Customer Reviews
Fabulous as an introduction and update. - By: Ellen Goudsmit, 04 Nov 2008 
It's been over ten years since I completed my PhD. (I used SPSS version 3 for DOS). Having returned to research, I required an updated version with the latest tests, & a relevant introductory guide.
The tutorial gave me a basic impression. The textbook which I bought left me baffled & slightly phobic. Then someone sent me this. From page 1, I understood the basic principles, was reminded of things I'd forgotten, & I could deal with the few equationsin the text. It was also interesting, reduced my phobia & indeed, allowed me to go back & understand my first text.
In short, this is a terrific introduction to some very complicated concepts.
A very helpful book! Statistics without the headache for the 'non-statistically' minded - By: Ac Marzotti, 12 Apr 2007 I am currently studying psychology with the OU so this book came to me with the course reading material. I was initially worried about the level of mathematical knowledge expected of me, particularly since statistics was not the course I chose! I found this book illuminating, however, & actually, a very enjoyable, well-written one too. I was very happy with the ease with which I grasped essential statistical concepts & was then able to incorporate them into my OU studies. It is true that this book presents only the essentials but it does this with a clear understanding that the reader does not need or wish to become an expertin the field (as another reader emphasised, it is statistics without the maths after all!). I particularly found the "examples from literature" (use of statistical techniquesin published, or non-, psychological studies), activities & support provided with SPSS very beneficial. Without this book, I think I would have struggled. Even aside from the course I am doing, it feels great to gain some clear (if restricted) understanding into this complex discipline. For now, it's good to know, this is all I need for my course. Who knows, I may eventually look for a book on statistics WITH the maths ...
A good, reassuring book - By: S. Jones, 26 Mar 2007 
This book does exactly what it claims to, namely 'Statistics without Maths for Psychology'. The book is pitched at the level of undergraduate students who aren't too confident with mathematical principles, but who need to understand the basic concepts of statistical methods as they apply to psychology. Another reviewer has criticised this book for not containing any mathematical formulae, but what else should one expect, given the book's title! There are plenty of statistics books that cater for the mathematically minded, but Dancey & Reidy's book seems to suit most undergraduate psychology students, who neither need, nor wish, to have to struggle with the underlying mathematical concepts & complicated equations.
not great - By: Sarah T, 25 Mar 2007 
if u want to actually know whats going on then this book is no good, there is not a single equation & the maths is not explained it just shows you how to do it on spss, i found this book totally unhelpfulin trying to understand anything there are much better books explaining the maths & what the tests & equations mean however if all u need to know is how to do the testsin spss then this book is ok. if ur like me & this is the compulsory statistics book for your course then your probably as unhappy as me about having to read the whole thing when your going to gain no understanding from it
Helpful - By: DJ Destructogirl, 06 Feb 2006 I have no understanding of stats whatsover, & this book has been really helpful. It goes through using SPSS step by step, & shows you exactly how your computer screen should be looking, which is really reassuring. It's a set book on the DSE212 OU psychology course I'm taking, & it really has come into it's own. Brilliant book.
