Prove It with Figures: Empirical Methods in Law and Litigation (Statistics for Social and Behavioral Sciences) - Hardcover

Zeisel, Hans; Kaye, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0387948929 ISBN 13: 9780387948928

Publisher: Springer, 1997

Synopsis

Prove It With Figures displays some of the tools of the social and statistical sciences that have been applied in the courtroom and to the study of questions of legal importance. It explains how researchers can extract the most valuable and reliable data that can conveniently be made available, and how these efforts sometimes go awry. In the tradition of Zeisel's standard work "Say It with Figures," the authors clarify, in non-technical language, some of the basic problems common to all efforts to discern cause-and-effect relationships. Designed as a textbook for law students who seek an appreciation of the power and limits of empirical methods, this is also a useful reference for lawyers, policymakers, and members of the public who would like to improve their critical understanding of the statistics presented to them. The many case histories include analyses of the death penalty, jury selection, employment discrimination, mass torts, and DNA profiling.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

"Apart from the evident value this book will have for its intended audience, it makes stimulating light reading for the statistician keen to see statistical ideas in relatively novel situations." - D.J. Hand, Book Review, International Statistical Institute Vol 18, No. 1, April 1998

"...An excellent primer for the legal professional who has little previous acquaintance with statistics and empirical methods." - Jurimetrics: The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology, Winter 1998, Vol. 38, No. 2, pp. 239-240

"The organizing thesis of the book is the problem of determining causation--causation defined not in a philosophical sense but rather intended for the practical needs of dispute settlement. By combing the research literature for examples of how social research has been used by the authors and by others to discern causation, Zeisel and Kaye have come close to writing a handbook for general social science research." "It should command the attention of all public opinion researchers interested in new methods of study design." - David L. Sills, Book Review, Public Opinion Quarterly, Summer 1998, pp. 287-289

"...An exceptional primer on statistically based fact finding that is conducted for purposes of litigation." "The book is primarily directed at practitioners, teachers, and students of law. It is practical and written in a superb style, with a minimum of jargon, and full documentation of cases and other materials..."

"Practically all of the approaches, techniques and theories that are discussed are applicable to both civil and criminal litigation." - Charles Winick, Criminal Law Bulletin, p. 625

About the Author

David Kaye is Regents Professor at the Arizona State University, where he teaches evidence and related topics.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0387948929
• ISBN 13: 9780387948928
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 376