Statistics for Social Understanding: With Stata and SPSS introduces students to the use of statistics in social sciences as a means to advance understanding of the social world. Authored by Nancy E. Whittier, this text is written in an engaging and clear voice, based on the latest research on teaching and learning quantitative material. It is tailored for introductory students in the social sciences with minimal background in quantifiable data, focusing on the conceptual aspects of statistics while minimizing mathematical details. The book employs a universal design approach to accommodate diverse learning styles, featuring an early chapter on cross-tabulation, a focus on group comparisons throughout, and a unique chapter dedicated to causality.

Providing thorough coverage of social science statistical topics, the text offers a balanced approach to calculation with step-by-step directions for using Stata and SPSS. Authored by Nancy Whittier, Tina Wildhagen, and Howard J. Gold, this resource enables students to analyze data and explore and answer critical real-world questions. Each chapter includes a summary, sections on software usage (Stata and SPSS), and practice problems, with examples from Stata and SPSS integrated throughout. The text also incorporates readily available datasets for classroom use, including the General Social Survey and American National Election Study.

To enhance the learning experience, the book is accompanied by a learner-friendly ancillary package written by Tina Wildhagen, ensuring that supplementary materials align with the text in voice, language, and content. This comprehensive guide supports both instructors and students in their journey through social science statistics.