Basic Statistics for Behavioral Science

Rating:
Summary: Pleasurable reading, and easy learning
Review: I took psychology at Monash University in Australia when I was 15 years old, and thankfully Heiman's book was the set text for research methods and statistics in the first year. Although the word "basic" is in the title, it is not a book without depth. It is an easy to read survey of undergraduate level statistics used in psychology courses. By the time you've finished with this book, you will be able to comfortably read and critique the vast majority of research papers in psychology, including some meta analyses.

This book will be especially useful if you've never studied statistics or you believe you are no good at any kind of mathematical study. I already had a strong background in mathematics when I took courses using this textbook, but I still found this text enlightening and pleasurable reading.

Heiman uses everyday language and clearly explains not only the funny squiggles and symbols, but also exactly when and how to use different types of statistics, how to conduct and evaluate research and how to interpret the meaning of research results in the behavioural sciences.

Heiman changed my mind about statistics with this book. Before I took statistics I could only think, "lies, damn lies, and statistics." I thought they were useless, misleading, and tools of propaganda. After finishing this book, I found that good statistics were useful and reliable aids to understanding an astonishing range of data.

While this book is accessible to the average student, and even to those who's achievements in mathematics/statistics are modest or non-existant, it will not insult the intelligence of more experienced students, either.

If you've ever wondered about the Chi Square test, ANOVA, "no significant difference from a chance variation," z-scores, r, N=whatever, then you will love this book. You will also be able to play "spot the useless or misleading statistics" and make truly informed decisions about social science research.