1. Statistics, Data, and Statistical Thinking 2. Methods for Describing Sets of Data 3. Probability 4. Random Variables and Probability Distributions 5. Sampling Distributions 6. Inferences Based on a Single Sample: Estimation with Confidence Intervals 7. Inferences Based on a Single Sample: Tests of Hypotheses 8. Inferences Based on Two Samples: Confidence Intervals and Tests of Hypotheses 9. Design of Experiments and Analysis of Variance 10. Categorical Data Analysis 11. Simple Linear Regression 12. Multiple Regression and Model Building 13. Methods for Quality Improvement: Statistical Process Control (Available Online) 14. Time Series: Descriptive Analyses, Models, and Forecasting (Available Online) 15. Nonparametric Statistics (Available Online)

Data-based applications and examples introduce and illustrate new ideas, helping students better understand definitions, generalisations, and theoretical concepts. All examples have three components: "Problem,” "Solution,” and "Look Back" (or "Look Ahead"). This step-by-step process provides students with a defined structure by which to approach problems and enhances their problem-solving skills. The "Look Back/Look Ahead" feature often gives helpful hints for solving the problem and/or provides a further reflection or insight into the concept or procedure that is covered. "Now Work" exercise suggestions follow each example. The Now Work exercise (marked with the NW icon in the exercise sets) is similar in style and concept to the text example, providing students with an opportunity to immediately test and confirm their understanding. Statistics in Action case studies begin each chapter and are based on an actual contemporary, controversial or high-profile issue in business. Relevant research questions and data from the study are presented and the proper analysis demonstrated in short "Statistics in Action Revisited" sections throughout the chapter. These motivate students to critically evaluate the findings and think through the statistical issues involved. "Hands-On" activities at the end of each chapter provide students with an opportunity to participate in hands-on classroom activities, ranging from real data collection to formal statistical analysis. These activities are designed to be performed by students individually or as a class. Real-World Business Cases, with real data and assignments for the student, serve as capstones and review for the material that precedes them. Typically, these cases follow a group of two or three chapters and require the student to apply the methods presented in these chapters. Real Data-Based Exercises: More than 1,200 exercises based on applications in a variety of business disciplines and research areas are included. All the applied exercises employ the use of current real data extracted from current publications (e.g., newspapers, magazines, current journals, and the Internet). Some students have difficulty learning the mechanics of statistical techniques when all problems are couched in terms of realistic applications. For this reason, all exercise sections are divided into at least four parts: Exploring Data with Statistical Computer Software and the Graphing Calculator is demonstrated using output from three leading Windows-based statistical software packages: Excel/XLSTAT, SPSS, and Minitab. Students are exposed early and often to computer printouts they will encounter in today’s hi-tech business world. "Using Technology" Tutorials at the end of each chapter are statistical software tutorials with point-and-click instructions (with screenshots) for MINITAB, SPSS, and Excel/XLSTAT. These tutorials are easily located and show students how to best use and maximise statistical software. In addition, output and keystroke instructions for the TI-84 Graphing Calculator are presented. Profiles of Statisticians in History provide brief descriptions of famous statisticians, with their achievements presented in side boxes, allowing students to develop an appreciation for the statistician's efforts and the discipline of statistics as a whole.

About the Book Many new and updated exercises, based on contemporary business-related studies and real data, have been added. Most of these exercises foster and promote critical thinking skills. The authors analyzed aggregated student usage and performance data from MyMathLab for the previous edition of this text. The results of this analysis helped improve the quality and quantity of exercises that matter the most to instructors and students.  All printouts from statistical software (Excel 2016/XLSTAT, SPSS, MINITAB and the TI-84 Graphing Calculator), and corresponding instructions for use, have been revised to reflect the latest versions of the software. Two of the 14 Statistics in Action cases are new, each based on real data from a recent business study; several others have been updated.   Boxes emphasizing the importance of ethical behavior when collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data with statistics have been added, where appropriate. The importance of statistical thinking to successful business analytics is established early in the text. ·    Chapter-by-chapter updates include: In Chapter 1, an introduction to business analytics is now provided in Section 1.7, establishing the value of sound statistical thinking to successful applications of business analytics. In Chapter 5, after a discussion of the sampling distribution of the sample mean (Section 5.3), the text helps the student decide when to use σ or σ/√n in their statistical analysis. In Chapter 7, in the case of testing a population proportion with small samples, material on exact binomial tests has been added to Section 7.6.   In Chapter 8, sample size formulas for the case of unequal samples have been added to Section 8.5. In Chapter 10, to handle the case of small samples, Fisher's exact test for independence in a 2x2 contingency table is now included in Section 10.3.      Pearson MyLabTM Statistics not included. Students, if MyLab is a recommended/mandatory component of the course, please ask your instructor for the correct ISBN and course ID. MyLab should only be purchased when required by an instructor. Instructors, contact your Pearson representative for more information. ·    Learning Catalytics™ helps you generate class discussion, customize your lecture, and promote peer-to-peer learning with real-time analytics. As a student response tool, Learning Catalytics uses students’ smartphones, tablets, or laptops to engage them in more interactive tasks and thinking. Upload a full PowerPoint® deck for easy creation of slide questions. Team names are no longer case sensitive.   Support students as they learn to use statistical software, to save valuable class time and prepare them for their future careers--whatever they may be Tech-Specific Video Tutorials are short, topical videos that address how to use varying technologies, including Excel, to complete exercises. When working any exercise that includes a data set, students can export that data easily in a single click, which minimizes their time doing data entry and keeps their focus on solving the problem. Tech Assumed Questions in Pearson MyLab Statistics: Exercises marked with a "-T" assume the use of technology throughout the exercise and accompanying learning aids.  A "Tech Help" button gives access to Technology Tutorial videos for all Pearson MyLab Statistics exercises that  require it. These videos are appropriate for any software.