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

✍ Scribed by Susan Rovezzi Carroll, David J. Carroll

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Year: 2022
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 141
• Edition: 3
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

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.

✦ Table of Contents

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