Communication Research Statistics
- John C. Reinard - California State University, Fullerton, USA
--John C. Pollock, The College of New Jersey
Written in an accessible style using straightforward and direct language, Communication Research Statistics guides students through the statistics actually used in most empirical research undertaken in communication studies. This introductory textbook is the only work in communication that includes details on statistical analysis of data with a full set of data analysis instructions based on SPSS 12 and Excel XP.
Key Features:
- Emphasizes basic and introductory statistical thinking: The basic needs of novice researchers and students are addressed, while underscoring the foundational elements of statistical analyses in research. Students learn how statistics are used to provide evidence for research arguments and how to evaluate such evidence for themselves.
- Prepares students to use statistics: Students are encouraged to use statistics as they encounter and evaluate quantitative research. The book details how statistics can be understood by developing actual skills to carry out rudimentary work. Examples are drawn from mass communication, speech communication, and communication disorders.
- Incorporates SPSS 12 and Excel: A distinguishing feature is the inclusion of coverage of data analysis by use of SPSS 12 and by Excel. Information on the use of major computer software is designed to let students use such tools immediately.
Companion Web Site!
A dedicated Web site at http://commfaculty.fullerton.edu/jreinard/constats.htm includes a glossary, data sets, chapter summaries, additional readings, links to other useful sites, selected "calculators" for computation of related statistics, additional macros for selected statistics using Excel and SPSS, and extra chapters on multiple discriminant analysis and loglinear analysis.
Intended Audience: Ideal for undergraduate and graduate courses in Communication Research Statistics or Methods; also relevant for many Research Methods courses across the social sciences
"Reinard sets forth a solid intermediate level statistics book that could serve students in advanced researcg classes quite well. In essence, this text would help with the quagmire many students encounter when reading statistics books."
"Each chapter provides a minimum of formulae and avoids complex numerical computations. To some, this approach will appear to be the end of the world as we know it. But, in my experience, detailed examination of statistical formulae via hand computations leads to anxiety about arithmetic rather than a deepening of understanding of statistics for a majority of students. It is only after the anxiety is dealt with, and the student has a degree of facility with statistics, that a deepening understanding can occur with such methods. The book adopts a conceptual rather than a computational approach, and this is to be commended."
A well-written book, suitable for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. The book cover both elementary and intermediate statistics, and provides some background information about the formula used to calculate the statistics without alienating the reader.
A very good book easy to understand and apply the context covered in ones own research. Has been welcomed by students in my course.
Sage College Publishing
