My Account
Log in Registration
All
Cart
Highlights
Fiction Books
Non-Fiction Books
Children's Books
Rare Books
Music
DVD & Blu-Ray
Video Games
Category
Wishlists
Cart
All
Free Shipping in the UK
Trustpilot
Proud to be B-Corp

Making Sense of Numbers Jane E. Miller

Making Sense of Numbers By Jane E. Miller

Making Sense of Numbers by Jane E. Miller

Reviews:
£93.09
Condition - New
Only 4 left
New

Making Sense of Numbers Summary

Making Sense of Numbers: Quantitative Reasoning for Social Research by Jane E. Miller

Making Sense of Numbers teaches students the skills they need to be both consumers and producers of quantitative research: able to read about, collect, calculate, and communicate numeric information for both everyday tasks and school or work assignments. The text teaches how to avoid making common errors of reasoning, calculation, or interpretation by introducing a systematic approach to working with numbers, showing students how to figure out what a particular number means. The text also demonstrates why it is important to apply a healthy dose of skepticism to the numbers we all encounter, so that we can understand how those numbers can (and cannot) be interpreted in their real-world context. Jane E. Miller uses annotated examples on a wide variety of topics to illustrate how to use new terms, concepts, and approaches to working with numbers. End-of-chapter engagement activities designed based on Miller's three decades of teaching experience can be used in class or as homework assignments, with some for students to do individually and others intended for group discussion. The book is ideally suited for a range of courses, including quantitative reasoning, research methods, basic statistics, data analysis, and communicating quantitative information.

An instructor website for the book includes a test bank, editable PowerPoint slides, and tables and figures from the book.

Making Sense of Numbers Reviews

This text invites students to develop an in-depth understanding of core concepts in research methods, clearly guides them through real-life examples, and offers tools needed for the development of strong analytical skills highly valued in the labor market. -- Maria Aysa-Lastra

This an incredibly useful textbook, showing students how to interpret others' quantitative research, think about quantitative research of their own, and communicate the findings of that research. I learned several great tips myself on writing effectively about quantitative research findings!

-- Susan A. Dumais
Making Sense of Numbers is an excellent companion for those learning to navigate the world of quantitative research. -- Marc Isaacson

About Jane E. Miller

Jane E. Miller is a Professor at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, where she is Lead Instructor for the undergraduate Research Methods course and instructor for the undergraduate Honors Research Program. She also teaches graduate courses on data visualization and quantitative research. She was previously Faculty Director of Project L/EARN - an intensive social science research training program for undergraduates from historically under-represented groups. Dr. Miller has written two other books: The Chicago Guide to Writing about Numbers and The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis (University of Chicago Press) - both in their second editions, and also available in Chinese translation (Xinhua Publishing). She has also authored a series of articles in teaching and research journals on how to communicate about quantitative research. Dr. Miller's research interests include relationships between poverty, child health, health insurance, and access to health care. She earned her bachelor's degree in Economics from Williams College and her M.A. and PhD in Demography from the University of Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

List of Figures List of Tables Preface Acknowledgments About the Author PART I: INTRODUCTION Chapter 1: Introduction to Making Sense of Numbers The Many Uses of Numbers Common Tasks Involving Numbers Plausibility of Numeric Values Challenges in Making Sense of Numbers How We Learn to Make Sense of Numbers Chapter 2: Foundational Concepts for Quantitative Research Terminology for Quantitative Research The Research Circle Goals Of Quantitative Research The W's Report and Interpret Numbers Specify Direction and Magnitude PART II: HOW TOPIC, MEASUREMENT, AND CONTEXT HELP MAKE SENSE OF NUMBERS Chapter 3: Topic and Conceptualization Conceptualization Scope of a Definition How Topic and Scope Affect Plausibility How Topic and Perspective Affect Optimal Values Chapter 4: Measurement Measurement Factors Affecting Operationalization Levels of Measurement Units Data Collection and Level of Measurement How Measurement Affects Plausibility Reliability and Validity of Numeric Measures Chapter 5: Context What Is Context? How Context Affects Plausibility How Context Affects Measurement Population Versus Study Sample Representativeness Generalization Level of Analysis and Fallacy of Level PART III: EXHIBITS FOR COMMUNICATING NUMERIC INFORMATION Chapter 6: Working With Tables Criteria for Effective Tables Anatomy of a Table Organizing Data in Tables and Charts Reading Data From Tables Considerations for Creating Tables Chapter 7: Working With Charts and Visualizations Criteria for Effective Charts and Visualizations Visual Perception Principles Anatomy of a Chart or Visualization Charts and Visualizations for Specific Tasks Design Issues Common Errors in Chart Creation PART IV: MAKING SENSE OF NUMBERS FROM MATHEMATICAL AND STATISTICAL METHODS Chapter 8: Comparison Values, Contrast Sizes, and Standards Reference Groups and Comparison Values Standards, Thresholds, and Target Values Contrast Sizes for Quantitative Variables Considerations for Comparability Chapter 9: Numbers, Comparisons, and Calculations Numeric Measures of Level Plausibility Criteria for Measures of Level Measures of Position in a Ranked List Plausibility Criteria for Measures of Position Mathematical Calculations Plausibility Criteria for Results of Calculations How Level of Measurement Affects Valid Types of Comparison Choosing Types of Comparisons Chapter 10: Distributions and Associations Distributions of Single Variables Plausibility Criteria for Univariate Statistics Tables and Charts for Presenting Distributions Associations Between Two or More Variables Three-Way Associations Plausibility Criteria for Bivariate and Three-Way Statistics Comparisons by Level of Measurement, Revisited PART V: ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF NUMERIC ESTIMATES Chapter 11: Bias What Is Bias? Time Structure of Study Designs Sampling Methods Study Nonresponse Item Nonresponse Measurement Bias Data Sources Chapter 12: Causality Causality Defined Criteria for Assessing Causality Experimental Studies Observational Studies Research Strategies for Assessing Confounding Random Sampling vs. Random Assignment Implications of Causality for Quantitative Research Chapter 13: Uncertainty of Numeric Estimates What Is Statistical Uncertainty? Inferential Statistics Measures of Uncertainty Uncertainty vs. Bias Basics of Hypothesis Testing Drawbacks of Traditional Hypothesis Testing Interpreting Inferential Statistics for Bivariate and Three-Way Procedures PART VI: PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER Chapter 14: Communicating Quantitative Research Tools for Presenting Quantitative Research Expository Writing Techniques Writing About Numbers in Particular Conveying the Type of Measure or Calculation Writing About Distributions Writing About Associations Writing About Complex Patterns Content and Structure of Research Formats Chapter 15: The Role of Research Methods in Making Sense of Numbers The W's Revisited Practical Importance Importance of a Numeric Finding: The Big Picture How Study Design, Measurement, and Sample Size Affect Importance Making Sense of Numbers in Quantitative Research Tasks APPENDIXES Appendix A: Why and How to Create New Variables Why New Variables Might Be Needed Transformations of Numbers Indexes and Scales New Continuous Variables New Categorical Variables Appendix B: Sampling Weights The Purpose of Sampling Weights Sampling Weights for Disproportionate Sampling Communicating Use of Sampling Weights Appendix C: Brief Technical Background on Inferential Statistics Standard Error and Sample Size Margin of Error Confidence Interval Criteria for Making Sense of Measures of Uncertainty Hypothesis Testing Errors in Hypothesis Testing Plausibility Criteria for Inferential Test Statistics References Index

Additional information

NGR9781544355597
9781544355597
1544355599
Making Sense of Numbers: Quantitative Reasoning for Social Research by Jane E. Miller
Jane E. Miller
New
Paperback
SAGE Publications Inc
2021-11-08
608
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a new book - be the first to read this copy. With untouched pages and a perfect binding, your brand new copy is ready to be opened for the first time

Customer Reviews - Making Sense of Numbers