Applying Social Statistics

This book on introductory social statistics focuses on how statistical techniques are applied in sociological research. In addition to the usual range of topics in descriptive and inductive statistics (frequency, central tendency, dispersion, confidence intervals, significance testing, and correlation and regression), it includes essays and exercises that illustrate the close connection between sociological theory and practice, on one hand, and quantitative reasoning, on the other. Extensive SPSS and Internet applications are included.

While Applying Social Statistics is 'about' social statistics and includes all of the topics generally covered in similar texts, it is first and foremost a book about how sociologists use statistics. Its emphasis is on statistical reasoning in sociology and on showing how these principles can be applied to numerous problems in a wide variety of contexts; to answer effectively the question 'what's it for.' A main learning objective is to help students understand how and why social statistics is used. Yet, Weinstein's style and substance recognize that it is of equal-or even greater-importance that they begin to learn how to apply these principles and techniques themselves.

Chapter 1. Statistics and Sociology: Computation and Application
Part 2 Part I. An Overview of Applied Social Statistics
Chapter 3 Chapter 2. Statistics: What It Is and Why Sociologists Use It
Chapter 4 Chapter 3. Measurement in Sociology: Quantity, Quality, and Social Aggregates
Part 5 Part II. Tools and Techniques of Description
Chapter 6 Chapter 4. Frequency Distributions and Public Sociology
Chapter 7 Chapter 5. Central Tendency in Microsociology
Chapter 8 Chapter 6. Dispersion and the Analysis of Social Deviance
Part 9 Part III. The Logic of Statistical Induction
Chapter 10 Chapter 7. Generalizations and Social Justice
Chapter 11 Chapter 8. Induction: Using Sample Means in the Study of Diversity
Chapter 12 Chapter 9. Hypothesis Testing: The Foundation of Sociological Theory
Part 13 Part IV. Bivariate Applications: Using Induction and Association in Sociological Research
Chapter 14 Chapter 10. Two Sample t-tests and an Application to the Study of Altruism
Chapter 15 Chapter 11. Comparing Three or More Samples in Small-Group Research
Chapter 16 Chapter 12. Association and Induction in Qualitative Sociology: From Private Problems to Public Issues
Chapter 17 Chapter 13. Correlation Description and Induction in Comparative Sociology
Chapter 18 Chapter 14. Regression Description and Induction in the Sociological Study of Globalization
Chapter 19 Chapter 15. Supplemental Material Online