Introductory Statistics

Making Sense of Data in the Age of AI

A comprehensive, open-source textbook for introductory statistics courses

For: College undergraduates, non-STEM majors, and anyone who wants to understand the data-driven world around them

Approach: Conversational, intuition-first, with Python and Excel examples

License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

"The best thing about being a statistician is that you get to play in everyone's backyard." — Attributed to John Tukey

About This Book

This textbook was designed with one goal: to make statistics genuinely accessible and even enjoyable for students who never thought they'd say that about a math course. Whether you're studying psychology, nursing, business, criminal justice, biology, or any other field, the statistical thinking you develop here will serve you for the rest of your life.

In an age where algorithms make decisions about your health insurance, your news feed, your loan application, and your job prospects, understanding statistics isn't just an academic exercise — it's a survival skill.

What makes this book different: - Conversational tone — like learning from a friend who happens to be great at explaining things - Real-world examples from healthcare, sports, technology, criminal justice, and everyday life - Python and Excel side by side — learn the tools you'll actually use - Progressive portfolio project — you'll leave with a tangible work product, not just a grade - Honest about uncertainty — we don't pretend statistics is easy, but we promise it's doable

Generated with AI assistance. All content reviewed for accuracy. See the bibliography for citation transparency.