Jeff Foster is the vice president of science at Hogan Assessment Systems. He is responsible for a team that completes over 100 criterion-related validity studies, generalization of validity studies, and customized competency-based reporting solutions for clients annually. Before joining Hogan in 2005, Dr. Foster worked in selection and assessment for a Fortune 500 company and a small Midwestern consulting firm where he developed and evaluated selection programs for clients ranging from small firms to Fortune 100 companies, including local and national government agencies. He received his PhD in industrial and organizational psychology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

This book is a learning tool and reference guide for individuals who are confronted with statistical or research terminology commonly used in the behavioral sciences, whether it be psychology, education, communication, political science, or any of dozens of other fields that study society and individual differences. It provides an overview of common statistical terms, techniques, and processes. The text has two goals. The first is helping readers become better consumers of statistics so they can better understand and interpret results presented to them. The second is presenting information that can be useful for statistics and research methods courses. Unlike most standard textbooks, which are often much longer and more detailed, this book reviews standard statistical concepts and techniques at a very high level using easy-to-understand language and real world examples. Each section includes a general review of the topic, relevant key terms, an example, and a story or illustration that highlights key points and questions. Topics fall within two general areas. The first is measurement and research basics, which covers types of scales, item writing, translations, study design, reliability, and validity. The second is statistical calculations and analyses, including descriptive statistics, distributions, t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square, correlation, and regression. The introduction covers many basic statistical concepts and the concluding section presents suggestions for presenting your own statistical results.