Statistics in Criminology and Criminal Justice: Analysis and Interpretation

By Jeffery T. Walker and Sean Maddan

Book Overview

It is critical for students to have a complete understanding of how to collect and analyze social science data to understand the nature of crime and theories of crime causation. This updated Fourth Edition of Statistics in Criminology and Criminal Justice: Analysis and Interpretation provides students with a firm knowledge base in the theory and application of statistical analysis. It focuses on data collection, knowing which statistics to use with what data, how to interpret output of SPSS (an IBM company), explanations and demonstrations of statistical procedures, why procedures give the results they do, how to interpret the output of statistical analyses, and more. With this text, students will develop complete comprehension of how to collect, organize and record, analyze, interpret, and apply the statistical information to prepare them for their careers or graduate study. Key Features - Each chapter has been updated to include new information on statistical output, revised data files, additional data sets, and extensive use of flowcharts to increase students' confidence in analyzing and conducting statistical research. - Features key terms, equation summaries, exercises, updated references, suggested readings for further knowledge, as well as "How Do You Do That" and "A Bit of History" explanations, making this Fourth Edition the ideal introductory statistics text for criminology, criminal justice, or other social science students. - Includes learning objectives at the start of every chapter as well as end-of-chapter webpointers that correspond to the accompanying student companion website. - Provides an extensive glossary and equation glossary for students to quickly reference key terms and equations when preparing for lectures and exams.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1449688608
• ISBN13: 9781449688608
• Release Date: September 2012
• Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Publishers
• Length: 592 Pages
• Weight: 2.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 7.3" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

A different, but valid approach to the material

While this text is admittedly distinct from most other books on the topic, it is nonetheless useful in its approach. Rather than focusing on the mechanics of statistical calculation (although there is a fair amount of this), Prof. Walker has instead given readers a vehicle through which they might comprehend the meaning of the numbers they have labored to produce (as the title implies). This, in my opinion is where the real utility of the work exists. Most statistical textbooks present the basic information necessary to compute equations. Walker's book accomplishes something a bit more difficult in that it gives students a vocabulary with which to interpret and discuss their findings. While it might not be my first choice for undergraduate students, for more advanced students, this book is certainly worth consideration. In short, it is a good compliment to, but not a substitute for active teaching of the core material.