It is little secret that most archaeologists are uneasy with statistics. Thankfully, in the modern world, quantitative analysis has been made immensely easier by statistical software packages. Software now does virtually all our statistical calculations, removing a great burden for researchers. At the same time, since most statistical analysis now takes place through the pushing of buttons in software packages, new problems and dangers have emerged. How does one know which statistical test to use? How can one tell if certain data violate the assumptions of a particular statistical analysis?
Rather than focusing on the mathematics of calculation, this concise handbook selects appropriate forms of analysis and explains the assumptions that underlie them. It deals with fundamental issues, such as what kinds of data are common in the field of archaeology and what are the goals of various forms of analysis.
This accessible textbook lends a refreshing playfulness to an often-humorless subject and will be enjoyed by students and professionals alike.
By:
Grant S. McCall
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 246mm,
Width: 189mm,
Weight: 453g
ISBN: 9781138632523
ISBN 10: 113863252X
Pages: 224
Publication Date: 23 February 2018
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Primary
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
List of Figures List of Tables List of Boxes List of Formula Preface Chapter 1: Introduction: How Does Quantitative Analysis Fit Into Archaeological Research? Chapter 2: Basics: Knowing Your Data Chapter 3: Preparing Your Data: Aggregation, Standardization, and Transformation Chapter 4: Numerical and Graphical Approaches to Summarizing Your Data Chapter 5: Basic Approaches for Statistical Hypothesis Testing Using Univariate Data Chapter 6: Bivariate Analysis: Linear Regression and Correlation Chapter 7: Multivariate Techniques for Data Reduction and Pattern Recognition Chapter 8: Multivariate Approaches to Statistical Hypothesis Testing Chapter 9: Clustering and Discrimination: Grouping Data According to Similarity Chapter 10: Conclusion: Numerical Facts in the World of Archaeological Ambiguity
Grant S. McCall is the Executive Director of the Center for Human-Environmental Research and Associate Professor of Anthropology at Tulane University. He is also the author of Before Modern Humans: New Perspectives on the African Stone Age and (with Karl Widerquist) Prehistoric Myths in Modern Political Philosophy.
