1.1 How to Use This Book

This book is designed to help you learn statistics with jamovi, a free statistical software program. My goal is not for you to memorize formulas or become a mathematician. My goal is for you to learn how to use statistics to answer research questions, interpret results, and explain what those results mean.

If you are feeling nervous about statistics, you are not alone. Many students come into statistics feeling unsure, anxious, or convinced that they are “not a stats person.” That is okay. Statistics is a skill, and skills develop with practice, feedback, and patience.

This chapter explains how to use the book, what the book assumes, how to navigate the online version, and how to get help when you need it.

What This Book Is Trying to Help You Do

By the end of this book, you should be better able to:

• understand why a particular statistical test fits a research question
• use jamovi to run statistical analyses
• read statistical output without getting overwhelmed
• interpret results in plain language
• write up results clearly and accurately
• make thoughtful decisions about data, assumptions, and evidence

Suggested Reading Pathways

You can use this book in a few different ways.

If you are new to statistics, I recommend reading the chapters in order. The early chapters introduce foundational ideas about variables, descriptive statistics, data visualization, cleaning data, and hypothesis testing. Those ideas will make the later chapters on specific statistical tests much easier to understand.

If you are using this book for a course, follow your instructor’s schedule and assignment directions. Your course may skip some sections, emphasize others, or use the chapters in a slightly different order.

If you are returning to this book as a reference, you do not need to reread everything from the beginning. You can jump to the chapter that matches what you need to do, such as describing data, making a graph, cleaning data, choosing a statistical test, running a t-test, interpreting an ANOVA, or writing results in APA style.

If you are not sure which statistical test to use, start with the chapter on choosing the correct test. Then return to the chapter for that specific analysis once you know what kind of test fits your research question, variables, and design.

NoteFor Dana’s Students

If you are taking one of my courses, use Canvas as the official source for the course schedule, assignment directions, due dates, grading expectations, and communication guidelines. This book explains the concepts and procedures, but Canvas tells you exactly what to do for our specific course.

Common Challenges (and How to Handle Them)

“I don’t understand the math.”

That is okay. There is some math in this book because formulas can sometimes help us understand what a statistic is doing. However, the main goal is not hand calculations. Most of the time, I care much more about whether you understand what the statistic means, why you chose it, and how to interpret the results.

“I got lost in jamovi.”

This happens, especially when you are new to statistical software. Slow down, go back to the previous step, and compare your screen to the example. A lot of learning jamovi is repetition. The more you practice opening data, checking variables, selecting analyses, and reading output, the more familiar it will become.

“I don’t know what the output means.”

This is one of the most common challenges in statistics. When you look at output, start with the research question. Ask yourself: What was I trying to find out? What test did I run? Which part of the output helps me answer the question? Then use the interpretation sections in this book to help connect the statistical results back to the research question.

Navigating This Book

This book is meant to be used as an online resource, not just read straight through from beginning to end. You will likely move back and forth between chapters, especially once you start working in jamovi.

A few features may help:

• Use the main table of contents on the left to jump between chapters and sub-chapters.
• Within each chapter, there is a smaller table of contents on the right that allows you to jump between sections within each chapter or sub-chapter.
• Use the search feature when you are trying to find a specific term, test, or jamovi step.
• Use the previous and next buttons at the bottom when you are working through chapters in order.
• Adjust your browser zoom or display settings if that makes the book easier to read.

My recommendation is to keep this book open while you work in jamovi. When you get stuck, search the book first, then go back to the relevant section and compare your screen to the example.

Technology Tips

You will need access to a computer that can run jamovi and open common file types such as Word, Excel, PDF, and data files.

I strongly recommend using the desktop version of jamovi when possible. jamovi Cloud exists, but the free version may not be sufficient for everything you need to do. The desktop version is free and is the version this book assumes you are using unless otherwise noted.

You will often move back and forth between this book, assignment instructions, datasets, and jamovi. If you have two monitors, this is a great time to use them. If not, learn how to snap windows side-by-side or switch quickly between open applications. On Windows, Alt+Tab lets you move between open applications. On Mac, use Cmd+Tab.

One very practical tip: close what you are not using. When you are working on statistics, try to have only the book, the assignment, your data file, and jamovi open. It reduces visual clutter, helps your computer run better, and makes it easier to focus.

Also, restart your computer regularly. I know this sounds like basic technology advice, but many mysterious software problems are solved by saving your work, closing programs, restarting your computer, and trying again. Sometimes that breather can help you better solve problems, too.

NoteFor Dana’s Students

If you are in one of my courses and are having trouble with technology, message me on Teams so I can best support you! More details on how to contact me are available on our Canvas course.

Getting Help

Learning statistics is not something most people do perfectly the first time. Getting stuck is part of the process.

If you are using this book as part of a course, your instructor may have specific ways they want you to ask for help, such as office hours, student hours, email, discussion boards, or course messaging tools. Use those resources. You are not expected to figure everything out alone.

When you ask for help, it is useful to include:

• the chapter or assignment you are working on
• what step you got stuck on
• what you already tried
• a screenshot of what you are seeing in jamovi, if relevant
• your jamovi file, if you are asking about an analysis

You do not need to have a perfectly formed question before asking for help. “I got lost around this step” is a completely reasonable place to start.

NoteFor Dana’s Students

If you are taking PSYC 290 or PSYC 790 with me, check Canvas for the most current information about student hours, Teams, email, class discussion spaces, and how to get help from me or the graduate assistant.

A Final Tip

One final thing to keep in mind: most mistakes in statistics are not signs that you “can’t do stats.” They are usually small process errors: the wrong variable type, the wrong box in jamovi, a missed assumption check, or an interpretation that moved too quickly.

Slow down. Check your setup. Ask what the research question is. Then ask what the statistic is helping you decide. That process will take you much further than memorizing isolated rules.