Introductory Statistics 9th Edition

Book Preface

Introductory Statistics is written for a one- or two-semester first course in applied statistics. This book is intended for students who do not have a strong background in mathematics. The only prerequisite for this text is knowledge of elementary algebra. Today, college students from almost all fields of study are required to take at least one course in statistics. Consequently, the study of statistical methods has taken on a prominent role in the education of students from a variety of backgrounds and academic pursuits. From the first edition, the goal of Introductory Statistics has been to make the subject of statistics interesting and accessible to a wide and varied audience. Three major elements of this text support this goal: 1. Realistic content of its examples and exercises, drawing from a comprehensive range of applications from all facets of life 2. Clarity and brevity of presentation 3. Soundness of pedagogical approach These elements are developed through the interplay of a variety of significant text features. The feedback received from the users of the eighth edition (and earlier editions) of Introductory Statistics has been very supportive and encouraging. Positive experiences reported by instructors and students have served as evidence that this text offers an interesting and accessible approach to statistics—the author’s goal from the very first edition. The author has pursued the same goal through the refinements and updates in this ninth edition, so that Introductory Statistics can continue to provide a successful experience in statistics to a growing number of students and instructors.

New to the Ninth Edition

The following are some of the changes made in the ninth edition:

■ New for the ninth edition, are the videos that are accessible via the WileyPLUS course associated with this text. These videos provide step-by-step solutions to selected examples in the book.

■ A large number of the examples and exercises are new or revised, providing contemporary and varied ways for students to practice statistical concepts.

■ C overage of sample surveys, sampling techniques, and design of experiments has been moved from Appendix A to Chapter 1.

■ In Chapter 3, the discussions of weighted mean, trimmed mean, and coefficient of variation have been moved from the exercises to the main part of the chapter.

■ The majority of the case studies are new or revised, drawing on current uses of statistics in areas of student interest.

■ New data are integrated throughout, reinforcing the vibrancy of statistics and the relevance of statistics to student lives right now.

■ The Technology Instructions sections have been updated to support the use of the latest versions of TI-84 Color/TI-84, Minitab, and Excel.

■ Many of the Technology Assignments at the end of each chapter are either new or have been updated.

■ The data sets posted on the book companion Web site and WileyPLUS have been updated.

■ Most of the Uses and Misuses sections at the end of each chapter have been updated or replaced.

■ M any of the Mini-Projects, which are now located on the book companion Web site, are either new or have been updated.

■ Many of the Decide for Yourself sections, also located on the book companion Web site, are either new or have been updated.

Hallmark Features of This Text

Clear and Concise Exposition The explanation of statistical methods and concepts is clear and concise. Moreover, the style is user-friendly and easy to understand. In chapter introductions and in transitions from section to section, new ideas are related to those discussed earlier. Thorough Examples The text contains a wealth of examples. The examples are usually presented in a format showing a problem and its solution. They are well sequenced and thorough, displaying all facets of concepts. Furthermore, the examples capture students’ interest because they cover a wide variety of relevant topics. They are based on situations that practicing statisticians encounter every day. Finally, a large number of examples are based on real data taken from sources such as books, government and private data sources and reports, magazines, newspapers, and professional journals. Step-by-Step Solutions A clear, concise solution follows each problem presented in an example. When the solution to an example involves many steps, it is presented in a step-by-step format. For instance, examples related to tests of hypothesis contain five steps that are consistently used to solve such examples in all chapters. Thus, procedures are presented in the concrete settings of applications rather than as isolated abstractions. Frequently, solutions contain highlighted remarks that recall and reinforce ideas critical to the solution of the problem. Such remarks add to the clarity of presentation. Titles for Examples Each example based on an application of concepts now contains a title that describes to what area, field, or concept the example relates. Margin Notes for Examples A margin note appears beside each example that briefly describes what is being done in that example. Students can use these margin notes to assist them as they read through sections and to quickly locate appropriate model problems as they work through exercises. Frequent Use of Diagrams Concepts can often be made more understandable by describing them visually with the help of diagrams. This text uses diagrams frequently to help students understand concepts and solve problems. For example, tree diagrams are used a few times in Chapters 4 and 5 to assist in explaining probability concepts and in computing probabilities. Similarly, solutions to all examples about tests of hypothesis contain diagrams showing rejection regions, nonrejection regions, and critical values. Highlighting Definitions of important terms, formulas, and key concepts are enclosed in colored boxes so that students can easily locate them. Cautions Certain items need special attention. These may deal with potential trouble spots that commonly cause errors, or they may deal with ideas that students often overlook. Special emphasis is placed on such items through the headings Remember, An Observation, or Warning. An icon is used to identify such items. Real World Case Studies These case studies, which appear in most of the chapters, provide additional illustrations of the applications of statistics in research and statistical analysis. Most of these case studies are based on articles or data published in journals, magazines, newspapers, or Web sites. Almost all case studies are based on real data. Variety of Exercises The text contains a variety of exercises, including technology assignments. Moreover, a large number of these exercises contain several parts. Exercise sets appearing at the end of each section (or sometimes at the end of two or three sections) include problems on the topics of that section. These exercises are divided into two parts: Concepts and Procedures that emphasize key ideas and techniques and Applications that use these ideas and techniques in concrete settings. Supplementary exercises appear at the end of each chapter and contain exercises on all sections and topics discussed in that chapter. A large number of these exercises are based on real data taken from varied data sources such as books, government and private data sources and reports, magazines, newspapers, and professional journals. Not only do the exercises given in the text provide practice for students, but the real data contained in the exercises provide interesting information and insight into economic, political, social, psychological, and other aspects of life. The exercise sets also contain many problems that demand critical thinking skills. The answers to selected odd-numbered exercises appear in the Answers section at the back of the book. Optional exercises are indicated by an asterisk (*).
Advanced Exercises All chapters have a set of exercises that are of greater difficulty. Such exercises appear under the heading Advanced

Exercises after the Supplementary Exercises.

Uses and Misuses This feature toward the end of each chapter (before the Glossary) points out common misconceptions and pitfalls students will encounter in their study of statistics and in everyday life. Subjects highlighted include such diverse topics as do not feed the animals.
Decide for Yourself This feature is accessible online at www.wiley.com/college/mann. Each Decide for Yourself discusses a real-world problem and raises questions that readers can think about and answer.

Glossary Each chapter has a glossary that lists the key terms introduced in that chapter, along with a brief explanation of each term.
Self-Review Tests Each chapter contains a Self-Review Test, which appears immediately after the Supplementary and Advanced Exercises. These problems can help students test their grasp of the concepts and skills presented in respective chapters and monitor their understanding of statistical methods. The problems marked by an asterisk (*) in the Self-Review Tests are optional. The answers to almost all problems of the Self-Review Tests appear in the Answer section.

Technology Usage At the end of each chapter is a section covering uses of three major technologies of statistics and probability: the TI-84 Color/TI-84, Minitab, and Excel. For each technology, students are guided through performing statistical analyses in a step-by-step fashion, showing them how to enter, revise, format, and save data in a spreadsheet, workbook, or named and unnamed lists, depending on the technology used. Illustrations and screen shots demonstrate the use of these technologies. Additional detailed technology instruction is provided in the technology manuals that are online at www.wiley.com/college/mann.

Technology Assignments Each chapter contains a few technology assignments that appear at the end of the chapter. These assignments can be completed using any of the statistical software.

Mini-projects Associated with each chapter of the text are Mini-projects posted online at www. wiley.com/college/mann. These Mini-projects are either very comprehensive exercises or they ask students to perform their own surveys and experiments. They provide practical applications of statistical concepts to real life.

Data Sets A large number of data sets appear on the book companion Web site at www.wiley. com/college/mann. These large data sets are collected from various sources, and they contain information on several variables. Many exercises and assignments in the text are based on these data sets. These large data sets can also be used for instructor-driven analyses using a wide variety of statistical software packages as well as the TI-84. These data sets are available on the Web site of the text in numerous formats, including Minitab and Excel.
Videos New for the Ninth Edition, videos for each text section illustrate concepts related to the topic covered in that section to more deeply engage the students. These videos are accessible via WileyPLUS.