Book Review
Understanding Social Statistics (2nd edition)
Jane L Fielding and Nigel Gilbert
ISBN: 978-1-412910-53-8; 2006; 360 pages; Sage Publications Ltd;
Glenn Gardner
Professor of Clinical Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove Campus; Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane QLD
In this second edition of their text, Fielding and Gilbert have produced a fully revised and updated version of their best-selling textbook on statistics for the social sciences. The book provides a comprehensive and logically sequenced guide to learning the different methods of social scientific research by the use of statistical tools and statistical software. The text presents a good balance of statistical theory and statistics application for the student of quantitative data analysis.
In this book, instruction in use of statistical tools is well-integrated into data analysis software, namely SPSS, with useful illustrations of SPSS screen shots and clear descriptions of the steps to be followed to conduct data analysis. This very effective strategy enables the student to transfer their book learning of statistics effortlessly to the situation of performing analysis. There are several new features in this revised edition, including the use of contemporary data sets that have meaning for today’s student. The data files are accessible through a provided web site and can be downloaded and used in the exercises provided at the end of each chapter.
The book consists of three parts. Part 1 is a comprehensive introduction that includes standard and essential material on the theory and background to statistical work. Also included in this section is an excellent introduction to using computers in statistical analysis. This chapter focuses primarily on SPSS and is a very accessible and beginner-friendly guide to setting up and using SPSS software. Parts 2 and 3 provide excellent instruction and learning opportunities on the basics of univariate and bivariate statistical analysis. Whilst focused on sociology in both the examples used and statistical tools, the book is relevant and useful for any student of statistics and I judge will be required reading for undergraduate students in subjects related to statistics and research methodology.
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