Paperback
Taking the Fear Out of Data Analysis
Completely Revised, Significantly Extended and Still Fun
9781803929859 Edward Elgar Publishing
Taking the Fear Out of Data Analysis provides readers with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand, perform, and interpret quantitative data analysis effectively. Acknowledging that people often dislike statistics and quantitative methods, this book illustrates that statistical reasoning can be a fun and intuitive part of our lives.
More Information
Critical Acclaim
Contents
More Information
Taking the Fear Out of Data Analysis provides readers with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand, perform, and interpret quantitative data analysis effectively. Acknowledging that people often dislike statistics and quantitative methods, this book illustrates that statistical reasoning can be a fun and intuitive part of our lives.
Key Features:
• Split into three sections covering how to understand data, preparing data for analysis and carrying out the analysis
• Blends theory with practical examples in a logical and straightforward manner to guide readers in making sense of statistical inference
• Offers universal knowledge that can be applied to a variety of software applications with limited technical complexity to aid the learning process
• Short and concise chapters focusing on the essence of the topics covered, such as analytical techniques that are typically used in behavioral and social science research
Significantly revised and updated, this textbook is an essential text for both undergraduate and postgraduate students in fields such as information systems, international business and marketing. It will also be beneficial for practitioners involved in data science, data analytics, and market research.
Key Features:
• Split into three sections covering how to understand data, preparing data for analysis and carrying out the analysis
• Blends theory with practical examples in a logical and straightforward manner to guide readers in making sense of statistical inference
• Offers universal knowledge that can be applied to a variety of software applications with limited technical complexity to aid the learning process
• Short and concise chapters focusing on the essence of the topics covered, such as analytical techniques that are typically used in behavioral and social science research
Significantly revised and updated, this textbook is an essential text for both undergraduate and postgraduate students in fields such as information systems, international business and marketing. It will also be beneficial for practitioners involved in data science, data analytics, and market research.
Critical Acclaim
‘Written with wry wit and incredible clarity, the authors provide the reader with a detailed understanding of seminal issues in data analysis. A masterful work that truly does “take the fear out of data analysis” – this book is a rare treat indeed.’
– David A. Griffith, Mays Business School, Texas A&M University, US
‘Written by a proficient team of authors, Taking the Fear out of Data Analysis is a fascinating … ah, forget the marketing blurb. This is a great text, you should read it! There is no doubt that you will devour this book in no time and learn a lot about statistics on the way.''
– Marko Sarstedt, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Germany
‘Statistics. I know – you hate it. It’s hard and confusing. Students of all levels find the topic hard. I tell them to get this book. And no! They cannot borrow mine, I don’t want to lose it. Diamantopoulos, Schlegelmilch and Halkias knock another one out of the park with this excellent introduction to a great array of statistical issues. They start right at the beginning – which is always a good place to start if you’re a beginner – and gently, often hilariously, and successfully guide the reader through the various learning moments that need to be negotiated if one is to become fearless in the face of columns of data. Priceless.’
– John Cadogan, School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University, UK
‘The new edition of this book provides excellent guidance to data knowledge and competence using a problem-solving approach. With the digital becoming increasingly important, analytical skills should be key competencies in everybody’s daily life. To achieve this goal, Taking the Fear out of Data Analysis is highly recommended.’
– Zhongming Wang, Zhejiang University, China
‘The significantly extended, new edition is increasingly relevant as the world of quantitative methods has kept on expanding, in part due to an explosion in software programs that scholars can use seemingly without much understanding. Do not let the light-hearted nature of this book fool you. It is a statistics book that carefully leads authors through all the necessary stages of analysis. It effortlessly explains the analysis details and assumptions that PhD examiners, journal reviewers, and conference presentation audience members insist on raising. This excellent new edition is destined to be very well thumbed.’
– Matthew Robson, Cardiff Business School, UK
– David A. Griffith, Mays Business School, Texas A&M University, US
‘Written by a proficient team of authors, Taking the Fear out of Data Analysis is a fascinating … ah, forget the marketing blurb. This is a great text, you should read it! There is no doubt that you will devour this book in no time and learn a lot about statistics on the way.''
– Marko Sarstedt, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Germany
‘Statistics. I know – you hate it. It’s hard and confusing. Students of all levels find the topic hard. I tell them to get this book. And no! They cannot borrow mine, I don’t want to lose it. Diamantopoulos, Schlegelmilch and Halkias knock another one out of the park with this excellent introduction to a great array of statistical issues. They start right at the beginning – which is always a good place to start if you’re a beginner – and gently, often hilariously, and successfully guide the reader through the various learning moments that need to be negotiated if one is to become fearless in the face of columns of data. Priceless.’
– John Cadogan, School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University, UK
‘The new edition of this book provides excellent guidance to data knowledge and competence using a problem-solving approach. With the digital becoming increasingly important, analytical skills should be key competencies in everybody’s daily life. To achieve this goal, Taking the Fear out of Data Analysis is highly recommended.’
– Zhongming Wang, Zhejiang University, China
‘The significantly extended, new edition is increasingly relevant as the world of quantitative methods has kept on expanding, in part due to an explosion in software programs that scholars can use seemingly without much understanding. Do not let the light-hearted nature of this book fool you. It is a statistics book that carefully leads authors through all the necessary stages of analysis. It effortlessly explains the analysis details and assumptions that PhD examiners, journal reviewers, and conference presentation audience members insist on raising. This excellent new edition is destined to be very well thumbed.’
– Matthew Robson, Cardiff Business School, UK
Contents
Contents: Pre-publication reviews from around the world Introduction to Taking the Fear out of Data Analysis PART I UNDERSTANDING DATA 1. What is data (and can you do it in your sleep)? 2. Does sampling have a purpose other than providing employment for statisticians? 3. Why should you be concerned about different types of measurement? PART II PREPARING DATA FOR ANALYSIS 4. Have you cleaned your data and found the mistakes you made? 5. Why do you need to know your objective before you fail to achieve it? PART III CARRYING OUT THE ANALYSIS 6. Why not take it easy initially and describe your data? 7. Can you use few numbers in place of many to summarize your data? 8. What about using estimation to see what the population looks like? 9. How about sitting back and hypothesizing? 10. Simple things first: One variable, one sample 11. Getting experienced: Making comparisons 12. Getting adventurous: Searching for relationships 13. Getting hooked: A look into multivariate analysis 14. Getting obsessed: A further look into multivariate analysis 15 It’s all over … or is it? Index
