Product Description

This book takes a fresh look at applying regression analysis in the behavioural sciences by introducing the reader to regression analysis through a simple model-building approach.

The authors start with the basics and begin by re-visiting the mean, and the standard deviation, with which most readers will already be familiar, and show that they can be thought of a least squares model. The book then shows that this least squares model is actually a special case of a regression analysis and can be extended to deal with first one, and then more than one independent variable.

Extending the model from the mean to a regression analysis provides a powerful, but simple, way of thinking about what students believe are the more complex aspects of regression analysis.

The authors gradually extend the model to include aspects of regression analysis such as non-linear regression, logistic regression, and moderator and mediator analysis. These approaches are often presented in terms that are too mathematical for non-statistically inclined students to deal with.

Throughout the book maintains a conceptual, non-mathematical focus. Most equations are placed in an appendix, where a detailed explanation is given, to avoid disrupting the flow of the main text.

This book will be indispensable for anyone using regression and correlation from undergraduates doing projects to postgraduate and researchers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #108813 in Books
• Published on: 2000-11-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Statistical Methods in Medical Research, Vol 10, No. 4, p 307-308 (reviewed by Brian Everitt, Professor of Statistics in Behavioural Science, Institute of Psychiatry, London).
an excellent book ... which should be on the shopping list of all researchers in psychology

Review
`An excellent book on regression and correlation, which should be on the shopping list of all researchers in psychology and also of many psychology students' - Statistical Methods in Medical Research

"This book is a gem. I would certainly recommend it to my students." 

From the Author
An intermediate book on regression
Why another book on regression? There are many excellent books that introduce statistical techniques to students and researchers in psychology and related fields, and there are many excellent books which examine regression. What we always felt as students was that the books that introduced statistical concepts didn't seem to tell you enough to be able to go out and use them. Instead, the books that tell you enough, tell you too much, and you find yourself bogged down in the detail that you didn't feel that you really had to know. So we tried to write a book that is in between these two - a book that tells you enough about using regression analysis to be able to do it, and cope when things don't go according to plan, but not so much that it becomes incomprehensible to people without a great deal of mathematical/statistical knowledge. The book contains three parts: Part I: I need to do regression analysis tomorrow. Contains Chapter 1: Building Models with Regression and Correlation Chapter 2: More Than One IV – Multiple Regression Chapter 3: Categorical Independent Variables Part II: I need to do regression analysis next week Chapter 4: Assumptions In Regression Analysis Chapter 5: Issues in Regression Analysis Part III: I would like to know more of the things that regression analysis can do Chapter 6: Nonlinear and Logistic Regression Chapter 7: Moderator And Mediator Analysis Chapter 8: Introducing Some Advanced Techniques: Multilevel Modelling And Structural Equation Modelling.

Customer Reviews

A brilliant walkthrough of the issues concerning this topic
Somewhat sceptical at first having read reviews about other book that claim the text does not require a high level of understanding of mathamatics I was pleasantly surprised to find that the claims of the authors in their review were right. The text relies on logical explanations rather than mathematical formulae to get a point across and in so doing makes the book easy to follow and understandable for someone like me who does not have a great love of mathematics.

I found the book easy to read, progressed logically and was well supported by diagrams and charts. I also found the explanations about the SPSS computer print-outs invaluable. Perhaps it’s just me but I get the feeling that there is a conspiracy out there. The people at SPSS produce a statistical package that will do just about anything, but you need to be a rocket scientist to follow the manuals that are provided with it or to understand the print out for the test. Then here comes a book that can explain it so well you wonder why you didn’t understand it before, why couldn’t the chaps at SPSS get it right in the first place, surely they know who uses their program and they are not all statistics experts or do they get a cut from all the authors that gain employment writing books telling us how to use the program and understand it.

Ok, so rant aside what do I think? I’ve read lots of books in this area trying to get my head around this topic. I wish I hadn’t bothered; this is the only book that I needed to have read, it explained everything. As Ron Weasley said in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, although I’m not too sure he was talking about this book, its “Bloody Brilliant!”

Does what it says on the tin - very well too!
Whilst I am comfortable with maths I don't miss it when it's not there and this book covers the topics of regression and correlation superbly with almost no maths. The authors explain the underlying concepts and practical aspects so you come away with a good understanding of the subject AND (importantly) the ability to apply it in practice. They go on to deal with slightly more advanced aspects (e.g. hierarchical variable entry) and still succeed in keeping it comprehensible. I am impressed and now refer back to the book often when doing stats analysis.