Understanding Political Science Statistics - Observations and Expectations in Political Analysis

"Any student can learn the basic concepts of statistics if they are introduced as solutions to particular problems, and not formulas with a life of their own. In this text, students are introduced to a problem, asked to consider, conceptually, how one would address that problem, and then led through the derivation of the appropriate statistical formula. This applied method of teaching statistics through political science examples allows students to see the research method as problem solving. They learn the math, but only after they learn the concepts and methodological considerations that give the math context. The concepts throughout are presented through the lens of "observations and expectations," applied to myriad statistical techniques, both descriptive and inferential, as well as more generalized concepts of research methodology itself, such as hypothesis testing. Galderisi highlights that with each advance in technical sophistication, each statistical procedure is built on a small set of basic concepts, such as the reasons for standardization, the effects of outliers, or the concept of proportional reduction of error, to show that they are cumulative. More important than just memorizing a series of formula, this text emphasizes the underlying logic of statistical analysis for greater understanding. Further, the applications and examples drawn from political science (including law) allow students to better see how they can apply these concepts and techniques in their own research and in future coursework"--

Product details

• Authors: Peter Galderisi, Peter (University of California Galderisi, Peter F. Galderisi
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 17.03.2015
• EAN: 9780415890052
• ISBN: 978-0-415-89005-2
• No. of pages: 364
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Natural sciences (general); Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political theories and the history of ideas; POLITICAL SCIENCE / General, Politics & government, Politics and government, Social research & statistics, Probability & statistics, Probability and statistics, Social research and statistics