Communication Research Statistics

"While most books on statistics seem to be written as though targeting other statistics professors, John Reinard′s Communication Research Statistics is especially impressive because it is clearly intended for the student reader, filled with unusually clear explanations and with illustrations on the use of SPSS.  I enjoyed reading this lucid, student-friendly book and expect students will benefit enormously from its content and presentation.  Well done!"
--John C. Pollock, The College of New Jersey

Written in an accessible style using straightforward and direct language, Communication Research Statistics guides students through the statistics actually used in most empirical research undertaken in communication studies. This introductory textbook is the only work in communication that includes details on statistical analysis of data with a full set of data analysis instructions based on SPSS 12 and Excel XP.  

Key Features:  

• Emphasizes basic and introductory statistical thinking: The basic needs of novice researchers and students are addressed, while underscoring the foundational elements of statistical analyses in research. Students learn how statistics are used to provide evidence for research arguments and how to evaluate such evidence for themselves.
• Prepares students to use statistics: Students are encouraged to use statistics as they encounter and evaluate quantitative research. The book details how statistics can be understood by developing actual skills to carry out rudimentary work.  Examples are drawn from mass communication, speech communication, and communication disorders.
• Incorporates SPSS 12 and Excel: A distinguishing feature is the inclusion of coverage of data analysis by use of SPSS 12 and by Excel. Information on the use of major computer software is designed to let students use such tools immediately.

Companion Web Site!
A dedicated Web site includes a glossary, data sets, chapter summaries, additional readings, links to other useful sites, selected "calculators" for computation of related statistics, additional macros for selected statistics using Excel and SPSS, and extra chapters on multiple discriminant analysis and loglinear analysis.  

Intended Audience: Ideal for undergraduate and graduate courses in Communication Research Statistics or Methods; also relevant for many Research Methods courses across the social sciences  

John C. Reinard (Ph.D., Southern California) is a professor of Human Communication Studies at California State University, Fullerton. He regularly teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in research methods, quantitative research, persuasion, critical thinking, and argumentation. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in 1975, after which he served on the faculties at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and Arizona State University. He also has served as a master instructor in statistical process control for Motorola. He is the author of Introduction to Research in Communication, soon to be published in its fourth edition, as well as Foundations of Argument. His research has focused primarily in the areas of communication and the law, persuasion, and argumentation. He has published his research in journals including Communication Monographs, the Journal of Communication, Human Communication Research, and Argumentation and Advocacy. He has authored over 100 books, articles, chapters, and research reports presented at professional meetings and conventions. He has served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Communication, Human Communication Research, Communication Monographs, Argumentation and Advocacy, Communication Quarterly, Communication Reports, Communication Education, and the Western Journal of Communication. He has twice received his University’s Author Award and has also been honored with its Outstanding Scholarly and Creative Activity Award. He has chaired five interest groups in professional organizations and has served on committees of three professional organizations. He lives with his wife in Southern California and in his spare time he plays the piano and is a gourmet chef.