Core Statistics: Practical Knowledge for the Health Sciences

Teaching statistics is Dr. Rodriguez’s passion. However, he is frustrated with how statistics is being taught. Too frequently, authors follow formulaic presentations of content, without understanding the needs of the students buying their textbooks. Dr. Rodriguez’s presentation accounts for student fears about statistics and the mathematics required in statistics. For instance, Core Statistics: Practical Knowledge for the Health Sciences begins with a chapter focusing completely on the learning processes, devoid of equations and other intimidating content. Dr. Rodriguez presents strategies that promote excitement and competence, as well as motivation to achieve. However, Core Statistics: Practical Knowledge for the Health Sciences doesn’t shy away from the presentation of complicated material. Dr. Rodriguez is a perfectionist and he expects his readers to feel like he does, without all his personal quirks though. Thus, he presents material in a logical fashion, not scripted. He allows the concepts to emerge as they naturally do in the learning processes. Thus every new concept introduced follows empathetically from the prior, as if he is looking deeply into the reader’s mind, knowing exactly what the reader expects to follow and is there to hand the reader the appropriate material. Further, and perhaps more important, Dr. Rodriguez understands that students want technology for today’s learning environment, and at a lower price. Thus, he ensured the textbook would be virtual and inexpensive. Finally, and perhaps more important, Dr. Rodriguez is motivated to update the textbook continuously and to listen to instructors and students demanding more. This text book is liquid, as he likes to say, so it will adapt to the needs of his consumers.