University of Findlay Education Professor Writes Student-Friendly Statistics Textbook

University of Findlay’s Kyle Wagner, assistant professor of education and chair of the Doctor of Education in School Psychology Program, recently authored a textbook that makes one of higher education’s most intimidating subjects more approachable and engaging for students.

Wagner’s book, “Finding Ways to Be Less Wrong: Applied Statistical Analysis in Educational and Behavioral Sciences,” is a student-friendly statistics textbook designed for undergraduate and introductory graduate students. By incorporating relatable examples and a lighter writing style, Wagner said he wanted to present statistics in a way that feels practical and easier to understand.

“Statistics are a great tool for understanding the world around us. Whether we are trying to think about major purchases, athletic performance, stock performance, results from scientific studies, or health outcomes, we are trying to translate piles of data into meaningful insights,” Wagner explained. “I think a lot of people can be intimidated by math and statistics. I hope this book makes it easier to think in those terms and gives students a resource they can use for their own exploration.”

The publication also fills a gap Wagner noticed in the textbook world. During a previous conversation with textbook publishers, he was asked what type of resource he believed was missing from the market. Wagner described the need for an accessible, student-centered statistics textbook that included practical examples and free software options for learners. With no such title or text to that effect, the publishers encouraged Wagner to write the book himself. That conversation ultimately became the starting point for the project. Wagner was willing to take on the project as he kept in mind the University’s mission, which is to prepare students for “meaningful lives and productive careers.”

“The whole goal of statistical analysis is to derive useful meaning from data. Any tool I can give students to accomplish that goal is something I can do to advance students,” Wagner said. “My work at Findlay and my interactions with students and other faculty gave me many of the insights I needed to write this book.”

While “Finding Ways to Be Less Wrong” may sound playful, Wagner noted the title reflects an important principle behind statistical analysis. People can make mistakes when interpreting data, he explained, such as placing too much emphasis on statistical significance while overlooking the size or practical impact of results.

“Statistics is all about using math to measure variation and make a guess about what we can’t know. Different statistical tests parse variance in different ways and allow us to make better guesses. We can never be completely right, but we can learn to be less wrong, and being less wrong can be meaningful and helpful in our work and everyday lives,” Wagner explained.

At its core, Wagner said the book is about helping students build confidence alongside technical skills. His hope is that textbook leaves students feeling more comfortable interpreting data and more prepared to apply statistical analysis in both academic and professional settings.

“Hopefully it makes my students a bit more eager and comfortable as they tackle the analyses they will use in their projects at UF and in the future,” Wagner said. “I hope they feel empowered to apply what they learn, gain deeper insights, and make better decisions because they are better able to understand the data in front of them.”

More information on the University of Findlay’s College of Education programs is available by visiting www.findlay.edu/education.