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The Data Game: Controversies in Social Science Statistics, 3d ed. Now keyed to Internet data sources, Third Edition
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Comments/Reviews
Description: Now updated for web-based research, the third edition of The Data Game introduces students to the collection, use, and interpretation of statistical data in the social sciences. Separate chapters are devoted to data in the fields of demography, housing, health, education, crime, the national economy, wealth, income and poverty, labor, business, government, and public opinion polling. The concluding chapter is devoted to the common problem of amibiguity in social science statistics.
Each chapter includes:
--an overview of data sources in the particular field, including Web sites that provide free access
--controversial statistical applications illustrating how interpretation of the data is directly linked with current policy disputes. Controversies new to this edition: mortgage discrimination, the minimum wage, and racial identification in the Census
--thought provoking questions about the proper use of data.
With over one hundred current controversies, numerous interesting policy applications, and practical updated resources, this new edition of the popular book is an ideal companion text for introductory statistics courses in the social sciences.
Selected Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Demography
3. Housing
4. Health
5. Education
6. Crime
7. The National Economy
8. Wealth, Income, and Poverty
9. Labor Statistics
10. Business Statistics
11. Government
12. Public Opinion Polling
13. Conclusions
Comment(s): "As a social scientist and a teacher, I found this book very useful. Students are using this book to find out about different policy areas that they can research. They learn about data sources, which usually takes a lot of time to figure out and also they learn about advantages and disadvantages of doing statistical analysis. This book brilliantly reveals the problems of statistical inquiries." -- Mihriye Mete, State University of New York, Stony Book (on a previous edition)
"I really like this book! Its breadth and depth are amazing. It is far better than any other book that I've seen or used as such. A thinking person's book." -- Don Warren, Director, Statistics and Demographics, Texas Legislative Council
Review(s): On the previous editions:
So easy to read, it would be a valuable supplement in almost all management-related or research-related courses. The Library Quarterly
For instructors seeking to convince their students that social science is interesting and that it is not just `common sense,' this is the book to assign. Social Science Computer Review
This is a GREAT book! It fits very well into my political statistical methods course. Lani Malysa, University of Central Arkansas
Fills the need for a companion text to introductory statistics courses on the collection and use of social science data. Reference & Research Book News
In very readable fashion, this book introduces readers to the nature of, sources of, problems with, and controversies surrounding data used in a variety of social science topics, with chapters on demography, housing, health, education, crime, macroeconomics, poverty, labor, business, government, and public opinion polling...Each chapter begins by listing sources of data for the topic of interest, including, new to this edition, annotated Web sources...This listing is followed by a section on controversies, usually related to public policy disputes such as the census population undercount or the location of the poverty line.
(continued)Throughout each chapter are boxes offering illustrations of related issues of interest...Each chapter finishes with a short set of questions designed to stimulate further thought. A detailed notes section at the end of the book provides references for all the controversies discussed in the book, a great service to scholars seeking further insight...Maier concludes by underlining a general lesson:The origin of policy disputes can often be traced to data issues such as why are some data reported to the exclusion of other equally reputable data? Why are only certain data collected? Why are the data organized into certain categories? and Why do the data generate conflicting statistics?
His concluding chapter discusses how earlier chapters provided both illustrations of and answers to these questions...The profession owes Mark Maier a vote of thanks for having produced a book that will enhance our teaching, improve our research, prod our conscience, and entertain us. Journal of Economic Education
    
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