An Adventure in Statistics
The Reality Enigma

First Edition

Andy Field - University of Sussex, UK

Additional resources:

Courses:
Introduction to Statistics | Introduction to Statistics | Statistics - General Interest | Statistics in Psychology |

June 2016 | 768 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

Shortlisted for the British Psychological Society Book Award 2017
Shortlisted for the British Book Design and Production Awards 2016
Shortlisted for the Association of Learned & Professional Society Publishers Award for Innovation in Publishing 2016

An Adventure in Statistics: The Reality Enigma by best-selling author and award-winning teacher Andy Field offers a better way to learn statistics. It combines rock-solid statistics coverage with compelling visual story-telling to address the conceptual difficulties that students learning statistics for the first time often encounter in introductory courses - guiding students away from rote memorization and toward critical thinking and problem solving. Field masterfully weaves in a unique, action-packed story starring Zach, a character who thinks like a student, processing information, and the challenges of understanding it, in the same way a statistics novice would. Illustrated with stunning graphic novel-style art and featuring Socratic dialogue, the story captivates readers as it introduces them to concepts, eliminating potential statistics anxiety.

The book assumes no previous statistics knowledge nor does it require the use of data analysis software. It covers the material you would expect for an introductory level statistics course that Field’s other books (Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics and Discovering Statistics Using R) only touch on, but with a contemporary twist, laying down strong foundations for understanding classical and Bayesian approaches to data analysis.

In doing so, it provides an unrivalled launch pad to further study, research, and inquisitiveness about the real world, equipping students with the skills to succeed in their chosen degree and which they can go on to apply in the workplace.

The Story and Main Characters

The Reality Revolution

In the City of Elpis, in the year 2100, there has been a reality revolution. Prior to the revolution, Elpis citizens were unable to see their flaws and limitations, believing themselves talented and special. This led to a self-absorbed society in which hard work and the collective good were undervalued and eroded.

To combat this, Professor Milton Grey invented the reality prism, a hat that allowed its wearers to see themselves as they really were - flaws and all. Faced with the truth, Elpis citizens revolted and destroyed and banned all reality prisms.

The Mysterious Disappearance

Zach and Alice are born soon after all the prisms have been destroyed. Zach, a musician who doesn’t understand science, and Alice, a geneticist who is also a whiz at statistics, are in love. One night, after making a world-changing discovery, Alice suddenly disappears, leaving behind a song playing on a loop and a file with her research on it.

Statistics to the Rescue!

Sensing that she might be in danger, Zach follows the clues to find her, as he realizes that the key to discovering why Alice has vanished is in her research. Alas! He must learn statistics and apply what he learns in order to overcome a number of deadly challenges and find the love of his life.

As Zach and his pocket watch, The Head, embark on their quest to find Alice, they meet Professor Milton Grey and Celia, battle zombies, cross a probability bridge, and encounter Jig:Saw, a mysterious corporation that might have something to do with Alice’s disappearance…

Author News

"Eight years ago I had the idea to write a fictional story through which the student learns statistics via a shared adventure with the main character..." Read the complete article from Andy Field on writing his new book
Times Higher Education article: “Andy Field takes statistics adventure to a new level”

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Video Links

Go behind the scenes and learn more about the man behind the book:

Watch Andy talk about why he created a statistics book using the framework of a novel and illustrations by one of the illustrators for the show, Doctor Who.
See more videos on Andy’s YouTube channel

Available Formats

ISBN: 9781446210444	Hardcover	Suggested Retail Price: $153.00	Bookstore Price: $122.40
ISBN: 9781446210451	Paperback	Suggested Retail Price: $56.00	Bookstore Price: $44.80
ISBN: 9781473923348	Electronic Version	Suggested Retail Price: $45.00	Bookstore Price: $36.00

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Prologue: The Dying Stars

1 Why You Need Science: The Beginning and The End

1.1. Will you love me now?

1.2. How science works

1.2.1. The research process

1.2.2. Science as a life skill

1.3. Research methods

1.3.1. Correlational research methods

1.3.2. Experimental research methods

1.3.3. Practice, order and randomization

1.4. Why we need science

2 Reporting Research, Variables and Measurement: Breaking the Law

2.1. Writing up research

2.2. Maths and statistical notation

2.3. Variables and measurement

2.3.1. The conspiracy unfolds

2.3.2. Qualitative and quantitative data

2.3.3. Levels of measurement

2.3.4. Measurement error

2.3.5. Validity and reliability

3 Summarizing Data: She Loves Me Not?

3.1. Frequency distributions

3.1.1. Tabulated frequency distributions

3.1.2. Grouped frequency distributions

3.1.3. Graphical frequency distributions

3.1.4. Idealized distributions

3.1.5. Histograms for nominal and ordinal data

3.2. Throwing Shapes

4 Fitting Models (Central Tendency): Somewhere In The Middle

4.1. Statistical Models

4.1.1. From the dead

4.1.2. Why do we need statistical models?

4.1.3. Sample size

4.1.4. The one and only statistical model

4.2. Central Tendency

4.2.1. The mode

4.2.2. The median

4.2.3. The mean

4.3. The 'fit' of the mean: variance

4.3.1. The fit of the mean

4.3.2. Estimating the fit of the mean from a sample

4.3.3. Outliers and variance

4..4. Dispersion

4.4.1. The standard deviation as an indication of dispersion

4.4.2. The range and interquartile range

5 Presenting Data: Aggressive Perfector

5.1. Types of graphs

5.2. Another perfect day

5.3. The art of presenting data

5.3.1. What makes a good graph?

5.3.2. Bar graphs

5.3.3. Line graphs

5.3.4. Boxplots (box-whisker diagrams)

5.3.5. Graphing relationships: the scatterplot

5.3.6. Pie charts

6 Z-Scores: The wolf is loose

6.1. Interpreting raw scores

6.2. Standardizing a score

6.3. Using z-scores to compare distributions

6.4. Using z-scores to compare scores

6.5. Z-scores for samples

7 Probability: The Bridge of Death

7.1. Probability

7.1.1. Classical probability

7.1.2. Empirical probability

7.2. Probability and frequency distributions

7.2.1. The discs of death

7.2.2. Probability density functions

7.2.3. Probability and the normal distribution

7.2.4. The probability of a score greater than x

7.2.5. The probability of a score less than x: The tunnels of death

7.2.6. The probability of a score between two values: The catapults of death

7.3. Conditional probability: Deathscotch

Inferential Statistics: Going Beyond the Data

8.1. Estimating parameters

8.2. How well does a sample represent the population?

8.2.1. Sampling distributions

8.2.2. The standard error

8.2.3. The central limit theorem

8.3. Confidence Intervals

8.3.1. Calculating confidence intervals

8.3.2. Calculating other confidence intervals

8.3.3. Confidence intervals in small samples

8.4. Inferential statistics

9 Robust Estimation: Man Without Faith or Trust

9.1. Sources of bias

9.1.1. Extreme scores and non-normal distributions

9.1.2. The mixed normal distribution

9.2. A great mistake

9.3. Reducing bias

9.3.1. Transforming data

9.3.2. Trimming data

9.3.3. M-estimators

9.3.4. Winsorizing

9.3.5. The bootstrap

9.4. A final point about extreme scores

10 Hypothesis Testing: In Reality All is Void

10.1. Null hypothesis significance testing

10.1.1. Types of hypothesis

10.1.2. Fisher's p-value

10.1.3. The principles of NHST

10.1.4. Test statistics

10.1.5. One- and two-tailed tests

10.1.6. Type I and Type II errors

10.1.7. Inflated error rates

10.1.8. Statistical power

10.1.9. Confidence intervals and statistical significance

10.1.10. Sample size and statistical significance

11 Modern Approaches to Theory Testing: A Careworn Heart

11.1. Problems with NHST

11.1.1. What can you conclude from a 'significance' test?

11.1.2. All-or-nothing thinking

11.1.3. NHST is influenced by the intentions of the scientist

11.2. Effect sizes

11.2.1. Cohen's d

11.2.2. Pearson's correlation coefficient,r

11.2.3. The odds ratio

11.3. Meta-analysis

11.4. Bayesian approaches

11.4.1. Asking a different question

11.4.2. Bayes' theorem revisited

11.4.3. Comparing hypothesis

11.4.4. Benefits of bayesian approaches

12 Assumptions: Starblind

12.1. Fitting models: bringing it all together

12.2. Assumptions

12.2.1. Additivity and linearity

12.2.2. Independent errors

12.2.3. Homoscedasticity/ homogeneity of variance

12.2.4. Normally distributed something or other

12.2.5. External variables

12.2.6. Variable types

12.2.7. Multicollinearity

12.2.8. Non-zero variance

12.3. Turning ever towards the sun

13 Relationships: A Stranger's Grave

13.1. Finding relationships in categorical data

13.1.1. Pearson's chi-square test

13.1.2. Assumptions

13.1.3. Fisher's exact test

13.1.4. Yates's correction

13.1.5. The likelihood ratio (G-test)

13.1.6. Standardized residuals

13.1.7. Calculating an effect size

13.1.8. Using a computer

13.1.9. Bayes factors for contingency tables

13.1.10. Summary

13.2. What evil lay dormant

13.3. Modelling relationships

13.3.1. Covariance

13.3.2. Pearson's correlation coefficient

13.3.3. The significance of the correlation coefficient

13.3.4. Confidence intervals for r

13.3.5. Using a computer

13.3.6. Robust estimation of the correlation

13.3.7. Bayesian approaches to relationships between two variables

13.3.8. Correlation and causation

13.3.9. Calculating the effect size

13.4. Silent sorrow in empty boats

14 The General Linear Model: Red Fire Coming Out From His Gills

14.1. The linear model with one predictor

14.1.1. Estimating parameters

14.1.2. Interpreting regression coefficients

14.1.3. Standardized regression coefficients

14.1.4. The standard error of b

14.1.5. Confidence intervals for b

14.1.6. Test statistic for b

14.1.7. Assessing the goodness of fit

14.1.8. Fitting a linear model using a computer

14.1.9. When this fails

14.2. Bias in the linear model

14.3. A general procedure for fitting linear models

14.4. Models with several predictors

14.4.1. The expanded linear model

14.4.2. Methods for entering predictors

14.4.3. Estimating parameters

14.4.4. Using a computer to build more complex models

14.5. Robust regression

14.5.1. Bayes factors for linear models

15 Comparing Two Means: Rock or Bust

15.1. Testing differences between means: The rationale

15.2. Means and the linear model

15.2.1. Estimating the model parameters

15.2.2. How the model works

15.2.3. Testing the model parameters

15.2.4. The independent t-test on a computer

15.2.5. Assumptions of the model

15.3. Everything you believe is wrong

15.4. The paired-samples t-test

15.4.1. The paired-samples t-test on a computer

15.5. Alternative approaches

15.5.1. Effect sizes

15.5.2. Robust tests of two means

15.5.3. Bayes factors for comparing two means

16 Comparing Several Means: Faith in Others

16.1. General procedure for comparing means

16.2. Comparing several means with the linear model

16.2.1. Dummy coding

16.2.2. The F-ratio as a test of means

16.2.3. The total sum of squares (SSt)

16.2.4. The model sum of squares (SSm)

16.2.5. The residual sum of squares (SSr)

16.2.6. Partitioning variance

16.2.7. Mean squares

16.2.8. The F-ratio

16.2.9. Comparing several means using a computer

16.3. Contrast coding

16.3.1. Generating contrasts

16.3.2. Devising weights

16.3.3. Contrasts and the linear model

16.3.4. Post hoc procedures

16.3.5. Contrasts and post hoc tests using a computer

16.4. Storm of memories

16.5. Repeated-measures designs

16.5.1. The total sum of squares, SSt

16.5.2. The within-participant variance, SSw

16.5.3. The model sum of squares, SSm

16.5.4. The residual sum of squares, SSr

16.5.5. Mean squares and the F-ratio

16.5.6. Repeated-measures designs using a computer

16.6. Alternative approaches

16.6.1. Effect sizes

16.6.2. Robust tests of several means

16.6.3. Bayesian analysis of several means

16.7. The invisible man

Factorial Designs

17.1. Factorial designs

17.2. General procedure and assumptions

17.3. Analysing factorial designs

17.3.1. Factorial designs and the linear model

17.3.2. The fit of the model

17.3.3. Factorial designs on a computer

17.4. From the pinnacle to the pit

17.5. Alternative approaches

17.5.1. Calculating effect sizes

17.5.2. Robust analysis of factorial designs

17.5.3. Bayes factors for factorial designs

17.6. Interpreting interaction effects

Epilogue: The Genial Night: SI Momentum Requiris, Circumspice

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See what students are saying!

“PERFECT FOR EVERYONE that finds stats difficult, pointless or boring, this book proves them wrong! The way the concepts are explained is so easy to grasp and it makes it even entertaining to learn! I wish I had discovered this sooner!”

Larissa Quiroga Escamilla

Bangor University

“A MUST-HAVE FOR ANY STATISTICS STUDENT looking for a thorough understanding of statistical terminology and concepts. Students will come for the statistics and stay for the narrative.”

Tess Liddell

Cardiff Metropolitan University

“A UNIQUE, ENGAGING EXPERIENCE…The narrative helps to build a context for introducing concepts and allows for the characters to explain the concepts through their successive parts. This is a must-have for those studying statistics.”

Benjamin Schade

Youngstown State University

“Funny and engaging book, YOU CANNOT STOP READING it because you cannot wait to know what happens to Zach and Alice.”

Eszter Stockl

Bangor University

“This book is EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS behind some of the more complex statistical procedures gone over in lectures.”

Rebecca, Payne

Bangor University

"I have at last encountered a book that provides solid, innovative statistics instruction alongside lessons in coding. And it’s fair to say that it does so like no other. Andy Field’s An Adventure in Statistics: The Reality Enigma—an introductory statistics educational text embedded in a science fiction story with graphic-novel artwork—has caught my attention and kept it. If only I’d had this book back in grad school...As an experienced educator, Field has a good sense of where a student might get held up, and he makes sure to cover such topics repeatedly to emphasize certain points...the fictional story exists in service of the statistics instruction, as the narrative flow is driven by wherever the statistics lessons need to go next...it succeeds in making a normally dry read into one that is fun, emotive, and even suspenseful."

Katie L. Burke

American Scientist

The Scientific Research Society

Students who come to the book for statistics learning stay with it for the engaging story. By the end of the book, the reader gets completely satiated not only from the story but also from the abundant concepts learned during the unfolding of the story. The book is highly entertaining, tremendously exciting, meticulously thorough on subject matter coverage and amazingly simple to understand and follow

Naveen Kashyap

Psychology Learning & Teaching

It's an excellent resource and successfully makes statistics more accessible [...] the story format encourages readers to persevere and to complete the course. It also gives readers quirky (and therefore memorable) analogies with which to visualize or conceptualise the statistical theories

Marguerite Adewoye

Social Research Association: Reviews

A great read for everybody, not just beginners. Exciting and captivating, and inspiring to read on and understand.

Mrs Myriam Annabelle Baum

Dept. of Psychology, Saarland University

October 25, 2019

Report this review

Very useful work to booster statistics for the MSc module in Business Data Analysis

Ip-Shing Fan

Dept of Manufacturing, Cranfield University

April 24, 2019

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Key features

KEY FEATURES:

Access the sample chapters now and see these features in action!

Compelling graphic novel-style story and illustrations (by an illustrator from the Doctor Who show) introduce and apply statistics concepts gradually, keeping students engaged from the start. Students are so enthralled by the story and the characters that they “forget” how much they are learning along the way!
Accessible pedagogy and style directly tackle student confusion by explaining concepts in an easy-to-grasp manner. Students learn things in a sensible order and build up their knowledge; in doing so they understand the material better.
“Student-to-student” approach addresses the conceptual difficulties that students learning statistics for the first time encounter because the main character in the story thinks like a student, processing information and the challenges of understanding it in the same way a statistics novice would—guiding readers away from rote memorization and toward critical thinking.
Socratic dialogue in the story helps students understand the basics behind even the more complex statistical concepts, reinforcing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Approachable material takes the fear out of statistics and does not require math expertise, previous statistics knowledge, or use of data analysis software.
Beginning-of-chapter sections introduce concepts for the first time and tell students where to focus their attention.
In the Next Chapter, Zach Discovers (Learning Objectives) sections offer a sneak preview of what comes next.
Reality Check features further explain new concepts in an easy-to-understand way.
Check your Brain (in-chapter) exercises offer opportunities for students to apply what they’ve learned, enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Figure boxes in the margins direct readers to visual representations of the material without interrupting the flow of the narrative.
Zach’s Facts (in-chapter summaries) recap chapter key concepts and offer another opportunity for targeted review.
Milton’s Meowsings (applied examples) promote critical thinking and include humorous letters (from Professor Milton Grey to Zach, the main character) giving more insight into how students could approach solving different statistical questions and how those approaches affect the outcome.
Key Terms at the end of each chapter help strengthen important, newly learned concepts.
Jig:Saw’s Puzzles give students a chance to further test their understanding of statistical concepts and work through problems at their own pace.