Elementary Statistics: Looking at the Big Picture

Using a successfully class-tested approach that gives coherence to a broad range of introductory topics, this innovative text provides students with a big picture view of statistics as well as problem-solving strategies that can be applied in many statistical problems. Author Nancy Pfenning organizes content around four basic processes of statistics: producing data, displaying and summarizing data, understanding probability, and performing statistical inference. Within this framework, the book progresses systematically through five basic problem situations involving values of variables (quantitative, categorical, or a blend). As a result, students learn to identify which situation applies to a specific problem and how to choose the correct display, summary, or inference tool. As students gain proficiency in specific statistical techniques, the author also points out connections among topics and techniques to help them gain a perspective on statistics as a whole. More than 1,000 real-life examples and categorized exercises support the approach, engaging students in practicing and developing a variety of skills.