Product Description

Statistics Without Maths for Psychology is an essential companion to any psychology course, guiding students through the process of using statistics without mathematical formulae. It provides the tools to use SPSS and gives clear but comprehensive explanations of all the statistical concepts needed. This text offers students the opportunity to test their knowledge and practice their skills with activities, exercises and multiple choice questions, and is packed with up-to-date examples, “discussion points” and handy tips to aid them in their studies.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #70661 in Books
• Published on: 2008-01-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 619 pages

From the Author
For those who think they will struggle with statistics
Statistics without maths is a book aimed at those students of psychology who find statistics books confusing.

The book explains the concepts behind the most commonly used statistical techniques without any confusing formulae.

Students are encouraged in their learning by use of examples, exercises and multiple-choice questions.

The book also takes students through the procedures for analysing data using one of the most commonly used statistical packages (SPSS for Windows).

Additionally, advice is given about which parts of the computer printout are important and how to write up the analyses in an appropriate manner.

From the Back Cover

Statistics Without Maths for Psychology is an essential companion to your psychology course, guiding you through the process of using statistics without mathematical formulae. It gives you the tools to use SPSS and provides clear but comprehensive explanations of all the statistical concepts you will need, offering you the opportunity to test your knowledge and practice your skills along the way with activities, exercises and multiple choice questions. Packed with examples, “discussion points” and handy tips it will enable you to enrich your understanding and avoid feeling like a fish out of water.

New features to this edition…

• Full guidance on using the latest version 15 of SPSS as well as earlier versions 10-14
• A brand new chapter provides a clear introduction to the SPSS software before you start
• Up-to date examples from the literature keep you informed of current research
• A revised preface will guide you through how to use the new edition and web resources more effectively
• Answers to multiple choice questions are now included at the end of each chapter to allow you to test yourself easily and quickly

"very thorough coverage of statistical methodology...highly recommended" Dr Peter Cahusac, University of Stirling

A brand new companion website with expanded and interactive features including;

• An interactive hyperlinked flow chart guiding you through each step of choosing an analyses
• An expanded bank of Multiple Choice Questions allowing you to test your knowledge of each chapter
• Case studies with data sets and questions for each chapter to allow you to put what you’ve learnt into practice

"excellent web resources for both students and lecturers" Dr Nicola Graham-Kevan, University of Central Lancashire

Christine Dancey is a Professor of Psychology at the University of East London

Customer Reviews

A sensible and user friendly guide to statistical analysis
I am currently using this book as I am studying psychological research methods at MSc level. I am relieved to have found this particular text as I am in the position of returning to postgraduate study, with virtually no memory of, and even less understanding regarding statistical tests, left over from my undergraduate psychology degree. The authors of this book appear to recognise the need for clearly outlining the concepts of statistical analysis, illustrating them through simple, every day examples, and guiding the reader through the practical application of analysis (using SPSS for Windows version 10). This clear, consise, step by step approach, without a mathematical formula in sight really does replace the familiar feelings of dread and intimidation, with confidence and motivation to use and understand statistical tests. You are also encouraged to test your knowledge with multiple choice questions and mini assesments at the end of each chapter, which are extremely useful ways of keeping track of your understanding. Also, the authors have highlighted the debate surrounding hypothesis testing, encouraging the reader to understand, and make use of confidence intervals and effect size rather than simply focusing on probability values. There is also an accompanying web site which contains all the example data sets used in the book.
I would most definitely encourage tutors to place this book on the reading list of every psychology undergraduate and postgraduate degree course, and I'm sure that it would be a welcome and valuable guide to anyone carrying out psychological research.

Helpful
I have no understanding of stats whatsover, and this book has been really helpful. It goes through using SPSS step by step, and shows you exactly how your computer screen should be looking, which is really reassuring. It's a set book on the DSE212 OU psychology course I'm taking, and it really has come into it's own. Brilliant book.

A very helpful book! Statistics without the headache for the 'non-statistically' minded
I am currently studying psychology with the OU so this book came to me with the course reading material. I was initially worried about the level of mathematical knowledge expected of me, particularly since statistics was not the course I chose! I found this book illuminating, however, and actually, a very enjoyable, well-written one too. I was very happy with the ease with which I grasped essential statistical concepts and was then able to incorporate them into my OU studies. It is true that this book presents only the essentials but it does this with a clear understanding that the reader does not need or wish to become an expert in the field (as another reader emphasised, it is statistics without the maths after all!). I particularly found the "examples from literature" (use of statistical techniques in published, or non-, psychological studies), activities and support provided with SPSS very beneficial. Without this book, I think I would have struggled. Even aside from the course I am doing, it feels great to gain some clear (if restricted) understanding into this complex discipline. For now, it's good to know, this is all I need for my course. Who knows, I may eventually look for a book on statistics WITH the maths ...