Statistics As Principled Argument

So you understand how to manipulate data and can make fancy charts. Great. Those statistics are still just numbers on a page -- that most people skim -- unless you can turn them into useful arguments. Abelson uses the acronym MAGIC (Magnitude, Articulation, Generality, Interesting, Credibility) to describe the five components of a persuasive statistical argument. I especially like that he uses examples to illustrate his points.

While this book is light on formulas and math, you still need a basic understanding of statistics to get the most out of it. This book is probably most often used by grad students in the social sciences, but every journalist, salesperson, politician, and activist should own a copy, too.

This book wasn't quite what I thought it would be. The title led me to expect an analysis of statistical methodology in comparison to other forms of "principled argument", but it's really just a how-to-do-good-research guide. The examples are heavily tilted towards the author's own speciality, social psychology. It seems like a good supplement to theoretical textbooks for researchers who write papers containing statistical data.

"It will be of true interest and lasting value to beginning graduate students and seasoned researchers alike."

I shoulda read the blurb more carefully. I am neither of those audiences. And I've been reading about the use and abuse of statistics in more recent science books, so ok.

Nov. 2021

Really great book on statistics - not really for use as a main textbook, but as additional reading to help students understand the concepts and philosophy behind the tests they're using. This was one of the books in my grad school stats 2 class, and I'm really glad to have read it. People in my program love to quote this book; I hear "chance is lumpy" on a weekly basis :D

A must read book for anyone who does or reads research in the social sciences, psychology, education, or similar fields. With almost no math or formulas, Abelson does not teach methods, he teaches thinking.

Was strongly recommended by a friend: http://bps-occupational-digest.blogspot.com/2012/03/be-all-you-can-be-how-milita...

Was strongly recommended by a friend: http://bps-occupational-digest.blogspot.com/2012/03/be-all-you-can-be-how-milita...