Joseph F. Healey, Ph.D., is Professor and Chair of Sociology and Social Work at Christopher Newport University. He is author of STATISTICS: A TOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH, Sixth Edition (Wadsworth, 2001); RACE, ETHNICITY, GENDER AND CLASS, Third Edition (Pine Forge Press, 2002); and RACE, ETHNICITY AND GENDER IN THE UNITED STATES (Pine Forge, 1996). He is the author of the forthcoming RACE, ETHNICITY AND GENDER (Pine Forge, 2004) and is also the co-editor with York Bradshaw of SOCIOLOGY FOR A NEW CENTURY (Pine Forge, 2001) and co-author with Earl Babbie and Fred Halley of EXPLORING SOCIAL ISSUES: USING SPSS FOR WINDOWS (Pine Forge, 1997). Healey earned his A.B. and M.A. from The College of William and Mary (sociology and anthropology) and Ph.D. from University of Virginia (sociology and anthropology). In his spare time, he plays and records music for hammer dulcimer, banjo, and concertina.

STATISTICS: A TOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH, Ninth Edition, is a comprehensive, reader-friendly text that uses real-world examples, engaging exercises, and special features in every chapter to help even the most math-averse students succeed in a required statistics course. At the same time, this versatile text is appropriate for more advanced students in diverse social science disciplines, providing an accessible, well-balanced introduction to fundamental concepts of statistics and their practical application to a wide variety of contemporary social issues. The text covers hand calculations and the use of computers, providing a solid grounding in both traditional formulas and the latest SPSS statistical software package. Healey effectively breaks down even complex material to help students master key concepts and hone the skills they will need to succeed as professionals in a social science field--or simply to become "statistically literate," intelligent consumers of social research.