Explain this
StatBasics
How the publisher describes it:
“Introduction to Statistics is a multimedia program providing a full foundation course for any discipline that uses statistics. Students see demonstrations and animated graphics along with spoken and written explanations and can test their understanding with questions and interactive exercises.”
Review by Steve Bishop
In brief:
This is an excellent package and covers the ground in an accessible and enjoyable way; difficult concepts are covered in interesting and novel ways; an complex processes are broken down into manageable steps.
“Complex processes are broken down into manageable steps”
StatBasics is a multimedia introduction to statistics aimed at first-year undergraduates; although it would be easily accessible to sixth-form students and even some GCSE students.
Navigation through the sections is very clear and straightforward and each screen is numbered for ease of location as well as being able to be bookmarked; each section has its own dominant colour and a number in the background of each screen indicates the section number.
The main menu shows the seven main sections. A bullet point is filled in when the section has been completed.
Each section then has a submenu page. Again with bullets points that are filled in when each section is completed.
It covers:
- Methods of Data Collection
- ordinal, nominal, interval, ratio scales
- objectivity and reactivity
- samples and populations
- Summarizing Data
- mean, median, mode
- range, interquartile range,
- standard deviation
- Visualizing Data
- stem-and-leaf, histograms, bar charts
- scatter plots, line graphs
- Correlation and Association
- Pearson, Spearman
- prediction, relationship, causality, linearity
- Standard Scores and the Normal Curve
- Statistical Inference
- probability and chance
- confidence, significance
- directional and non-directional tests
- Statistical Tests
- chi-squared
- one sample t, Wilcoxon
- sign, two sample t, Mann Whitney, median
- Necessary skills
- interpreting statistical formulae
- using statistical tables
There is an audio commentary that complements the text and images on the screen. This has to be clicked on at each screen, though it can be repeated as often as desired.
A glossary provides a scrollable list of technical terms and an index enables the user to go straight to a particular topic. The glossary is also hypertexted on each screen.
In each section there are interactive pages and each concludes with an interactive test. These include drag-and-drop completion, clicking on the correct response.
This is an excellent package and covers the ground in an accessible and enjoyable way; difficult concepts are covered in interesting and novel ways; an complex processes are broken down into manageable steps.
Version 2 includes: faster running; a simplified installation - I had no problem installing it at all; the option of independent and multiple users; and a new program Tutor tools. Tutor tools enables tutor to keep track of students' progress.
Steve Bishop • Mathematics lecturer, City of Bristol College
StatBasics Version 2
Annual licence from £195
statbasics.co.uk
