Thinking Through Statistics

by John Levi Martin

Simply put, Thinking Through Statistics is a primer on how to maintain rigorous data standards in social science work, and one that makes a strong case for revising the way that we try to use statistics to support our theories. But don’t let that daunt you. With clever examples and witty takeaways, John Levi Martin proves himself to be a most affable tour guide through these scholarly waters.Martin argues that the task of social statistics isn't to estimate parameters, but to reject false theory. He illustrates common pitfalls that can keep researchers from doing just that using a combination of visualizations, re-analyses, and simulations. Thinking Through Statistics gives social science practitioners accessible insight into troves of wisdom that would normally have to be earned through arduous trial and error, and it does so with a lighthearted approach that ensures this field guide is anything but stodgy. 

Genres: Sociology

376 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2024

Reviews

[Jared Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable throughout. The technical details were above my head sometimes, but the main precept — as simple as possible statistical methods should guide you away from poor theories— is well argued through examples and simulations. The last two sentences worth repeating here: “If you do use a complicated technique to form patterns, and then you can interpret these patterns, there’s a good chance that your claim has implications that you can test in a more straightforward manner. Do.”