Social Statistics: Managing Data, Conducting Analyses, Presenting Results

by Thomas John Linneman

Many fundamentally important decisions about our social life are a function of how well we understand and analyze DATA. This sounds so obvious but it is so misunderstood. Social statisticians struggle with this problem in their teaching constantly. This book and its approach is the ally and support of all instructors who want to accomplish this hugely important teaching goal. This innovative text for undergraduate social statistics courses is, (as one satisfied instructor put it), a "breath of fresh air." It departs from convention by not covering some techniques and topics that have been in social stat textbooks for 30 years, but that are no longer used by social scientists today. It also includes techniques that conventional wisdom has previously thought to be the province of graduate level courses. Linneman’s text is for those instructors looking for a thoroughly "modern" way to teach quantitative thinking, problem-solving, and statistical analysis to their students…an undergraduate social statistics course that recognizes the increasing ubiquity of analytical tools in our data-driven age and therefore the practical benefit of learning how to "do statistics," to "present results" effectively (to employers as well as instructors), and to "interpret" intelligently the quantitative arguments made by others. A NOTE ABOUT THE AUTHOR… At a recent Charter Day celebration, author Tom Linneman was awarded the Thomas Jefferson Teaching Award, the highest award given to young faculty members at the College of William and Mary. The citation for his award noted that Linneman has developed a reputation among his students as a demanding professor – but one who genuinely cares about them.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology

656 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[John C. Duff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linneman does a phenomenal job explaining statistical analysis methods while maintaining an entertaining tone throughout. I would've never guessed that a statistics book would have me laughing out loud. I also appreciate the step by step examples at the end of each chapter. They were extremely helpful in navigating SPSS during my own analyses.

[April Moreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

From someone whose understanding of statistics is weak, Linneman does an excellent job explaining statistics in a manner that is both easy to understand and not boring. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting a better understanding or just a basic understanding of statistics.