Jessica M. Utts

Jessica M. Utts is an American statistician and professor emerita at the University of California, Irvine, where she served as chair of the Department of Statistics. She is widely recognized for her work in statistical education and her research on parapsychology and consciousness studies. As an educator, Utts has authored several influential statistics textbooks, including "Seeing Through Statistics" and "Mind on Statistics," which are used in universities across the United States. Her approach to teaching statistics emphasizes practical applications and statistical literacy for non-specialists. Utts served as president of the American Statistical Association in 2016 and has received numerous awards for her contributions to statistical education and research. She gained particular attention for her work evaluating psychic phenomena for the U.S. government, including a comprehensive review of remote viewing experiments for the CIA in 1995. Her research interests span both conventional and controversial areas, combining rigorous statistical methodology with investigations into unusual phenomena. Utts has published extensively on statistical education reform and the proper application of statistical methods in various fields.

Jessica Utts' statistics textbooks draw consistent responses in student reviews across platforms. Readers praise her clear explanations of complex statistical concepts and real-world examples. Multiple Amazon reviews note her "conversational writing style" makes statistics more approachable. Students mention the helpful practice problems and applications to current events and research studies. Common criticisms focus on high textbook prices and some organizational issues. Several readers point out errors in problem solutions and note the online materials can be difficult to access. A few reviews mention that certain chapters feel rushed or assume too much prior knowledge. Ratings across platforms: Amazon: 4.3/5 (328 reviews) Goodreads: 3.8/5 (203 reviews) - Seeing Through Statistics: 4.1/5 - Statistical Ideas and Methods: 3.9/5 - Mind on Statistics: 3.7/5 Most negative reviews relate to pricing and technical issues rather than content quality. Students frequently recommend renting rather than purchasing due to cost.

Seeing Through Statistics (1999) A statistics textbook covering foundational concepts through real-world examples and case studies, with emphasis on critical thinking and data interpretation.

Statistical Methods in Psychology Journals: Guidelines and Explanations (1991) A technical guide explaining proper statistical methods for psychology research and publication.

Mind on Statistics (2004) An introductory statistics textbook integrating technology use and focusing on statistical thinking rather than computation.

Unobserved Selection Effects in Parapsychological Data (1988) An analysis of methodological issues in parapsychology research, focusing on potential selection biases.

What Educated Citizens Should Know About Statistics and Probability (2003) A paper outlining core statistical concepts essential for public understanding and civic participation.

Teaching Statistical Thinking (2016) A methodology guide for statistics educators emphasizing conceptual understanding over mathematical procedures.

An Evaluation of Remote Viewing: Research and Applications (1995) A technical assessment of remote viewing research conducted for the American Institutes for Research.