Behavioral Statistics Textbooks: Source of Myths and Misconceptions?
- 1 September 1985
- journal article
- Published by American Educational Research Association (AERA) in Journal of Educational Statistics
- Vol. 10 (3) , 252-268
- https://doi.org/10.3102/10769986010003252
Abstract
Six behavioral statistics textbooks listed by their publishers as “bestsellers” during 1982 were reviewed by the author. The intent was to detect the presence of and discuss the nature of some theoretical inferential inaccuracies, misinterpretations, and errors, that is, statistical “myths and misconceptions.” Approximately 43 quotes were found that to some degree reflected misconceptions of statistical theory and that may mislead the behavioral researcher. These quotes were classified in general categories of half-truths, definitional errors, constant-cum-variable, cart-before-the-horse, and unitary inference.Keywords
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