Table of Content

First Things First

1. Defining and Collecting Data

2. Organizing and Visualizing Variables

3. Numerical Descriptive Measures

4. Basic Probability 5. Discrete Probability Distributions

5. The Normal Distribution and Other Continuous Distributions

6. Sampling Distributions

7. Confidence Interval Estimation

8. Fundamentals of Hypothesis Testing: One-Sample Tests

9. Two-Sample Tests

10. Analysis of Variance

11. Chi-Square and Nonparametric Tests

12. Simple Linear Regression

13. Introduction to Multiple Regression

14. Multiple Regression Model Building

15. Time-Series Forecasting

16. Getting Ready to Analyze Data in the Future

17. Statistical Applications in Quality Management (online)

18. Statistical Applications in Quality Management (online)

18. Decision Making (online)

Appendices

A. Basic Math Concepts and Symbols

Salient Features

About the Book
Analyzing data with a focus on software results: the authors believe that using computer software is a vital part of learning statistics. This text emphasizes data analysis through interpretation of the results from Microsoft Excel®, reducing the focus on doing the computations by hand. Excel content includes:
End-of-chapter Excel Guides
In-depth Excel step-by-step instructions
Excel Guide workbooks
PHStat, a statistics add-in system for Excel
Five appendices:
Appendix B introduces the fundamentals of using Excel and Minitab®.
Appendix C elaborates on accessing available online resources, including PHStat.
Appendix D and F discusses useful Excel operations.
Appendix G presents the answers to some frequently-asked questions about Excel and PHStat.
Improved compatibility with all Mac Excel versions and OpenOffice.org Calc 3, the open-source, Excel work-alike application (in-depth Excel instructions only).
An Integrated Five-step Approach make it easier for students to follow the progression of applying statistics: Define, Collect, Organize, Visualize, Analyze.
First Things First sets the context for explaining what statistics is (not what students may think), while ensuring that students understand why learning business statistics is important today. This chapter is especially helpful for instructors using course management tools, including hybrid or online courses; this chapter is designed for distribution before the first class begins.
NEW! First Things First has been redesigned as a "pre-chapter" and contains a new Using Statistics scenario.
Using Statistics business scenarios begin each chapter, showing how statistics is used in accounting, finance, information systems, management, or marketing. Scenarios are then used throughout the chapter to provide an applied context for the concepts, to bring students from knowing to applying.
Digital Cases ask students to examine interactive PDF documents and sift through claims and information in order to discover the data most relevant to a business case scenario. Students determine whether the conclusions and claims are supported by the data, and in doing, they discover and learn how to identify common misuses of statistical information.
Student Tips in the margin reinforce hard-to-master concepts and provide quick study tips for mastering important details.
Getting Ready to Analyze Data in the Future: the final chapter helps students understand how to make decisions about which statistical methods to use in real world problems. This capstone chapter bring the issues in First Things First scenarios full circle, and gives students the ability to apply business statistics to the real world.
UPDATED! For the new edition, the chapter now includes sections on Business Analytics.
Case Studies offer realistic business scenarios Apply fundamental concepts. This text contains:
Detailed case studies that are included in numerous chapters.
A "Managing Ashland MultiComm Services" continuing case.
NEW! Recurring student survey case called "The Clear Mountain Student Survey"
Also available with MyStatLab™
MyStatLab is an online homework, tutorial, and assessment program designed to work with this text to engage students and improve results. Within its structured environment, students practice what they learn, test their understanding, and pursue a personalized study plan that helps them absorb course material and understand difficult concepts.
NEW! Excel launch enables students to quickly and easily launch data sets from exercises into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for analysis.
NEW! Excel 2016 questions (for both Windows® and Mac®) let you take advantage of the latest software.
NEW! Learning Catalytics™ questions for Business Statistics help students develop on-the-spot critical thinking and application of statistical concepts. Learning Catalytics is an interactive student response tool that uses students' smartphones, tablets, or laptops to engage them in more sophisticated tasks and thinking. Now included with MyLab & Mastering with eText, Learning Catalytics enables you to generate classroom discussion, guide your lecture, and promote peer-to-peer learning with real-time analytics.