Statistics: A Gentle Introduction

“Coolidge’s cautions of conservative and liberal, his creative skepticism, as well as his detective analogy are sound, useful, and disarmingly gentle.”
-Bruce Pigozzi, Michigan State University

“The strengths of this book are its readability and the use of interesting examples that make statistics seem ‘real’ to the students.”
-Karen Brakke, Spelman College


Doing statistics for the first time? Don't panic! In Statistics: A Gentle Introduction, Second Edition, he shows how statistics needn’t be difficult or dull. Dr. Coolidge likens the role of a statistician to that of a curious detective, an honest attorney, and a good storyteller. He minimizes the use of formulas, but provides a step-by-step approach to their solution, and includes a glossary of key terms, symbols, and definitions at the end of each chapter. Every chapter also includes a short story about historical and contemporary statisticians who figured prominently in the evolution of the discipline of statistics. This second edition includes specific suggestions as to the detection of “baloney,” that is, fraudulent claims and questionable studies.

Key features of the Second Edition:

• Case studies, which bring statistical concepts to life for students, are sprinkled throughout the text
• Dr. Coolidge incorporates computerized processing into the step-wise section, when appropriate
• An additional chapter on ANOVA topics
• Coverage of probability theory and confidence intervals
• Each chapter begins with learning objectives and ends with many more practice problems to help students put that which they have learned to the test

Statistics: A Gentle Introduction, Second Edition is an ideal text for students who are taking their first course in statistics. This introductory statistics book has been specifically designed to curtail students’ anxieties and minimize unnecessary formulas, while providing a comprehensive review of basic statistical designs and analyses. A wealth of additional real-world examples have been included in this edition to give students a sense of how the science of statistics works, solves problems, and helps us make informed choices about the world we live in.