The main difference between this text and many others is that an attempt is made here to present material in a rather relaxed and informal way without omitting important concepts. The text demonstrates the wide range of relevant issues and questions that can be addressed with the help of statistical analysis techniques by presenting over 1,750 realistic problems that arise often in health care, the social and physical sciences, education, business and economics, engineering, and leisure activities. It also convinces your students that statistics is "do-able" by including real data that students have collected and analyzed for class assignments and projects. Additionally, the text utilizes an intuitive, common sense approach (including occasional humorous situation or ridiculous name) to develop concepts whenever possible.
Statistics: A First Course employs widely available, inexpensive technologies--particularly Minitab and the TI-83 graphing calculator. We also explore the use of the World Wide Web to collect data, providing students with the means to obtain up-to-date information without leaving their desks.
In short this book is written to communicate with students rather than to lecture to them, and its intent is to convince readers that the study of statistics can be a lively, interesting, and rewarding experience!
Robert K. Smidt earned a B.S. in mathematics from Manhattan College, an M.S. in statistics from Rutgers University, and a Ph.D. in statistics from the University of Wyoming. Dr. Smidt has taught at the University of Florida, University of Wyoming, Rutgers University, Oregon State University, Cuesta College, Fashion Institute of Technology, for LaVerne College at Vandenberg AFB, for Chapman College at the California Mens Colony, and for the Continuing Education Institute. He is currently professor and former chair of the Statistics Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California. Dr. Smidt has broad statistical consulting experience. He has worked for or with the Department of Defense at the Pentagon, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Tenera, Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Bechtel Power Corporation, Cogimet, Lindamood-Bell Leaning Processes, Fred Streit Associates, Division of Business and Economic Research of the University of Wyoming, County of San Luis Obispo, and the California State Water Resources Control Board. He helped establish the university-wide statistical consulting service at Cal Poly and has extensive consulting experience within the university. Dr. Smidt has contributed to journals such as Biometrics, Journal of Clinical Neuropsychology, Medical Anthropology, Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society, and American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, and to collections such as Statistical Case Studies, A Collaboration Between Academe and Industry and Familias y relaciones de genero en transformacion.
