Data Analysis for the Social Sciences : Integrating Theory and Practice

′This book fosters in-depth understanding of the logic underpinning the most common statistical tests within the behavioural sciences. By emphasising the shared ground between these tests, the author provides crucial scaffolding for students as they embark upon their research journey.′ ―Ruth Horry, Psychology, Swansea University 

′This unique text presents the conceptual underpinnings of statistics as well as the computation and application of statistics to real-life situations--a combination rarely covered in one book. A must-have for students learning statistical techniques and a go-to handbook for experienced researchers.′ ―Barbra Teater, Social Work, College of Staten Island, City University of New York

Accessible, engaging, and informative, this book will help any social science student approach statistics with confidence. 

With a well-paced and well-judged integrated approach rather than a simple linear trajectory, this book progresses at a realistic speed that matches the pace at which statistics novices actually learn. Packed with global, interdisciplinary examples that ground statistical theory and concepts in real-world situations, it shows students not only how to apply newfound knowledge using IBM SPSS Statistics, but also why they would want to. Spanning statistics basics like variables, constants, and sampling through to t-tests, multiple regression and factor analysis, it builds statistical literacy while also covering key research principles like research questions, error types and results reliability.

It shows you how to:

• Describe data with graphs, tables, and numbers
• Calculate probability and value distributions
• Test a priori and post hoc hypotheses
• Conduct Chi-squared tests and observational studies
• Structure ANOVA, ANCOVA, and factorial designs

Supported by lots of visuals and a website with interactive demonstrations, author video, and practice datasets, this book is the student-focused companion to support students through their statistics journeys.  

Dr. Douglas Alexander Bors is currently an Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto, the institution from which he received his Ph.D. For over three decades he has taught courses in statistics at the undergraduate and graduate levels ranging from the introductory level to multivariate statistics and structural equation modelling. He is also the Dean’s Designate for Matter of Academic Integrity. He has served as a reviewer for several scholarly journals and has been a regular reviewer for Personality and Individual Differences. During his career his empirical research focused on problem solving and abstract reasoning. The short-form of the Advanced Raven’s Progressive Matrices that he developed with Tonya Stokes is a widely used research instrument. Over the years he has acted as a consultant for major pharmaceutical firms as well as survey and marketing companies. Currently he is retained as a design and analysis consultant for a major marketing firm.