8
$\begingroup$

Can anyone suggest a good review reference (necessarily free online PDF) to brush up college-level statistics?

I'm looking at something which typically covers a first course in statistics ideally covering:

  • Absolute basics (mean, variance etc.)
  • Large Samples
  • Confidence testing
  • Hypothesis testing (normal, t, chi, F)
  • Linear Regression/Correlation

I don't need a book reference. I need something like a quick review which goes over the important aspects. Anything in free form will do : Presentations, Lecture Notes or otherwise. I just need it to be succinct; depth would be much appreciated.

$\endgroup$
5
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Good links here: r-statistics.com/2009/10/free-statistics-e-books-for-download $\endgroup$
    – Pardis
    Jul 7, 2012 at 2:40
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ I especially liked Introduction to Statistical Thought by Michael Lavine $\endgroup$
    – Pardis
    Jul 7, 2012 at 2:42
  • $\begingroup$ Note that "succinct" & "depth" are pretty much contradictory. You should clarify this; eg, if you found the ideal book, roughly how long would it be in pages? In addition, I'm guessing you want a review of introductory applied stats, not mathematical statistics. $\endgroup$ Jul 12, 2012 at 14:26
  • $\begingroup$ @gung. Succinctness is primary, depth is appreciated. I'd prefer ~150 pages not more. Yeah, I think this would be applied although I'm not sure I understand the difference very well. $\endgroup$
    – user8968
    Jul 12, 2012 at 14:29
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ While this previous post focuses on free online textbooks, you may find a number of good resources: stats.stackexchange.com/q/170/2981 $\endgroup$
    – jthetzel
    Jul 12, 2012 at 14:30

6 Answers 6

2
+50
$\begingroup$

Take a look at these documents:

http://onlinestatbook.com/Online_Statistics_Education.pdf

http://www.micquality.com/downloads/ref-primer.pdf

And at this site, for more materials:

http://onlinestatbook.com/

Hope this helps.

$\endgroup$
2
$\begingroup$

These are not PDFs, but there are quite a few good videos at the Khan Academy.

$\endgroup$
1
$\begingroup$

There are so many good possibilities and your vague description makes it difficult to narrow it down to just a couple. But here is a short list. 1. Humourous but also clear and accurate by Gonick "The Cartoon Guide to Statistics 1993" http://www.amazon.com/Cartoon-Guide-Statistics-Larry-Gonick/dp/0062731025/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341601837&sr=1-1&keywords=the+cartoon+guide+to+statistics

  1. Clearly written in the style of David Moore "The Basic Practice of Statistics 5th Edition 2010." http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Practice-Statistics-David-Moore/dp/1429201215/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341601954&sr=1-2&keywords=the+basic+practice+of+statistics

  2. Good college level book by Hogg and Tanis "Probability and Statistical Inference 8th Edition 2009." Now Published by Prentice-Hall. Was published by Macmillian when I studied out of it in the 1970s The authors were Hogg and Craig then and the title was different too. I had it as "Introduction to Mathematical Statistics 3rd Edition 1970."

http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Statistical-Inference-Robert-Hogg/dp/0321584759/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341601657&sr=1-1&keywords=hogg+tanis

  1. The classic by Mood, Graybill and Boes 1974 "Introduction to the Theory of Statistics".

http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Theory-Statistics-3rd-Edition/dp/0070854653/ref=la_B002880BCE_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341601600&sr=1-1

  1. Very modern first year undergraduate introductory text. One of my favorites because it includes resampling methods. Chihara and Hesterberg "Mathematical Statistics with Resampling and R, 2011" http://www.amazon.com/Mathematical-Statistics-Resampling-Laura-Chihara/dp/1118029852/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341602206&sr=1-1&keywords=Chihara+and+Hesterberg

  2. This is the only good one that is concise "pocketbook" size. Silvey's "Statistical Inference 1975" http://www.amazon.com/Statistical-Inference-Monographs-Statistics-Probability/dp/0412138204/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341602312&sr=1-1&keywords=silvey+s+d

$\endgroup$
7
  • 6
    $\begingroup$ (necessarily free Online PDF) ? $\endgroup$
    – user8968
    Jul 6, 2012 at 19:25
  • $\begingroup$ Sorry I read your note wrong. I thought you said not necessarily free Online PDF. Requiring a good review book in a free online PDF is a tall order. Maybe that is why it was downvoted. I think that the question is reasonable. So I gave you an upvote. Would a good powerpoint presentation do? I can give you one that I produced and use for introductory biostatistics lectures? $\endgroup$ Jul 6, 2012 at 19:32
  • $\begingroup$ Sure. I'll edit the question to make it more encompassing. $\endgroup$
    – user8968
    Jul 6, 2012 at 19:34
  • $\begingroup$ I will attach my slides if someone will explain to me how to do it. $\endgroup$ Jul 6, 2012 at 20:34
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ @MichaelChernick: I don't think it's possible. But why don't you use one of the free file exchange services and link to it in the answer? $\endgroup$
    – blubb
    Jul 6, 2012 at 21:00
1
$\begingroup$

I think these two free PDF's are very good for this purpose:

This one is a more "conceptual" introduction, good for a refresher:

http://www.stat-help.com/intro.pdf

And this one is a more "complete" introduction:

http://www.openintro.org/stat/down/OpenIntroStatFirst.pdf

$\endgroup$
1
$\begingroup$

David Colquhoun's book "Lectures on Biostatistics" covers most of the material that you mention and is available as a free pdf from the author's website http://www.dcscience.net/ It is slightly idiosyncratic in parts (which will not surprise any who know the author) and quite entertaining (the test for pureness of heart is wonderful). You can't go wrong.

$\endgroup$
1
$\begingroup$

The NIST/SEMATECH e-Handbook of Statistical Methods, also known as the Engineering Statistics Handbook is a great, and authoritative, reference. It is continuously supported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (U.S. tax dollars at work!)

It is available in pdf at http://www.itl.nist.gov/div898/handbook/toolaids/pff/index.htm

The organization is a bit unusual, but there is a good search function.

$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.