Statistics: The Art and Science of Learning From Data - Hardcover

Agresti, Alan; Franklin, Christine A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0130083690 ISBN 13: 9780130083692

Publisher: Pearson, 2006

Synopsis

For algebra-based Introductory Statistics Courses.

 

The overarching goal of this text is to empower students to be statistical thinkers

 

Alan Agresti and Chris Franklin have merged their research expertise, as well as their extensive real-world and teaching experience, to develop a new introductory statistics text that makes students statistically literate, while encouraging them to ask and answer interesting statistical questions. The authors have successfully crafted a text that takes the ideas that have turned statistics into a central science in modern life and makes them accessible and engaging to students without compromising necessary rigor.

 

The varied and data-rich examples and exercises place heavy emphasis on thinking about and understanding statistical concepts.  The applications are topical and current and successfully illustrate the relevance of statistics.

 

The authors understand that most of the real-world data that students encounter outside the class room are categorical data.  Unlike many texts at this level, Agresti/Franklin incorporates categorical data where appropriate and draws distinctions between theory and practical application of statistical ideas and methods.

 

The text was written, from the ground up, to embrace and support the 6 recommendations of the ASA endorsed GAISE (Guidelines for Assessment for Instruction in Statistical Education) Report - http://www.amstat.org/education/gaise/GAISECollege.htm:

• Emphasize statistical literacy and develop statistical thinking.
• Use real data.
• Stress conceptual understanding rather than mere knowledge of procedures.
• Foster active learning in the classroom.
• Use technology for developing  concepts and analyzing data.
• Use assessment to evaluate and improve student learning.

 

Comes with a CD containing data sets, additional activities, and applets.  The CD with the IE, furthermore, includes Instructor-to-Instructor videos which further detail, by chapter, the authors approach and provides suggestions on how to present concepts. These Instructor-to-Instructor videos are very complimentary to the IE chapter introductions.

About this title

Review

REVIEWER and CLASS TEST COMMENTS: 

"This was one of the most enjoyable texts that I have come across.  I learned a lot from this book and it has made statistics a lot more fun to teach." - Nazanin Azarnia [CLASS TESTER], Sante Fe Community College, FL

"Good descriptions of concepts, does help them with procedures, strives to help students learn to solve problems...a book my students seemed to find readable." - Ginger Rowell [CLASS TESTER], Middle Tennessee University

"Overall, my experience with this text was very positive.  The inference chapters were especially strong....Many topics were presented in a novel way compared to other texts.  Examples and homework problems were the most relevant and interesting that I have ever seen." - John Seppala [CLASS TESTER], Valdosta State University, GA

“The examples are one of the strong points of this text...” ― Martin Lindquist, Columbia University

 

“The examples used in this text are excellent. ... A student...is likely to believe that statistics is actually useful, and know how to use it, and also how not to use it.” ― Alla Sikorskii, Michigan State University

 

“I think the writing style in these chapters is better than my current text...” ― Robert Price, East Tennessee State University

 

“Keep students’ needs in mind and reduce confusion; This is an important distinguishing characteristic...” ― Rob Paige, Texas Tech

 

“Agresti/Franklin’s use of current and interesting topics is very impressive...” ― Dawn White, CSU Bakersfield

 

“The examples in the text are outstanding. Coincidences, therapeutic touch, astrology, basketball, election results, medical trials, etc. – lots of interesting and relevant examples. I really enjoyed reading the text and I’m sure that my students would also.” – Martin Jones, College of Charleston

 

“The quality of the Agresti/Franklin examples would strongly influence my decision to adopt this book! I found these examples to be clearly explained, timely, and from a broad range of topics...” – Leslie Hayes, St. Joseph’s University

 

“Statistics is just as much a problem-solving technique as it is a mathematical science. Students need to see the importance of statistics in everyday life and scientific research. They need to learn how to become educated citizens as well as possible future researchers...From what I have seen...the text seems to do an excellent job promoting this. The chapters are filled with interesting examples...Furthermore, there are more than enough exercises.” – Stephanie Pickle, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

 

STUDENT QUOTES (CLASS TESTERS)

“ I thought examples were interesting and they helped my understanding.”

Glen Pauch, University of Manitoba

 

“...the interesting examples...peaked my interest in the material.”

“enjoyed the examples...modern situations with very up-to-date information.  I also found that they illustrated the concepts well.”

Benjamin Meek, University of Manitoba

 

"It definitely showed me how important statistics is in real world applications.  It encouraged me to think about how in my career, statistics would be helpful."

Jenna Howells, University of Manitoba

 

“...real life examples were used to make the information relative and useful which made me think more about what I was learning.”

Brenda Klassen, University of Manitoba

 

“...everyday examples that were relevant in our lives so it made me think about how statistics is used all the time.”

Valene Bertrand, University of Manitoba

 

“...[the examples] are really good at illustrating concepts.”

Sarah Voss, College of Charleston

 

“..I enjoyed the true to life examples...seeing such examples allowed me to relate statistics to real life...”

Shannon Sheehan, College of Charleston

 

“I found the examples to do a great job explaining and illustrating the topics discussed.”

Troy Wood, University of Georgia

 

“The examples were excellent, interesting and easy to relate to..”

Lindsey Kenoe, University of Georgia

 

“..examples dealt with current events and issues of interest to all the students using this book.”

Benjamin Cobb, UGA

 

“...what an awesome job of explaining concepts through examples and exercises!”

Dinean Stevens, UGA

 

“I really don’t want this to sound corny or exaggerated...but this is really the first math class I’ve enjoyed and I think it’s not just because of the nature of statistics but because of the examples and scenarios used.”

David Mahon, UGA

 

“...these examples are actually about real life: teen drinking, politics, internet use...other books have examples that are completely unrealistic...”

Logan Troutman, Valdosta State University

 

“I loved the exercise sets because they were clear & understandable...”

Jaclyn Planas, Central Connecticut State University

 

[Examples]....very relevant, current. They made statistics come to life, instead of just being about numbers”

Michael C. Larkins, Middle TN State U

 

"I’ve often struggled in math and need very clear explanations.  This book gave step-by-step examples that made it easy to understand."

Amanda M. Jenkins, Middle TN State U

 

"I would say that I highly recommend this book. Its easy to read, instead of giving several formulas, the book preps you on how to read the passage and understand what the passage asks you to do. ...not only did the book give the answer (which is what all books do), but the book described the answer so that you knew why that was the answer. "

Katie, Sante Fe CC

 

About the Author

Alan Agresti is Distinguished Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Florida. He has been teaching statistics there for 30 years, including the development of three courses in statistical methods for social science students and three courses in categorical data analysis. He is author of over 100 refereed article and four texts including "Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences" (with Barbara Finlay, Prentice Hall, 3rd edition 1997) and "Categorical Data Analysis" (Wiley, 2nd edition 2002). He is a Fellow of the American Statistical Association and recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Science from De Montfort University in the UK. In 2003 he was named "Statistician of the Year" by the Chicago chapter of the American Statistical Association and in 2004 he was the first honoree of the Herman Callaert Leadership Award in Biostatistical Education and Dissemination awarded by the University of Limburgs, Belgium. He has held visiting positions at Harvard University, Boston University, London School of Economics, and Imperial College and has taught courses or short courses for universities and companies in about 20 countries worldwide. He has also received teaching awards from UF and an excellence in writing award from John Wiley & Sons.

Christine Franklin is a Lecturer and Honors Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Georgia. She is beginning her 16th year at UGA, her 25th year as college faculty in statistics. Chris has been actively involved at the national level with promoting statistical education at the K-12 level and college undergraduate level since the 1980's. Her involvement with the AP Statistics program includes preparing teachers to teach AP Statistics and serving as a table leader at the AP Statistics readings since 1997. She also conducts College Board workshops and in 1998, began teaching a new course at UGA that she designed for secondary math teachers. Her most recent course development has been a new master's level course in probability and statistics for K-8 teachers. Much of the development of these courses was based on her involvement serving as a statistical advisor for the 2000 NCTM Principles and Standards of Mathematics. She is also the undergraduate coordinator in the Statistics department at UGA and is presently working to restructure the undergraduate statistics major.

Chris has found her most challenging educational role to be serving as Chairperson of her local school district's Board of Education. This has also been a very rewarding experience, especially working with teachers in her system and with the curriculum and instruction.

Most important for Chris is her family. Her husband, Dale Green, is a physician. They have two boys, Corey (a junior in high school and taking AP Statistics this year) and Cody (a fourth grader). Her most recent memorable experience was backpacking for 11 days in Philmont, NM with her older son and the boy scouts.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pearson
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0130083690
• ISBN 13: 9780130083692
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 768