Sull'Autore
Joel Best is Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware. He is the author of the best-selling Damned Lies and Statistics, Stat-Spotting, and American Nightmares.
Opere di Joel Best
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Etichette
Informazioni generali
- Altri nomi
- Best, Joel Gordon
- Data di nascita
- 1946-08-21
- Sesso
- male
- Nazionalità
- USA
- Istruzione
- University of Minnesota (MA|U.S. History|1979)
University of California, Berkeley (PhD|Sociology|1971)
University of Minnesota (BA|Sociology and Psychology|1967) - Attività lavorative
- sociologist
university professor - Organizzazioni
- University of Delaware
Southern Illinois University
California State University, Fresno
Concordia College
Utenti
Recensioni
More Damned Lies and Statistics: How Numbers Confuse… di Joel Best
I read this book on the bus to and from visiting my dad in hospital this week. That said, I can't remember much of of it so there is no way I'm going to write any kind of review. No, I'm not going to re-read it. I think I'll just move on and maybe read something funny and light as I appear to be a touch distracted.
This was required reading in a social sciences research class I took in graduate school, but it is not graduate level material. This is a popular science book to explain concepts that are confusing for those who have never studied statistics. Researchers are advised to use an actual statistics textbook to learn how to perform statistical analysis.
Statistics are constructed not discovered. It is people that create statistics, consequently statistics are coloured by the worldview of the constructor. There is no such thing as a neutral statistic. This book provides ample evidence that statistics are the products of social activity. Joel Best, a professor of sociology and criminal justice, has produced a readable and informative book. He draws upon statistics from many walks of life to illustrate his points.
Those who create statistics want to prove something. Best, shows how by asking key questions we can help expose these underlying perspectives:
Who created the statistic?
Why was this statistic created?
How was the statistic created?
Best deals with key issues such as the source of bad statistics: bad guesses, descriptive definitions, confusing questions and biased samples; mutant statistics: the ways in which good statistics can be mangled, misused and misunderstood; and the problems of statistical comparison. It requires no background in maths or statistics. It will help readers be more critical in their acceptance of statistical data.… (altro)
Those who create statistics want to prove something. Best, shows how by asking key questions we can help expose these underlying perspectives:
Who created the statistic?
Why was this statistic created?
How was the statistic created?
Best deals with key issues such as the source of bad statistics: bad guesses, descriptive definitions, confusing questions and biased samples; mutant statistics: the ways in which good statistics can be mangled, misused and misunderstood; and the problems of statistical comparison. It requires no background in maths or statistics. It will help readers be more critical in their acceptance of statistical data.… (altro)
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- Opere
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- Utenti
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- Popolarità
- #30,425
- Voto
- 3.6
- Recensioni
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- ISBN
- 82
- Lingue
- 2