Applied Multivariate Research

Book excerpt: Multivariate designs were once the province of the very few exalted researchers who understood the underlying advanced mathematics. Today, through the sophistication of statistical software packages such as SPSS, virtually all graduate students across the social and behavioural sciences are exposed to the complex multivariate statistical techniques without having to learn the mathematical computations needed to acquire the data output. These students - in psychology, education, political science, etc. - will never be statisticians and appropriately so, their preparation and coursework reflects less of an emphasis on the mathematical complexities of multivariate statistics and more on the analysis and the interpretation of the methods themselves and the actual data output. This book provides full coverage of the wide range of multivariate topics in a conceptual, rather than mathematical, approach. The author gears toward the needs, level of sophistication, and interest in multivariate methodology of students in applied areas that need to focus on design and interpretation rather than the intricacies of specific computations. The book includes: - Coverage of the most widely used multivariate designs: multiple regression, exploratory factor analysis, MANOVA, and structural equation modeling. - Integrated SPSS examples for hands-on learning from one large study (for consistency of application throughout the text). - Examples of written results to enable students to learn how the results of these procedures are communicated. - Practical application of the techniques using contemporary studies that will resonate with students.