Using Statistical Methods in Social Science Research

Description

Using Statistical Methods in Social Science Research, Third Edition is the user-friendly text every student needs for analyzing and making sense of quantitative data. With over 20 years of experience teaching statistics, Soleman H. Abu-Bader provides an accessible, step-by-step description of the process needed to organize data, choose a test or statistical technique, analyze, interpret, and report research findings.

The book begins with an overview of research and statistical terms, followed by an explanation of basic descriptive statistics. It then focuses on the purpose, rationale, and assumptions made by each test, such as Pearson's correlation, student's t-tests, analysis of variances, and simple linear regression, among others. The book also provides a wealth of research examples that clearly display the applicability and function of these tests in real-world practice. In a separate appendix, the author provides a step-by-step process for calculating each test for those who still like to understand the mathematical formulas behind these processes.

New to this Edition

• Completely revised practical exercises including hand calculations, multiple-choice, true/false, and fill-in-the blank exercises
• Two new appendices, "Appendix B: Hand Calculations" and "Appendix C: Critical Values"
• New Chapter 12, "Simple Linear Regression"
• Three new test statistics: point-biserial and partial correlation tests (chapter 7) and one-sample Wilcoxon signed ranks test (chapter 8)
• Expanded discussion about post hoc test and discussion of two new post hoc tests: Tukey HDS and Games-Howell tests (chapter 10)

Table of Contents

Preface
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of SPSS Screen Captures

Chapter 1: Overview of Mathematical and Research Methodological Terms
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Basic Mathematical Concepts
Variable and Constants
Levels of Measurement
Research Hypotheses
Psychometric Properties of an Instrument
Population and Sample
Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
Types of Relationships between Two Variables
Summary
Key Terms
Practical Exercises

Chapter 2: Working with SPSS
Learning Objectives
Introduction
About the SPSS Program
Creating an Instrumentation Codebook
Practical Example
Starting the SPSS Program
Summary
Key Terms
Practical Exercises

Chapter 3: Data Organization and Summary: Frequency Tables and Graphs
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Frequency Distributions
Graphic Presentations of Data
Summary
Key Terms
Practical Exercises

Chapter 4: Descriptive Statistics: Measures of Central Tendency, Variability, and Percentiles
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Measures of Central Tendency
Measures of Variability
What Measures to Report
Percentile and Percentile Ranks
Box-and-Whisker Plot
Summary
Key Terms
Practical Exercises

Chapter 5: Distributions, Data Transformations, and Standard Z Scores
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Normality of Distributions
Standard Scores (z Scores)
Summary
Key Terms
Practical Exercises

Chapter 6: Hypothesis Testing and Selecting a Statistical Test
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Research Hypotheses
Errors in Hypothesis Testing
Confidence Interval
Selecting a Statistical Test
Summary
Key Terms
Practical Exercises

Chapter 7: Bivariate Correlations
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Correlation
Scatterplot
Correlation and Causality
Correlational Tests
Assumptions
Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient
Partial Correlation Test
Practical Examples
Summary
Key Terms
Practical Exercises

Chapter 8: Difference between Two Group Means: The One-Sample Case and Two-Sample Case t-Tests
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Student's t-Tests
One-Sample Case t-Test
Two-Sample Case t-Test
Mann-Whitney U Test
Practical Examples
Summary
Key Terms
Practical Exercises

Chapter 9: Dependent t-Test: Two-Paired Observations
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Dependent t-Test
Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test
Practical Examples
Summary
Key Terms
Practical Exercises

Chapter 10: K Group Comparisons: One-Way Analysis of Variance and Covariance
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Why Not Use the Independent t-Test?
Analysis of Variance: An Overview
One-Way ANOVA
One-Way ANCOVA
Sources of Variations in ANOVA and ANCOVA
Assumptions of ANOVA and ANCOVA
Kruskal-Wallis H Test
Post Hoc Tests
Practical Examples
Summary
Key Terms
Practical Exercises

Chapter 11: Chi-Square Goodness-of-Fit Test and Test of Association
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Chi-Square Test
Chi-Square Goodness-of-Fit Test
Chi-Square Test of Association
Contingency Table
Assumptions of Chi-Square Tests
Fisher's Exact Test
Measures of Association
Practical Examples
Summary
Key Terms
Practical Exercises

Chapter 12: Simple Linear Regression
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Simple Linear Regression
Regression Equations and Scatterplot
Regression Coefficients
Confidence Interval
Assumptions
Practical Example
Summary
Key Terms
Practical Exercises

Appendix A: SPSS Data Files
Data File 1: Experimental Design (N = 60)
Data File 2: Immigrants (N = 40)
Data File 3: Job Satisfaction (N = 218)
Data File 4: Mental Health (N = 155)
Data File 5: Refugees (N = 230)
Data File 6: Reliability Analysis (N = 110)
Data File 7: Senior Citizens (N = 90)
Data File 8: Well-Being (N = 182)

Appendix B: Hand Calculations
B.1. Correlational Tests
B.2. One-Sample Case and Two-Sample Case T Tests
B.3. Student's T Test-Two-Paired Observations
B.4. One-Way Analysis of Variance and Covariance
B.5. Chi-Square Tests
B.6. Simple Linear Regression

Appendix C: Critical Values
Table C.1. Z Scores
Table C.2. Pearson's Correlation Critical Values
Table C.3. Spearman's Correlation Critical Values
Table C.4. T Distribution Critical Values
Table C.5. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test Critical Values
Table C.6. F Distribution Critical Values
Table C.7. Mann-Whitney U Test Critical Values
Table C.8. Tukey HSD Q Test Critical Values
Table C.9. Chi-Square Critical Values

References
Index