A Beginner’s Guide to Statistics in Criminology and Criminal Justice Careers Statistics for Criminology and Criminal Justice, Second Edition is an introductory statistics text for undergraduate criminology and criminal justice majors. The topics and engaging presentation style are targeted to students who have a basic background in algebra but who have had little or no exposure to the study of statistics. The overarching goals of the book are to demonstrate to students that statistics used in criminal justice can be enlightening and eye-opening and, that pre-conceived notions of their academic inadequacies coming into the course are false. The fully updated Second Edition includes new learning objectives and learning checks to help guide students through the material and ensure content understanding and retention. Coverage of the fundamental areas in statistics begins with descriptive statistics, moves into probability, and ends with regression to make the content easier for students to follow. By use of real data and research, emphasis is placed on balancing thoroughness with ease of understanding in order to show students the importance and relevance of statistics in their future criminal justice careers. Table Of Contents PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION ACKNOLEDGMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR PART 1-DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS Chapter 1-Introduction to the Use of Statistics in Criminal Justice and Criminology Science: Basic Terms and Concepts Types of Scientific Research in Criminal Justice and Criminology Software Packages for Statistical Analysis Organization of the Book Chapter 1 Review Problems Chapter 2-Types of Variables and Levels of Measurement Units of Analysis Independent and Dependent Variables Relationships Between Variables: A Cautionary Note Levels of Measurement Chapter Summary Chapter 2 Review Problems Chapter 3-Organizing, Displaying, and Presenting Data Data Distributions Graphs and Charts Grouped Data SPSS Chapter Summary Chapter 3 Review Problems Chapter 4-Measures of Central Tendency The Mode The Median The Mean Using the Mean and Median to Determine Distribution Shape Deviation Scores and the Mean as the Midpoint of the Magnitudes SPSS Chapter Summary Chapter 4 Review Problems Chapter 5-Measures of Dispersion The Variation Ratio The Range The Variance The Standard Deviation The Standard Deviation and the Normal Curve SPSS Chapter Summary Chapter 5 Review Problems PART 2-PROBABILITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS Chapter 6-Probability Discrete Probability: The Binomial Probability Distribution Continuous Probability: The Standard Normal Curve Chapter Summary Chapter 6 Review Problems Chapter 7-Population, Sample, and Sampling Distributions Empirical Distributions: Population and Sample Distributions Theoretical Distributions: Sampling Distributions Sample Size and the Sampling Distribution: The z and t Distributions Chapter Summary Chapter 7 Review Problems Chapter 8-Point Estimates and Confidence Intervals The Level of Confidence: The Probability of Being Correct Confidence Intervals for Means with Large Samples Confidence Intervals for Means with Small Samples Confidence Intervals With Proportions and Percentages Chapter Summary Chapter 8 Review Problems PART 3-HYPOTHESIS TESTING Chapter 9-Hypothesis Testing: A Conceptual Introduction Sample Statistics and Population Parameters: Sampling Error or True Difference? Null and Alternative Hypotheses Chapter Summary Chapter 9 Review Problems Chapter 10-Hypothesis Testing With Two Categorical Variables: Chi-Square Conceptual Basis of the Chi-Square Test: Statistical Dependence and Independence The Chi-Square Test of Independence Measures of Association SPSS Chapter Summary Chapter 10 Review Problems Chapter 11-Hypothesis Testing With Two Population Means or Proportions Two-Population Tests for Differences Between Means: t Tests Two-Population Tests for Differences Between Proportions SPSS Chapter Summary Chapter 11 Review Problems Chapter 12-Hypothesis Testing With Three or More Population Means: Analysis of Variance ANOVA: Different Types of Variances When the Null Is Rejected: A Measure of Association and Post Hoc Tests SPSS Chapter Summary Chapter 12 Review Problems Chapter 13-Hypothesis Testing With Two Continuous Variables: Correlation Beyond Statistical Significance: Sign, Magnitude, and Coefficient of Determination SPSS Chapter Summary Chapter 13 Review Problems Chapter 14-Introduction to Regression Analysis One Independent Variable and One Dependent Variable: Bivariate Regression Adding More Independent Variables: Multiple Regression Ordinary Least Squares Regression in SPSS When the Dependent Variable Is Not Continuous and Normally Distributed: Alternatives to OLS Chapter Summary Chapter 14 Review Problems APPENDIX A—REVIEW OF BASIC MATHEMATICAL TECHNIQUES APPENDIX B—THE STANDARD NORMAL (Z) DISTRIBUTION APPENDIX C—T DISTRIBUTION APPENDIX D—CHI-SQUARE (?2) DISTRIBUTION APPENDIX E—F DISTRIBUTION GLOSSARY ANSWERS TO LEARNING CHECKS ANSWERS TO REVIEW PROBLEMS REFERENCES INDEX