Exploring Numerical Data (E.N.D.) is a software resource for instructors and students in a university/college level social sciences introductory statistics course; it consists of text material, review questions, and calculation utilities.
Text Material. The text sections are focused expositions of the substantive content of the topics. Instructors, and printed matter such a standard text, may convey a fuller treatment of some topics; E.N.D. is intended to supplement these presentations without getting in their way. That said, most of my students use E.N.D. as their main resource; instructors who have developed their own package of hand-out materials will find E.N.D. an excellent and economical accessory. The presentation of topics in E.N.D. is couched in orthodox language and notation and is therefore compatible with virtually any text and fits well into typical introductory statistics courses. My personal bias is to emphasize the conceptual aspects of statistics rather than devote excessive time to mechanical calculations.
Review Questions. Review exercises enable students to test their mastery of concepts and computation routines. The review questions are styled in a multiple-choice (seven alternatives) format and require, in turn, understanding of relevant concepts, computational skills from partially developed data, and understanding of the rules for decision making in science. The review exercises are accompanied by computational solutions and/or text feedback for incorrect alternatives. The current version of E.N.D (2.2) contains 365 review exercises which constitute a resource for thorough preparation for tests and examinations. My own students regard the review questions as most valuable.
Calculation Utilities. Many of the topic units contain a calculation utility. The utilities can serve as convenient tools for homework assignments but their principle value as instructional devices is to act as vehicles by which instructors may demonstrate, and students may explore, various descriptive and analytic procedures. Functions are provided to enable the creation and storage of permanent data files.
TABLE OF CONTENTS OF E.N.D. 3.0
Introducing E.N.D. - 13 pages/screens
Preface
Using E.N.D.
Screen Settings
Hard Drive Installation
Example Review Question
Handling Data
Acknowledgements
Copyright & Limitations
Bug List & FeedbackUnit 1: Learning the Language - 57 pages/screens
Terms and Definitions
Review Questions I
Types of Measurement
Review Questions II
Summation Notation
Review Questions III
Key Terms SummaryUnit 2: Organizing Data - 43 pages/screens
Frequency Distributions
Exact Limits
Stem & Leaf Displays
Graphs
Review Questions
Key Terms Summary
Frequency Distribution Calculation Utility
Stem & Leaf Calculation Utility
Histogram / Frequency Polygon Calculation UtilityUnit 3: Describing Data - 62 pages/screens
Averages
Review Questions I
Variation
Z-Scores
Review Questions II
Key Terms Summary
Descriptive Statistics Calculation UtilityUnit 4: Normal Distribution - 43 pages/screens
Normal Distribution
Review Questions
Key Terms Summary
Normal Distribution Calculation UtilityUnit 5: Probability - 41 pages/screens
Probability
This or That
This and That
Review Questions
Key Terms SummaryUnit 6: Statistical Distributions - 43 pages/screens
Random Samples
Sampling Distributions
t Distributions
Review Questions
Key Terms SummaryUnit 7: Confidence Intervals - 30 pages/screens
Confidence Intervals
Review Questions
Key Terms Summary
Confidence Interval Calculation UtilityUnit 8: Hypothesis Testing - 45 pages/screens
Hypotheses in Science
Type I and Type II Error
Power
Review Questions
Key Terms SummaryUnit 9: One Sample t-Test - 39 pages/screens
One Sample t-Test
Underlying Assumptions
Confidence Interval Approach
Review Questions
Key Terms Summary
One Sample t-Test Calculation UtilityUnit 10: Two Sample t-Tests - 67 pages/screens
Independent Samples t-Test
Related Samples t-Test
Underlying Assumptions
Confidence Interval for the Difference Between Means
Confidence Interval for the Mean Difference
Review Questions
Key Terms Summary
Independent Samples t-Test Calculation Utility
Related Samples t-Test Calculation UtilityUnit 11: Analysis of Variance - 39 pages/screens
F Distributions
One Factor ANOVA
Underlying Assumptions
Après ANOVA (multiple comparisons and strength of effect)
Review Questions
Key Terms Summary
One Factor ANOVA Calculation UtilityUnit 12: Correlation - 54 pages/screens
Describing Correlation
Calculation / Interpretation
Variance Interpretation
Concluding Remarks
Review Questions
Key Terms Summary
Correlation Calculation and Plotting UtilityUnit 13: Linear Regression - 24 pages/screens
Predicting Y from X
Confidence Intervals about Predicted Y
Review Questions
Key Terms Summary
Regression Calculation and Plotting UtilityUnit 14: Chi-Square Tests - 51 pages/screens
Goodness of Fit Test
Review Questions I
Test of Independence
Review Questions II
Key Terms Summary
Goodness of Fit Calculation Utility
Test of Independence Calculation UtilityData Files Management - 4 pages/screens
Data Files Directory
Single Variable Files
Paired Variables FilesEndex - 11 pages/screens
One of the new aspects of version 3.0 is called "Endex". It is a master glossary of 200+ terms/concepts and a navigating index providing mouse-click access to relevant discussions in the E.N.D. units. Students struggling to learn the terminology and concepts will find Endex most useful.
Exploring Numerical
Data is
written in ToolBook II (Asymetrix Corp.) and is available on a CD;
the CD is self-contained and runs on computers using the Windows 95 and
later operating systems (sorry, there is no MacIntosh version).
This is a partial screen capture of the opening page of Unit 9: One-Sample t-Test.
This is a partial
screen capture of the calculation utility in Unit 9.
This is a partial
screen capture of a review exercise in Unit 9.
In my thirty plus years as a statistics
instructor I devoted much time and effort trying to make this subject
comprehendible and non-threatening to students. These efforts included a
text (now out of print); E.N.D.
is another attempt at this goal.
A few words and images cannot adequately describe Exploring Numerical Data; there is nothing like it currently available. Earlier versions of Exploring Numerical Data were distributed by ITP Nelson (Canada) Publishers and was available bundled with several texts or stand alone. If you would like to obtain a copy please contact your ITP Nelson sales representative, or me at horvatht@sympatico.ca .
T. Horvath Ph.D.
Windsor, ON Canada
REVISED 2003 FEB 28