This introduction to statistics was created to provide you with an overview of the “language” of statistics that psychologists use to collect, organize, analyze, display, and interpret data. Like any foreign language, statistics is not something you master by reading a brief overview. To become proficient in statistical methods, you must study and practice them. And the best way to become fluent in this language is to immerse yourself in it. For starters, we recommend taking a course in elementary statistics and reading articles published in psychology journals (see Table A.5 for some commonly used symbols). If you find statistics is your forte, keep taking classes, and consider the possibility of becoming a researcher. Perhaps your work will be published in a scientific journal one day—and cited in an introductory psychology textbook!