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Using Statistics to Make Educational Decisions
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Using Statistics to Make Educational Decisions



September 2011 | 552 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

An accessible introduction to statistics written specifically for Education students in the changing educational landscape

Government scrutiny and intensified oversight have dramatically changed the landscape of education in recent years. Observers want to know how schools compare, which district is best, which states are spending the most per student on education, whether reforms are making a difference, and why so many students are failing. Some of these questions require technical answers that educators historically redirected to outside experts, but the questions leveled at all educators have become so acute and persistent that they can no longer be outsourced. This text helps educators develop the tools and the conceptual understanding needed to provide definitive answers to difficult statistical questions facing education today.


 
Part A: Developing a Context for Statistical Analysis
 
Chapter 1: A Context for Solving Quantitative Problems
 
Chapter 2: Describing Data
 
Part B: Presenting Data
 
Chapter 3: Data Distributions: Picturing Data
 
Chapter 4: Working with the Normal Curve: z Scores
 
Part C. Examining Differences
 
Chapter 5: Probability and the Normal Distribution
 
Chapter 6: t for One, or Two
 
Chapter 7: Analysis of Variance
 
Chapter 8: ANOVA with more than One Independent Variable: Factorial ANOVA
 
Chapter 9: Dependent Groups Tests for Interval Data
 
Part D. Association and Prediction
 
Chapter 10: Correlation
 
Chapter 11: Regression with One Predictor
 
Chapter 12: Regression with More than One Predictor
 
Part E. Tests for Nominal and Ordinal Data
 
Chapter 13: Some of the Chi-square Tests
 
Chapter 14: Working with Ordinal, More, or Less-than Data
 
Part F. Tests, Measurement Issues and Selected Advanced Topics
 
Chapter 15: Testing Issues
 
Chapter 16: A Brief Introduction to Selected Advanced Topics
 
Glossary
 
Appendices: Tables of Critical Values
 
Appendices: A Primer in SPSS®
 
Appendices: Solutions to Selected Problems

“This text seems to cover the basics of educational decision making. It would make an excellent text for a course preceding the one I am teaching.”

Mack C. Shelley

The content is very specific to my design for the course. The book addresses a wide range of prior content affiliation by the student. It reads very well but still provides necessary mathematical rigor for understading the concepts presented...extremely appropriate for most EdD programs and could also function as an excellent transistion from a mathematics, statistical background into the world of research in the social sciences.

Benjamin Brown
Lincoln Memorial University

excellent text, very clear and walks students through long-hand calculations.
Also, the ancillary materials are very helpful as an instructor

Mrs Megan Pollock
Sch Of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University - Fresno
August 19, 2013

Provides advanced students with more information and resources

Dr Brian Doore
College Of Educ Human Develop, University of Maine
September 6, 2012

It's well laid out, provides lots of examples, and is written using simple language that is easy for beginner students to follow.

Dr Morgan Earp
Educational Leadership Dept, George Washington University - Dc
February 5, 2012

Very easy to read. Dood connection with SPSS and excellent applications.

Dr Joanna Badara
Educational Leadership Doctoral Program, University of Bridgeport
January 24, 2012

extremely readable

appropriate for educators

facilitates selection of research methodologies (very important)

Dr Benjamin Brown
Graduate Education, Lincoln Memorial University
January 3, 2012

Appropriate for Masters Level students in education and has great teacher resources.

Dr Barbara Nolan
School Of Education, Dowling College
November 2, 2011
Key features

Key Features:

  • An interdisciplinary approach provides a wealth of examples from educational psychology, educational administration, teacher education, special education, adult education, counselor education, and more.
  • Thinking logically is emphasized, aiding those students with little background in formal mathematics: Part I begins with a chapter that is entirely non-mathematical.
  • Each chapter opens with a typical problem facing educators, outlines options for responding, explores each option, and ends with a summary.
  • Through a Wider Lens features show a broad application of a particular subject, illustrating how to execute a statistical concept or idea. Chapters include data sets drawn from actual school practice in SPSS format.
  • Designed to help students master the language of statistics, key terms are bold face, defined in text, redefined in a text box later in the chapter, and included in the Glossary.
  • Includes an introduction to measurement concepts, multiple regression, and selected advanced statistical procedures.
  • Chapter 15 focuses on government involvement and the associated emphasis on standardized testing, helping educators recognize the connection between statistical analysis and formal testing, a hallmark of contemporary education.

For instructors

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ISBN: 9781483314686

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This title is also available on SAGE Knowledge, the ultimate social sciences online library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial.