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The 5 Things You Need to Know about Statistics

Quantification in Ethnographic Research
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The 5 Things You Need to Know about Statistics offers an accessible introduction to statistical thinking specifically tailored for anthropologists and social scientists. Rather than merely teaching statistical procedures, it emphasises understanding the underlying logic of statistics to enhance precise ethnographic studies. The book covers five essential concepts: central tendency, dispersion, Chi-square, ANOVA, and correlation, demonstrating these through a single data set to highlight diverse interpretations. Written in clear, straightforward language, it empowers readers to apply quantitative methods confidently in their real-life fieldwork.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for anthropology students, social scientists, and researchers who experience anxiety towards data analysis and seek a clear, practical introduction to statistics in ethnographic research. It suits beginners and those aiming to deepen their conceptual understanding of quantitative methods in social science.

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Written in clear, straightforward prose, this brief volume introduces students in anthropology and other social sciences to the basic principles of statistical thinking used in quantitative ethnographic research.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The 5 Things You Need to Know about Statistics provides an accessible introduction to statistical thinking for anthropologists and other social scientists who feel some mixture of dread and loathing when it comes to quantification and data analysis. It is not so much an introduction to statistics as a primer on how to think statistically in order to do precise ethnographic studies. Readers will be empowered by the realization that statistics is not an arcane, enigmatical science but a set of tools for learning about the world in which we live.

Unlike other books on statistics for beginners, this book:

  • Guides readers through the underlying logic of the major statistical methods before applying those methods in interpreting ethnographic research, thus emphasizing understanding of quantitative methods.
  • Uses a single data set in explaining each method, allowing readers to grasp how different methods offer varying interpretations of the data.
  • Discusses increasingly complex techniques in plain, easy-to-understand language intended for beginning students.
  • Covers five central ideas: central tendency, dispersion, Chi-square, ANOVA, correlation.
  • Shows readers how to use these quantitative statistical methods in doing real-life ethnographic fieldwork.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Dressler demystifies statistics, laying a solid foundation for anthropologists new to quantitative methods and those seeking advanced training. Reviewers praise his skillful progression from basic to complex topics, highlighting the book’s unique focus on the art and logic of statistical thinking over mere computation. It is regarded as a transformative primer that reshapes how ethnographic research and analysis are conceptualised.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781611323931

Publisher: Left Coast Press Inc

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 February 2015

Country: United States

Imprint: Left Coast Press Inc

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 294g

Pages: 166

About the Author

William W. Dressler , professor of anthropology at the University of Alabama, USA is a medical anthropologist with interests in culture theory, community studies, research methods, and the relationship between culture and disease. He has adapted models of psychosocial stress to examine the association between social and cultural factors and the risk of chronic disease, including cardiovascular disease. His recent work emphasizes concepts and methods needed to evaluate the health effects of individual efforts to achieve culturally defined goals and aspirations, and he has helped develop research methods for the study of connections among cultural, individual, and biological spheres. His research has been conducted in settings as diverse as urban Great Britain, the Southeast U.S., the West Indies, Mexico, and Samoa.

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    The 5 Things You Need to Know about Statistics provides an accessible introduction to statistical thinking for anthropologists and other social scientists who feel some mixture of dread and loathing when it comes to quantification and data analysis. It is not so much an introduction to statistics as a primer on how to think statistically in order to do precise...
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