Master the roots and practices of statistics with a clear, practical guide to collecting and analyzing data.
This edition surveys the history, definition, and uses of statistics, then walks through how to plan data gathering, choose a statistical unit, and ensure accurate results. It blends theory with actionable methods, making complex ideas approachable for students and professionals alike.
Structured to help you understand how statistical thinking has evolved and how to apply it in real-world research, this book covers topics from problem framing and data collection to tabulation, diagrams, distributions, and measures of dispersion and skewness. It also introduces methods for comparing variables and interpreting correlations, all grounded in practical examples and figures from the field.
- Foundational concepts of statistics and the role of data in decision making
- Step-by-step guidance on planning data collection and selecting samples
- Techniques for tabulation, diagrams, histograms, and basic measures of variability
- Approaches to comparing data sets and assessing relationships between variables
Ideal for readers of historical and methodological statistics, this edition suits students, researchers, and anyone seeking a solid, hands-on introduction to statistical method.
Great for those exploring how quantitative analysis informs economics, social science, and public policy.
Ideal for readers of statistics and research methods books seeking a practical, historically grounded overview.