Statistical Imagination

This basic social science statistics text uses illustrations and exercises for sociology, social work, political science, and criminal justice. Praised for a writing style that takes the anxiety out of statistics courses, the author explains basic statistical principles through a variety of engaging exercises, each designed to illuminate the unique theme of examining society both creatively and logically. In an effort to make the study of statistics relevant to students of the social sciences, the author encourages readers to interpret the results of calculations in the context of more substantive social issues, while continuing to value precise and accurate research.

Ferris J. Ritchey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has been teaching undergraduate and graduate statistics courses for over 20 years. He has published in leading journals in the field including the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Medical Care, and the American Journal of Public Health, and has consulted and/or served on panels with the center for Disease Control, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the National Institutes of Mental Health. Professor Ritchey was the School of Social Sciences recipient of the 1995 President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching at University of Alabama.