Statistics Made Simple for School Leaders: A New Approach for Using Student, Staff, and Community Data

Description

School leaders come in many forms - superintendents, principals and other building leaders, department heads, Board of Education members, heads of the Parent Teacher organizations, teachers’ union representatives, state and federal agency heads, and others. As leaders they are expected to make wise, expeditious and knowledgeable decisions. It is not acceptable to speculate and base decisions on qualitative input. Hard data is regarded as elementary to a school leader’s toolbox, and expertise with data is expected. This expectation will only intensify with the advent of social media, increased data accessibility, sophisticated technology and astute consumers of education. Statistics can make data-based decision-making efficient and ultimately support school leaders with the most critical task – accurately interpreting what is discovered. Why not make statistics your most potent tool? Statistics Made Simple for School Leaders: A New Approach for Using Student, Staff and Community Data can help. This book serves as a handbook for school leaders. With this book, they can confidently and successfully execute data-based decisions to the benefit of their schools, students, staff and community. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Introduction Chapter 1: Statistics: A Powerful Tool for School Leaders Benefits of Using Statistics Chapter Summary Chapter 2: Measurement: The Foundation of Data Literacy Variables and Measurement Four Measurement Scales Chapter Summary Chapter 3: Data: Steps in Management Frequency Distributions Chapter Summary Chapter 4: Graphs: A Story with Data Frequency Polygons or Line Graphs Bar Graphs Histograms Pictographs Pie Charts Truncated Graphs Chapter Summary Chapter 5: Descriptive Statistics: Great Communication Tools The Mean (M) The Median The Mode Chapter Summary Chapter 6: Variability: Partner of the Mean Variability and Graphs Measures of Variability Normal Distributions Skewed Distributions Chapter Summary Chapter 7: Sampling: An Overlooked Management Tool Population and Samples Simple Random Sampling Steps for Drawing Simple Random Samples Other Useful Sampling Strategies Chapter Summary Chapter 8: Hypotheses: Testing Assumptions Hypothesis Testing Power to Reject the Null Hypothesis Steps in Hypothesis Testing Chapter Summary Chapter 9: The t-test: Comparing Two Groups Facts about t-tests Assumptions of the t-test Steps For Conducting A t-test Types of T-TESTS Chapter Summary Chapter 10: ANOVA: Comparing Three or More Groups Four Research Questions Facts about One-Way ANOVAs Steps for Conducting a One-Way ANOVA An Example of One-Way ANOVA Other Versions of ANOVA Chapter Summary Chapter 11: Chi-Square Analyses: Comparing Categories Steps for Conducting a Chi-Square Analysis Other Non-Parametric Statistics Chapter Summary Chapter 12: Correlations: Relationships with Two Variables Facts about Correlations Correlation Coefficients (r) Steps for Conducting a Correlational Statistic Types of Correlation Techniques Chapter Summary Chapter 13: Regression: Predicting and Explaining Relationships Assumptions of Linear Regression Bivariate Linear Regression -to Explain Multiple Regression: Correlating More than Two Variables Forms of multiple regression Steps for Conducting Multiple Regression Chapter Summary Chapter 14: Reporting Data: Information Is Power Design a user-friendly framework for communicating the work. Keep the narrative concise and to the point. Select a typeface that is easy to read. Be discriminating in the use of boldface, italics, and uppercase. Present tables to illustrate the findings. Include graphs if they add to comprehension of the findings. Interpret findings. Add an Executive Summary of Findings. Provide a Glossary of Terms. Have the report reviewed by a third party. Treat audience segments with respect and dignity. Chapter Summary Appendix A Index About the Authors