation. It is an excellent supplemental text which takes the time to explain the ideas behind the equations. Statistics can be very difficult conceptually to the beginning student. By focusing on concepts, this book can break down some barriers to learning.

The scope is that of an introductory statistics course, including in introduction to measures of central tendency, the normal distribution, correlation, inference, hypothesis testing, and a final chapter on correlation, causation and effect size. The example problems are well chosen, and the discussion is clear and well reasoned. If I were teaching a course in statistics, I would require this as a supplemental text. It is also appropriate for self study.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Problems understanding statistics? This book is for you!, March 22, 2000

By	Ron (North York, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This book is a great introduction to statistics. The author not only explains each concept with its application, but also provides case scenarios to reinforce the concept. But it doesn't stop here. The author goes even further and examines the circumstances and assumptions surrounding each application of the concepts. An excellent introductory book for understanding statistics!