Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences (3rd Edition) |  | Authors: Alan Agresti, Barbara Finlay
Publisher: Prentice Hall
List Price: $137.33
Buy Used: $21.29
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Seller: graduatesale
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 429372
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 3
Pages: 643
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.6
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 7 x 1.3
ISBN: 0135265266
Dewey Decimal Number: 519.50243
EAN: 9780135265260
ASIN: 0135265266
Publication Date: March 28, 1997
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Assuming no prior knowledge of statistics, these authors combine their varied backgrounds—one a statistician, the other a social scientist—to introduce statistical methods with a high degree of statistical accuracy and a wealth of examples that are interesting and relevant to social scientists. KEY TOPICS: The Third Edition has been both updated and improved to integrate real-world data into examples and exercises, and make coverage more accessible throughout.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 9
 A good but demanding introduction to statistics October 8, 2009
not a natural (huntington, west virginia United States)
This is an informative book that could easily be adapted for use as the basic text in a two-course statistics sequence. It would be useful if chapter 16 were deleted from the text, however, because the topics covered, including path analysis, factor analysis, and structural equation modeling, are briefly introduced but not developed. If this resulted in a reduction in the price of this fairly expensive text that would be all to the good.
While the book is not an easy read, it is quite well written. The difficulty comes not from inadequacies in the authors' accounts of concepts and procedures, but from the level of difficulty of the material they present. Mathematically, Agresti and Finlay's book is no more difficult than Knoke, Bohrnstedt, and Potter's introductory text that I have used in basic statistics courses. Conceptually, however, Agresti and Finlay's introduction is sophisticated and rather demanding. They use numerous graphs, tables, and sample computer printouts to clarify their exposition, and they provide an unusually large number of instructive end-of-chapter questions. Still, the concepts are presented in a rigorous fashion with no effort to appeal to the indifferent reader.
I am still trying to decide if I will use this book as the foundation text in my basic statistics course for graduate students. Its quality certainly merits adoption, but it does cover a good deal more material than is suitable for a first course (meaning that I'll be picking and choosing material throughout the book), and it is a demanding read.
Furthermore, some of the material presented in later chapters is organized in a way that presumes use of SAS or SPSS statistical software. This can be worked around, but I don't like to introduce beginning statistics students to statistical problem-solving using computers. Experience has taught me that this is inconsistent with mastery of basic concepts, and often leaves students unable to chart an interpretable analytical course of their own using basic statistical methods.
Whatever the outcome, I'm glad I read the text. Anyone with an interest in statistics would benefit from working through this fine presentation of undeniably difficult material.
Pretty Standard February 7, 2007
W. Nash (Ann Arbor)
Standard textbook, but difficult if you're trying to build statistical knowledge outside of a class.
 An Excellent Book August 17, 2006
Michael Kamboures (USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am a chemist. Chemists,unfortunately know very little about statistics. I was placed on a project which required me to use multiple linear regression, ANOVA, and logistic regression. I purchased this book, hoping that it would help me to learn these methods. It did. This book does an excellent job of explaining a wide variety of statistical methods in a clear manner. It is easy to read and you will be amazed at how quickly you are able to read this entire book and develop a strong statistical knowledge.
I suggest you do the examples yourself as you move through the text using Excel. I think that this adds a great deal to the learning experience, and gives you confidence.
Statistics book that makes sense January 30, 2004
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I bought this book in graduate school for my statistics class, and it has continued to help me ever since in my professional career. Unlike many of the statistics books that use complex formulas to explain statistical methods, this book breaks each formula down in an easy to follow format. After explaining the concept, the authors use an example to illustrate the point, which makes things much easier to understand. Also, the Appendix which has SPSS and SAS coding for each of the statistical methods described in the book is a lifesaver!
As a student and a teacher, I've loved it! September 16, 2003
Ellis Godard (Moorpark, CA United States)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I was subjected to an earlier edition when I took statistics as an undergraduate, and I've used the 2nd and 3rd editions as a lecturer and professor, and I believe there is no preferable alternative.Agresti and Finlay are, above all, clear and accurate. Over the last decade, I've looked at several dozen alternatives, hoping to find one that's strong in the areas where this text is weak. I've been enticed by different layouts, writing styles, even overall motifs, but am always reminded of why I (and others) have relied on this text for so long. Some alternatives are just sloppy - poor editing, excessive typographic errors, incorrect answers in the answer keys. Some others border on incompetent, confusing basic issues and not clarifying the disputes on border issues. And some, while achieving rapport through comics, comedy, or simply light humor, lose some of the subtle finesse that statistics entails. Now, this one ain't perfect. The subtleties and disputes are side-stepped rather than highlighted. The text and layout are a bit wordy and eye-hard. And the examples are more practical than pedagogical. The data examples could be a bit sexier. But the meat is all there, and correct, and clear. And that's what you want in a statistics textbook. You don't need something that pretends stats is inherently fun or exciting. The lecturer should convey the power of p, the coolness of coefficients, and the holy grail of "r-squared". The text book should cover the material accurately and in detail, and this one does.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 9
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