Understandable Statistics : Concepts and Methods

Understandable Statistics is a thorough, yet manageable text for one-semester introductory statistics courses. The text's approachable style is designed to help students overcome their apprehension about statistics. To reinforce this approach, the book integrates graphing technology as well as real-life data from such sources as journals, periodicals, newspapers and the Internet. This real-world emphasis asks students to utilize real data to draw conclusions and interpret results, working on problems drawn from the sciences, business, medicine, archaeology, and consumer economics.

Check Points at the beginning of each section list the concepts that will be covered in the section to prepare students for the material. Tech Notes, found in select section examples, provide general tips to guide students in the appropriate use of the TI-83 Plus, Minitab, and Excel. Denoted by an icon, the Tech Notes also incorporate display screens from each of these technologies to help students work through a statistical problem and better understand the solution. Chapter openers have been redesigned to include new pedagogical features: a brief Chapter Table of Contents and a set of Preview Questions with references to the appropriate section in the chapter. Also featuring compelling new photos, the chapter-opening material maintains the book's emphasis on real-world applications with quotes, commentary, and Focus Problems from the previous edition. Even and odd answers in text margins of the Instructor's Annotated Edition, located next to their respective exercises, offers instructors a time-saving convenience. For answers that contain art or tables too large to fit in the margin, a note directs instructors to the Appendices. Viewpoint boxes present a real-world situation and feature thought-provoking problems that help to humanize statistics.