Statistical Methods In Discrimination Litigation

Helping expert witnesses and consultants fulfill their professional responsibility by choosing the best statistical method for specific legal situations, this valuable reference surveys the most common methods already in use, describes their flaws and problems, anticipates significant new difficulties not previously identified, and supports the development and application of more refined techniques suited to the phenomena of discrimination. Statistical Methods in Discrimination Litigation considers the legal theories that underlie the collection and analysis of data for courtroom use ... discusses essential statistical techniques, such as the odds ratio, Mantel-Haenszel test, multiple linear regression analyses, competing psychometric concepts of fairness, and more ... outlines means of improving statistical presentations in court by more sophisticated data analysis techniques ... and brings together materials and references from law, statistics, and psychology in a unique synthesis. Introducing statisticians and social scientists to the legal concepts and methodological issues necessary for proving or rebutting claims of discrimination with statistical evidence, Statistical Methods in Discrimination Litigation is an important reference for applied statisticians; economists; psychologists; sociologists; attorneys and judges involved in discrimination litigation as well as experts who consult or testify in discrimination cases; advanced undergraduate statistics courses; and law school and graduate economics seminars on discrimination. Book jacket.

9. Issues and Methods in Discrimination Statistics -- 9.1. INTRODUCTION -- 9.2. BASIC STATISTICAL CONCEPTS IN THE COURTROOM -- 9.2.1. The Historical Legacy -- 9.2.2. Philosophical Attitudes Towards Probability -- 9.2.3. Hypothesis Tests -- 9.2.4. Confidence Intervals -- 9.2.5. Selection Effects -- 9.3. SPECIFIC STATISTICAL METHODS -- 9.3.1. Multiple Regression -- 9.3.2. Structural Models and Unreliability -- 9.3.3. Multiple Inference -- 9.3.4. Comparison of Rates and Proportions -- 9.3.5. Temporal Analysis -- 9.4. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS -- REFERENCES -- Index

Statistical analysis can play a pivotal role in both avoiding and settling employment disputes. Employers and litigants in employment lawsuits routinely use statistics to investigate the legitimacy of employment decisions. "Statistical Analysis of Employment Data" provides managers and courts with empirical evidence that goes beyond anecdotes and stories. This textbook presents the methodologies that are used in statistical employment data analyses. While the focus is on statistics, it is not a cookbook of magic mathematical formulas. Instead, a non-mathematical approach is used to develop the conceptual framework underlying employment data analyses.