The social, behavioral, and health sciences have a need for the ability to use nonparametric statistics in research. Many studies in these areas involve data that are classified in the nominal or ordinal scale. At times, interval data from these fields lack parameters for classification as normal. Nonparametric statistical tests are useful tools for analyzing such data.

Purpose of This Book

This book is intended to provide a conceptual and procedural approach for nonparametric statistics. It is written so that someone who does not have an extensive mathematical background may work through the process necessary to conduct the given statistical tests presented. In addition, the outcome includes a discussion of the final decision for each statistical test. Each chapter takes the reader through an example from the beginning hypotheses, through the statistical calculations, to the final decision as compared with the hypothesis. The examples are then followed by a detailed, step-by-step analysis using the computer program SPSS^®. Finally, research literature is identified which uses the respective nonparametric statistical tests.

Intended Audience

While not limited to such, this book is written for graduate and undergraduate students in social science programs. As stated earlier, it is targeted toward the student who does not have an especially strong mathematical background, but can be used effectively with a mixed group of students that includes students who have both strong and weak mathematical background.

Special Features of This Book

There are currently few books available that provide a practical and applied approach to teaching nonparametric statistics. Many books take a more theoretical approach to the instructional process that can leave students disconnected and frustrated, in need of supplementary material to give them the ability to apply the statistics taught.

It is our hope and expectation that this book provides students with a concrete approach to performing the nonparametric statistical procedures, along with their application and interpretation. We chose these particular nonparametric procedures since they represent a breadth of the typical types of analyses found in social science research. It is our hope that students will confidently learn the content presented with the promise of future successful applications.

In addition, each statistical test includes a section that explains how to use the computer program SPSS. However, the organization of the book provides effective instruction of the nonparametric statistical procedures for those individuals with or without the software. Therefore, instructors (and students) can focus on learning the tests with a calculator, SPSS, or both.

A Note to the Student

We have written this book with you in mind. Each of us has had a great deal of experience working with students just like you. Over the course of that time, it has been our experience that most people outside of the fields of mathematics or hard sciences struggle with and are intimidated by statistics. Moreover, we have found that when statistical procedures are explicitly communicated in a step-by-step manner, almost anyone can use them.

This book begins with a brief introduction (Chapter 1) and is followed with an explanation of how to perform the crucial step of checking your data for normality (Chapter 2). The chapters that follow (Chapters 3–9) highlight several nonparametric statistical procedures. Each of those chapters focuses on a particular type of variable and/or sample condition.

Chapters 3–9 each have a similar organization. They each explain the statistical methods included in their respective chapters. At least one sample problem is included for each test using a step-by-step approach. (In some cases, we provide additional sample problems when procedures differ between large and small sam­ples.) Then, those same sample problems are demonstrated using the statistical software package SPSS. Whether or not your instructor incorporates SPSS, this section will give you the opportunity to learn how to use the program. Toward the end of each chapter, we identify examples of the tests in published research. Finally, we present sample problems with solutions.

As you seek to learn nonparametric statistics, we strongly encourage you to work through the sample problems. Then, using the sample problems as a reference, work through the problems at the end of the chapters and additional data sets provided.

New to the Second Edition

Given an opportunity to write a second edition of this book, we revised and expanded several portions. Our changes are based on feedback from users and reviewers.

We asked several undergraduate and graduate students for feedback on Chapters 1 and 2. Based on their suggestions, we made several minor changes to Chapter 1 with a goal to improve understanding. In Chapter 2, we expanded the section that describes and demonstrates the Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K-S) one-sample test.

After examining current statistics textbooks and emerging research paper, we decided to include two additional tests. We added the sign test to Chapter 3 and the Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K-S) two-sample test to Chapter 4. We also added a discussion on statistical power to Chapter 3 as requested by instructors who had adopted our book for their courses.

Since our book's first edition, SPSS has undergone several version updates. Our new edition of the book also has updated directions and screen captures for images of SPSS. Specifically, these changes reflect SPSS version 21.

We have included web-based tools to support our book's new edition. If you visit the publisher's book support website, you will find a link to a Youtube channel that includes narrated screen casts. The screen casts demonstrate how to use SPSS to perform the tests included in this book. The publisher's book support website also includes a link to a decision tree that helps the user determine an appropriate type of statistical test. The decision tree is organized using Prezi. The branches terminate with links to the screen casts on YouTube.