Introduction to Statistics

This book is designed strictly as teaching instruments or learning aids for use in statistical methods. The orientation is towards psychology and education. Having taught a Course of study for a number of times for more than two decades, it is quite but natural for any teacher to have an urge to present the subject matter in the form and style that is suitable for himself and also that could be essential for the students who pursue their studies empirically. Courses in statistical methods have been regarded as exceedingly difficult by a substantial number of students - even by many who have achieved a high level of Success in other aspects of their professional work. It has been observed that many research workers in India do not go for advanced statistical treatment of their data, and even if any of them attempt, never take pains to explain the results meaningfully. Many teachers of statistics have provided rule of thumb procedures in the selection of techniques and the interpretation of results, and have emphasized the more easily mastered computational techniques rather than the interpretive aspects of the course. The result is that in this subsequent use of statistics the student is incapable of reasoning out for himself what procedures are appropriate in novel situation or of exercising critical judgment in the interpretation of results in such situations. This treatise is an attempt to enlighten the researchers with certain essential and suitable statistical methods that are required for any type of research work in behavioral sciences for treating the data in a more meaningful manner. It is not intended as a general reference book, nor does it include materials for advanced courses.