Behavioral Statistics Textbooks: Source of Myths and Misconceptions?

James K. Brewer

Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, 1985, vol. 10, issue 3, 252-268

Abstract: Six behavioral statistics textbooks listed by their publishers as “bestsellers†during 1982 were reviewed by the author. The intent was to detect the presence of and discuss the nature of some theoretical inferential inaccuracies, misinterpretations, and errors, that is, statistical “myths and misconceptions.†Approximately 43 quotes were found that to some degree reflected misconceptions of statistical theory and that may mislead the behavioral researcher. These quotes were classified in general categories of half-truths, definitional errors, constant-cum-variable, cart-before-the-horse, and unitary inference.

Keywords: Statistics; misconceptions; statistics textbooks; myths and misconceptions; textbooks misconceptions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1985
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:jedbes:v:10:y:1985:i:3:p:252-268

DOI: 10.3102/10769986010003252

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