Practicing Statistics: Guided Investigations for the Second Course

Building on the introductory course, Practicing Statistics: Guided Investigations for the Second Course presents a variety of compelling topics for a second course in statistics, such as multiple regression, nonparametric methods, and survival analysis. Every topic is introduced in the context of a real-world research question, asking students to explore the concepts firsthand with guided activities and research projects.

The number of students taking AP Statistics continues to rise, and the number of students taking an introductory statistics course has more than doubled since 1990. As a result, the goals of the second course have changed.  This course must engage students from multiple disciplines and demonstrate the broad applicability of statistics to their lives. To that end, this text takes an inquiry-based approach that teaches advanced statistical techniques through group work and hands-on exploration using real research questions.

The chapters are modular, so that instructors can select only the topics relevant to their course, and teach them in any order. The only prerequisite is an algebra-based introductory statistics or AP statistics course.

Shonda Kuiper was the recipient of a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation to develop materials for a second course in statistics. She has held the position of Associate Professor at Grinnell College since September 2003. The courses she teaches include Introductory Statistics, Statistical Methods, Design of Experiments, and calculus-based Probability and Statistics. Shonda received her BA in mathematics from Wartburg College, and has an MS and a PhD in statistics from Iowa State University. In addition to previously holding teaching positions at Iowa State University and Wartburg College, Shonda served four years as Consulting Statistician, and later Senior Engineer, for Hallmark Greeting Cards.

Jeffrey Sklar is an Associate Professor in the Statistics Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and teaches various introductory statistics courses, as well as linear regression, multivariate statistics, and survival analysis courses. Before joining the faculty at Cal Poly in September 2005, he taught classes in the Department of Statistics and Applied Probability and the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Jeffrey received his Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree in mathematics and philosophy from the University of California, Davis, and his MA and PhD in statistics from University of California, Santa Barbara.