Understanding and Using Advanced Statistics : A Practical Guide for Students

The spread of sophisticated computer packages and the machinery on which to run them has meant that procedures which were previously only available to experienced researchers with access to expensive machines and research students can now be carried out in a few seconds by almost every undergraduate. Understanding and Using Advanced Statistics provides the basis for gaining an understanding of what these analytic procedures do, when they should be used, and what the results provided signify. This comprehensive textbook guides students and researchers through the transition from simple statistics to more complex procedures with accessible language and illustration. Each chapter covers a separate statistical method and provides: An outline of the technique Examples of the types of question it answers An explanation of the information that can be gleaned from the results Examples from published literature of how the technique has been used in a range of disciplines Frequently asked questions A comprehensive chapter summary Suggestions for further reading A glossary of key terms As statistical techniques become increasingly common and the understanding of these becomes ever more essential, Understanding and Using Advanced Statistics is an essential guide for all students and researchers throughout the social sciences. Glossary -- References -- Further reading -- 8 Structural equation modelling -- What structural equation modelling is -- Introduction to structural equation modelling -- When do you need SEM? -- What kinds of data are needed? -- How do you do SEM? -- Specification -- Identification -- Estimation -- Model fit -- Some computer programs -- Examples of SEM -- From psychology -- From health -- From business/management -- FAQs -- Summary -- Glossary -- References -- Further reading -- Internet sources -- 9 Time series analysis -- What time series analysis is -- When do you need TSA? -- Types of TSA research designs -- Simple time series design -- Cohort analysis design -- Panel studies design -- Event-history design -- Different types of TSA -- Spectral analysis -- Time domain analysis -- Forecasting -- What kinds of data are needed? -- How you do TSA -- Assessing the effects of an intervention -- Multivariate TSA -- Example of TSA research -- From health -- FAQs -- Summary -- Glossary -- References -- Further reading -- Internet sources -- 10 Facet theory and smallest space analysis -- What facet theory and smallest space analysis are -- Introduction to facet theory and smallest space analysis -- What kinds of questions do they answer? -- What types of problems are they applied to? -- What kinds of data are needed? -- How do you use facet theory and do SSA? -- Theory construction: the mapping sentence -- Data analysis using SSA -- Examples from psychology, health and business -- From psychology -- From health -- From business -- FAQs -- Summary -- Glossary -- References -- Further reading -- 11 Survival or failure analysis -- What survival/failure analysis is -- When do you need survival analysis? -- Issues in designing research for survival analysis -- What kinds of data are needed? -- Basic outline and types of survival analysis

The spread of sophisticated computer packages and the machinery on which to run them has meant that procedures which were previously only available to experienced researchers with access to expensive machines and research students can now be carried out in a few seconds by almost every undergraduate. Understanding and Using Advanced Statistics provides the basis for gaining an understanding of what these analytic procedures do, when they should be used, and what the results provided signify.

This comprehensive textbook guides students and researchers through the transition from simple statistics to more complex procedures with accessible language and illustration. Each chapter covers a separate statistical method and provides:

An outline of the technique
Examples of the types of question it answers
An explanation of the information that can be gleaned from the results
Examples from published literature of how the technique has been used in a range of disciplines
Frequently asked questions
A comprehensive chapter summary
Suggestions for further reading
A glossary of key terms


As statistical techniques become increasingly common and the understanding of these becomes ever more essential, Understanding and Using Advanced Statistics is an essential guide for all students and researchers throughout the social sciences.

Understanding and Using Advanced Statistics is a comprehensive, practical guide for postgraduate students advising how and when to use more advanced statistical methods. Perfect for students without a mathematical background, the authors refresh important basics such as descriptive statistics and research design as well as introducing essential upper-level techniques to cater for the advanced student. Key Features: - Comprehensive guide informing how to use a range of advanced statistical methods such as MANOVA, path analysis and logistical regression; - Inter-disciplinary: ideal for students studying upper level statistical methods in any subject across the social sciences; - Practical guide: case studies, further reading, key terms explained in order to help the non-mathematically orientated student get ahead with their research. Building on undergraduate statistical grounding, Understanding and Using Advanced Statistics provides the upper-level researcher with the knowledge of what advanced statistics do, how they should be used, and what their output means. This work is a comprehensive, practical guide for postgraduate students advising how and when to use more advanced statistical methods. The authors refresh important basics such as descriptive statistics and research design as well as introducing essential upper level techniques for the advanced student. Perfect for students without a mathematical background, the authors refresh important basics such as descriptive statistics and research design as well as introducing essential upper level techniques to cater for the advanced student