Making Sense of Numbers: Quantitative Reasoning for Social Research - Softcover

Miller, Jane E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1544355599 ISBN 13: 9781544355597

Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc, 2021

Synopsis

Making Sense of Numbers teaches students the skills they need to be both consumers and producers of quantitative research: able to read about, collect, calculate, and communicate numeric information for both everyday tasks and school or work assignments. The text teaches how to avoid making common errors of reasoning, calculation, or interpretation by introducing a systematic approach to working with numbers, showing students how to figure out what a particular number means. The text also demonstrates why it is important to apply a healthy dose of skepticism to the numbers we all encounter, so that we can understand how those numbers can (and cannot) be interpreted in their real-world context. Jane E. Miller uses annotated examples on a wide variety of topics to illustrate how to use new terms, concepts, and approaches to working with numbers. End-of-chapter engagement activities designed based on Miller’s three decades of teaching experience can be used in class or as homework assignments, with some for students to do individually and others intended for group discussion. The book is ideally suited for a range of courses, including quantitative reasoning, research methods, basic statistics, data analysis, and communicating quantitative information.

About this title

About the Author

Jane E. Miller is a Professor at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, where she is Lead Instructor for the undergraduate Research Methods course and instructor for the undergraduate Honors Research Program. She also teaches graduate courses on data visualization and quantitative research. She was previously Faculty Director of Project L/EARN – an intensive social science research training program for undergraduates from historically under-represented groups.

Dr. Miller has written two other books: The Chicago Guide to Writing about Numbers and The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis (University of Chicago Press) – both in their second editions, and also available in Chinese translation (Xinhua Publishing). She has also authored a series of articles in teaching and research journals on how to communicate about quantitative research. Dr. Miller’s research interests include relationships between poverty, child health, health insurance, and access to health care. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics from Williams College and her M.A. and PhD in Demography from the University of Pennsylvania.

Edition details

• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1544355599
• ISBN 13: 9781544355597
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 608