general

This work is geared for the above average arts or business
student. It has a good coverage of the various probability
density functions and hypothesis testing and evaluation. A typical chapter has important definitions set forth, a "Try
It Yourself" problem set, notes to the instructor, numerous
exercises and an exhaustive summary. In chapter 1, the four levels of measurement are depicted. i.e. Nominal, Ordinal,
Interval and Ratio . The author provides a simple experimental
design consisting of identifying variables, developing a
detailed plan for collecting data, actual data collection,
descriptive statistics techniques and inferential statistics.

This book could be covered in one semester with the following
organization:
Data Collection Chapter 1
Scales, frequency Chapter 2
Probability Chapter 3
Distributions Chapter 4
Normal Distribution Chapter 5
Confidence Intervals Chapter 6
Hypothesis Testing Chapter 7
Correlation/Regression Chapter 9

Moving Averages

Chi Square Chapter 10

Theory of Expected Value

General Review and Finals

The appendix of the work contains an excellent presentation
on how to find areas under the standard normal curve. Overall,
the work presents a very ambitious agenda aimed at the
above-average collegiate student. The book could be supplemented
with the Schaum's Outline in Statistics. Students may utilize
a statistical calculator to assist with the work of the course.

I had to purchase this book for an online stats course - BIG mistake! The organization of the book is so incredibly confusing, and the "expanding the basics" problems are not illustrated in the chapter, nor do they have answers with which to check your answers. I have taken other reasoning courses (in class and online) and they were organized much better, with relevant examples that explained every step -- perfect for anyone who is basically trying to teach him/herself! I hope mathematics teachers nationwide realize how difficult this text is for students to follow. Consider another text!

I have been forced to purchase the second edition of this book, which is similar to the first edition, but with CD rom for the data set instead of diskettes in the first edition. Also, the numbering for the problem sets have been altered, probably to make more money by making the first book obsolete.

The only reason I had to buy the book was to do the problem set. The book itself has terrible organization as a reference, where a few crutial concepts are discussed briefly, in a overwhelming mixture of examples and practice problems. Perhaps this is all well if you are trying to read the text from cover to cover, but unfortunately that won't help student learn any faster if they have to mull over unimportant details outside of the lecture.

Edward Tufte will have a field day with the barrage of unnecessary use of color and unprofessional (confusing) layout of the charts, tables and graphs (what he calls "the ducks"). The conventions used in the books are used inconsistently, and *every* page has at least three colors, which drives up the printing cost for no good reason other than profit. Furthermore, it is printed on glossy paper, where it's glare will strain the eyes and it is hard to mark with pencil. I will preach against using glossy paper for texts until someone listens!

Fortunately, the book calms down after the absolutely terrible first three chapters, but it still manages to waste pages and pages on useless information (to most) such as step-by-step instruction on how to use a TI-83 calculator - each time I open a page filled with screen shot of applications that I will never touch, I feel insulted and ripped off. Why not use the CD for these screenshots?? Doesn't TI-83 come with a user's manual???

I understand that the book strives to be a tutorial, augmenting what a poorly trained instructor may miss during a lecture, but it also tries to be a textbook which supplements a lecture. Unfortunately, the two concepts do not mix well together in a book. This is a worthless book after the lecture, and I do not intend to keep it for reference.

I have "inherited" DeVore & Peck's "Statistics: Exploration and Analysis of Data" - and found that to be more informative and engaging introduction to statistics and probability.

It is sad to hear that Larson & Farber is a popular book - it makes me shudder to think of all the high-school students out there learning the horrible examples of presentation of data. I hope that these authors will realize that insulting the readers' intelligence by diluting the content will only alienate them. I hope they fix their ways.