Social research and statistics Books

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewDavid Schleicher is the ideal legal scholar of cities. Anyone who is worried about the fiscal future of our states and local governments should read his insightful new book. It is remarkably deep given how much fun it is to read, and it is remarkably fun to read given the seriousness of the topic. * Edward Glaeser, Fred and Eleanor Glimp Professor of Economics and Chairman of the Department of Economics, Harvard University *Faced with mounting Medicaid costs, footloose taxpayers, powerful public employees, and a nationalized political climate that rewards ideological grandstanding over basic competence, America's state governments have become fiscal basket cases. Confident that they'll be bailed out by the federal government at the first sign of economic distress, elected officials in state after state are choosing budget gimmickry over spending discipline, reaping political dividends all the while. But what happens when the bailout doesn't materialize, or isn't quite as generous as expected? Drawing on the history of federal responses to state fiscal disasters from the 1790s to the Covid pandemic, David Schleicher's In a Bad State offers a brilliant and engaging exposition of exactly why these fiscal reckonings have proven so painful in the past, and why the inevitable next one will be no exception. * Reihan Salam, Manhattan Institute *David Schleicher, the leading lawyer on state and city governments, has written an extraordinary book that describes with incredible clarity the complexity of the fiscal decisions that lie ahead for cities and states. It is well worth reading. * Richard Ravitch, Former Lt. Governor of New York and Chairman of the Metropolitan Transit Authority *David Schleicher, one of the most brilliant and far-ranging political thinkers of his generation, here takes on a very specific question: How federal governments should respond when state and local governments default. Schleicher's timely insight is that overspending is inextricable from the question of growth, and In a Bad State's deft history channels all the ways in which federalism has complicated and shaped the efforts to build a bigger and more modern country. The pragmatic question with which this gem-like policy book begins opens into a literary one: Of how existing legal and policy regimes might be bent in order to account for the future. * Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker *Highly recommended for public finance professionals, scholars, attorneys, elected officials, and legislative staff. * Choice *Table of ContentsPart I: Why Is It So Hard To Get Out of a Bad State? An Introduction to the Problem of State and Local Fiscal Crisis Introduction: Why It Is So Hard to Get Out of a Bad State Part II: When We've Been in a Bad State: The Theory and History of Federal Responses to State and Local Fiscal Crises Chapter 1: What Has Already Been Said About Federal Responses to State and Local Budget Crises? What Has Been Left Out? Chapter 2: State Debt Crises Through the 1840s Chapter 3: The Dual Debt Crises of the Post-Civil War Period Chapter 4: State and Local Debt Crises in The Twentieth Century Chapter 5: The Great Recession and State and Local Fiscal Crises Chapter 6: COVID-19, the CARES Act, the MLF, and the ARP Part III: Tools for Getting Out of a Bad State Chapter 7: Introduction to the Principles for Responding to State and Local Fiscal Crises Chapter 8: Building Better Bailouts Chapter 9: Building Better Defaults Chapter 10: Building Better Forms of State and Local Austerity Chapter 11: Resilience, or Building a Better Federal System Part IV: The Conclusion, Or Why States Are Often Bad Chapter 12: Why States Are Often Bad Notes Index

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisA study of biodiversity in which the author argues for a pluralistic approach, showing how ecologists might enhance their ability to tackle global problems by incorporating broader spatial and temporal perspectives into their research. He suggests that statistical methods can identify processes that operate across broad geographic scales.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Ch. 1: Of Entangled Banks and Humble Bees Ch. 2: From Micro to Macro and Back Again Ch. 3: Communities on Small Spatial and Temporal Scales Ch. 4: Communities as Linear Systems Ch. 5: Communities as Nonlinear Systems Ch. 6: Macroecology: Expanding the Spatial Scale of Community Ecology Ch. 7: Geographic Range Structure: Niches Written in Space Ch. 8: Geographic Assembly of Local Communities Ch. 9: The Evolution of Species Diversity at the Macroscale Ch. 10: The Macroscopic Perspective and the Future of Ecology Literature Cited Index

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Book SynopsisThe population base in both the USA and Japan is growing older and, as these populations age, they provoke unexamined economic consequences. This text explores those consequences, specifically four key areas including wealth and asset allocation over the life cycle, health care and reform.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Important. . . We live in an era in which scholarly debates, inside and outside the classroom, are increasingly viewed through a moral or political lens. As Dromi and Stabler quite rightly maintain, we must navigate through a scholarly landscape strewn with moral land mines." * Inside Higher Ed *"This book makes a significant contribution to sociology with its well-supported thesis that explains how sociologists can engage in heated debate about their research. . . . Highly recommended." * Choice *“Moral Minefields offers an explosion of insight into how to approach the seemingly always politically charged project of conducting sociological research. Throughout its history, the discipline has stood between commitments to scientific inquiry and the pursuit of truth, and commitments to addressing social inequality, socio-economic disadvantage, and other moral concerns. Rather than try to resolve the push and pull emanating from both sides of this divide, readers are guided to think more critically and carefully about what constitutes the pursuit of good research that is indelibly tied to visions—either by the sociologists producing their work or the audiences receiving it—of morally sound research. Dromi and Stabler seek not to resolve the tension, but rather expose readers to sociology’s courageous embracing of it and, therefore, guide readers to think more effectively about how it can be managed going forward.” -- Alford Young, Jr., University of Michigan“Dromi and Stabler skillfully puncture a stalled debate between the value-free and deliberately activist camps of contemporary sociology, showing how scholars within our methodologically and substantively diverse field form judgments about what counts as ‘good research.’ Weaving together a range of powerful examples—from secularism to breastfeeding, cosmopolitanism, and racial inequality—their framework of moral repertoires shines new light on the field. Equally valuable to both the seasoned sociologist and the young researcher.” -- Jenny Trinitapoli, University of ChicagoTable of ContentsPreface: Eternity in Cincinnati Introduction: Rules of the Road 1: Navigating in a Minefield Moral Repertoires and Sociological Research 2: Academic No-Go Zones On Social-Gene Interactions, Cultures of Poverty, and Forbidden Knowledge Claims in Sociology 3: Moral Highways and Byways Connecting New Critiques with Old Insights in the Study of Nationalism 4: Chartered Trips Remapping Controversy and the Renewal of Research on the Family Conclusion: On Moral Grounds Afterword: Researching the Good in Research Justifications Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn the past few years, the economic ramifications of ageing have garnered close attention from a group of NBER researchers led by the author. In this volume, Wise and his collaborators continue to analyze a nexus of age-related issues.

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Book SynopsisFocusing on the underlying themes that run through most multivariate methods, in this fully updated 3rd edition of The Essence of Multivariate Thinking Dr. Harlow shares the similarities and differences among multiple multivariate methods to help ease the understanding of the basic concepts. The book continues to highlight the main themes that run through just about every quantitative method, describing the statistical features in clear language. Analyzed examples are presented in 12 of the 15 chapters, showing when and how to use relevant multivariate methods, and how to interpret the findings both from an overarching macro- and more specific micro-level approach that includes focus on statistical tests, effect sizes and confidence intervals. This revised 3rd edition offers thoroughly revised and updated chapters to bring them in line with current information in the field, the addition of R code for all examples, continued SAS and SPSS code for seven chapters, two new chapteTrade Review"Harlow breaks down concepts in simple terms and draws insightful comparisons across different statistical techniques. The text is an excellent resource for all who conduct statistical analyses, from undergraduates to professionals, and everywhere in between."A. Nayena Blankson, Full Professor of Psychology, Spelman College, USA"Once again, Harlow writes with authority and great clarity. There’s discussion of estimation, replication, and reproducibility, and all through there’s R code and guidance. This shrewdly revised new edition is a wonderfully future-oriented guide to the multivariate world."Geoff Cumming, Professor Emeritus, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia "The Essence of Multivariate Thinking provides a gentle introduction to an expansive toolkit of methods with a through line focused on aptly applying them to research questions. Dr. Harlow seamlessly ties together several modeling frameworks (e.g., multiple regression, MANOVA, discriminant function analysis, logistic regression, SEM, and latent growth modeling) by emphasizing commonalities in their underlying assumptions, statistical tests, and effect size interpretations. All this was done with a clear and accessible writing style accompanied by a unifying data example using R, SAS, and SPSS."Jolynn Pek, Associate Professor of Quantitative Psychology, Ohio State University, USA "In this third edition of her landmark text on multivariate methods, readers are furnished with ways to think about a variety of multivariate techniques from start to finish: preliminary considerations, testing assumptions, conducting analyses, and writing up and interpreting the results. They will learn how the various multivariate methods are related, and when each should be used. Readers can pattern their own analyses after those used as examples in the book. Her example analyses are easy to follow and emulate.Every chapter ends by summarizing a topic around a set of core themes to help researchers understand and select appropriate multivariate methods. Professor Harlow is known for her didactic style and ability to communicate complex topics in clear, approachable language. In this third edition she adds new material on multi-sample SEM and latent growth curve models. The provision of R code for all analyses is a welcome addition. Readers will emerge knowing about a variety of multivariate methods—how they are related and distinct, when to use them, how to conduct them, and how to communicate the results to readers. Harlow has a knack for explaining complicated methods in clear, approachable language. In this revised third edition of her landmark text, she provides readers with all the tools they need to become expert users and consumers of multivariate techniques."Kristopher J. Preacher, Lois Autrey Betts Chair in Education & Human Development, Vanderbilt University, USA "Lisa Harlow's third edition of The Essence of Multivariate Thinking is the perfect textbook for introductory graduate statistics or a multivariate statistics course. Each chapter provides readers with the foundational knowledge and relevant software code to start implementing the analyses in their own work right away. Harlow's accessible chapters strike the right balance of unique information and related themes." Alyssa Counsell, Assistant Professor in Quantitative Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Ontario, CanadaTable of ContentsI. OVERVIEWChapter 1: Introduction and Multivariate ThemesChapter 2: Background ThemesII. INTERMEDIATE MULTIVARIATE METHODS WITH ONE CONTINUOUS OUTCOMEChapter 3: Multiple RegressionChapter 4: Analysis of CovarianceIII. MULTIVARIATE GROUP METHODS WITH CATEGORICAL VARIABLE(S)Chapter 5. Multivariate Analysis of VarianceChapter 6: Discriminant Function AnalysisChapter 7: Logistic RegressionIV. MULTIVARIATE DIMENSIONAL METHODS WITH CONTINUOUS VARIABLESChapter 8: Principal Components and Factor AnalysisV: STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELINGChapter 9: Structural Equation ModelingChapter 10: Path AnalysisChapter 11: Confirmatory Factor AnalysisChapter 12: Latent Variable ModelingChapter 13: Multiple Sample AnalysisChapter 14: Latent Growth ModelingVI: SUMMARYChapter 15: Integration of Multivariate Methods

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Book SynopsisThe Ashgate Research Companion to Black Sociology provides the most up to date exploration and analysis of research focused on Blacks in America. Beginning with an examination of the project of Black Sociology, it offers studies of recent events, including the âStand Your Groundâ killing of Trayvon Martin, the impact of Hurricane Katrina on emerging adults, and efforts to change voting requirements that overwhelmingly affect Blacks, whilst engaging with questions of sexuality and family life, incarceration, health, educational outcomes and racial wage disparities.Inspired by W.E.B. Du Boisâs charge of engaging in objective research that has a positive impact on society, and organised around the themes of Social Inequities, Blacks and Education, Blacks and Health and Future Directions, this timely volume brings together the latest interdisciplinary research to offer a broad overview of the issues currently faced by Blacks in United States.A timely, significant research Trade ReviewAs we deepen into the 21st century, there is abundant evidence that Black Sociology is the original American sociology, despite the dominant narratives of the discipline. The contents of Wright II and Wallace’s Ashgate Research Companion to Black Sociology show that not only has Black Sociology continued since its late 19th century beginnings, but, that it is thriving and continuously pushing a rigorous and impactful sociology across every substantive area of the discipline.’ David L. Brunsma, Virginia Tech, USA‘In this necessary and expansive volume, Earl Wright II and Edward V. Wallace build upon the great work and legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois. Drawing on Du Bois’s sociological scholarship and agenda as the leader of the Atlanta Sociological Laboratory, this impressive book successfully brings together a wonderful array of scholars to deepen our understanding and appreciation for Black Sociology.’ Marcus Anthony Hunter, UCLA, USA and author of Black Citymakers: How the Philadelphia Negro Changed Urban America‘The Ashgate Research Companion to Black Sociology is a must-read for anyone teaching introductory sociology, race relations or any related subject. The editors have done a wonderful job of finding young creative scholars to cover contemporary topics such as parental incarceration and its effects on children, stand-your-ground laws, and the effects of job stratification on the working class to name a few. The clustering of the topics along with the origins of Black or Du Boisian Sociology is extremely relevant to the societal changes currently taking place around the world.’ Obie Clayton, Clark Atlanta University, USATable of ContentsPart I Black Sociology: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 1. Black Sociology: Continuing the Agenda 2. Black Sociology: The Sociology of Knowledge, Racialized Power Relations of Knowledge and Humanistic Liberation Part II Black Youth, Emerging Adults and The Family 3. The Death of Trayvon Martin and Public Space: Why the Racial Contract Still Matters 4. Is it Easy Living in the Big Easy?: Examining the Lives of African American Emerging Adults in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina 5. The Psychosocial Impact of Parental Incarceration on Children and their Caregivers 6. "Sure there’s Racism … But Homophobia—that’s Different": Experiences of Black Lesbians Who are Parenting in North-Central Florida at the Intersection of Race and Sexuality Part III Education and The Economy 7. Parental Expectations, Family Structure and the Black Gender Gap in Educational and Occupational Attainment: An Intersectional Approach to the Social Psychological Model of Status Attainment 8. Real Effects of Attitudes about the Value of Education and Social Structure on the Black/White Academic Achievement Gap 9. African American Women Workers in the Postindustrial Period: The Role of Education in Evaluating Racial Wage Parity among Women 10. Race, Class and Nativity: A Multilevel Analysis of the Forgotten Working Class, 1980–2009 Part IV Health Wellness 11. What Do We Really Know: Revisiting the Stress-Health Relationship for Black Females Across the Lifespan 12. "We Need a New Normal": Sociocultural Constructions of Obesity and Overweight among African American Women 13. HIV: A Social Catastrophe Part V Health Disparity Solutions 14. Gaining Equity in Health Care: Building the Pipeline of Black Nurse Leaders 15. Increasing Community Engagement to Meet the Challenges of Mental Health Disparities In African American Communities 16. As Seen on TV?: Hip Hop Images and Health Consequences in the Black Community Part VI Agency and The Black Community 17. Music as Identity: Cultural Meaning, Social Hybridity and Musical Sonority In Indigenous Caribbean Music 18. Give Us the Ballot! Gaining Enfranchisement in Mobile, Alabama: 1944–50 9. The African American Church as an Enclave and Ethnic Resource: The Role of the Church in Economic Development 20. Not Televised but on Display: Exhibiting and Remembering Vestiges of the Black Freedom Movement

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Book SynopsisWithout question, statistics is one of the most challenging courses for students in the social and behavioral sciences. Enrolling in their first statistics course, students are often apprehensive or extremely anxious toward the subject matter. And while IBM SPSS is one of the more easy-to-use statistical software programs available, for anxious students who realize they not only have to learn statistics but also new software, the task can seem insurmountable. Keenly aware of studentsâ anxiety with statistics (and the fact that this anxiety can affect performance), Ronald D. Yockey has written SPSS Demystified: A Simple Guide and Reference, now in its fourth edition. Through a comprehensive, step-by-step approach, this text is consistently and specifically designed to both alleviate anxiety toward the subject matter and build a successful experience analyzing data in SPSS . Topics covered in the text are appropriate for most introductory and intermediate statistics and research methods courses.Key features of the text:â Step-by-step instruction and screenshotsâ Designed to be hands-on with the user performing the analyses alongside the text on their computer as they read through each chapterâ Call-out boxes provided, highlighting important information as appropriateâ SPSS output explained, with written results provided using the popular, widely recognized APA formatâ End-of-chapter exercises included, allowing for additional practiceâ SPSS data sets available on the publisherâs websiteNew to the Fourth Edition:â Fully updated to SPSS 28â Updated screenshots in full color to reflect changes in the SPSS software system (version 28)â Exercises updated with up-to-date examplesâ Exact p-values provided (consistent with APA recommendations)Table of ContentsPart I: Introduction to SPSS, Descriptive Statistics, Graphical Procedures of Data, and Reliability Using Coefficient Alpha 1. Introduction to SPSS, 2. Descriptive Statistics: Frequencies, Measures of Central Tendency, and Measures of Variability, 3. Graphical Procedures, 4. Reliability (As Measured by Coefficient Alpha); Part II: Inferential Statistics 5. The One-Sample t Test, 6. The Independent-Samples t Test, 7. The Dependent-Samples t Test, 8. The One-Way Between Subjects Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), 9. The Two-Way Between Subjects Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), 10. The One-Way Within Subjects Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), 11. The One-Between–One-Within Subjects Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), 12. The Pearson r Correlation Coefficient, 13. Simple Linear Regression, 14. Multiple Linear Regression, 15. The Chi-Square Goodness of Fit Test, 16. The Chi-Square Test of Independence; Appendix A. Data Transformations and Other Procedures Appendix B. Solutions to Chapter Exercises

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Book SynopsisI The Methodology of Statistical Consulting.- 1 Introduction to Statistical Consulting.- 2 Communication.- 3 Methodological Aspects.- 4 A Consulting Project from A to Z.- II Case Studies.- 5 Introduction to the Case Studies.- 6 Case Studies from Group I.- 7 Case Studies from Group II.- 8 Case Studies from Group III.- 9 Additional Case Studies.- A Resources.- A.1 References.- A.2 Datasets for Case Studies in Part II.- A.3 Statistical Consulting Course.- A.3.1 Course Description.- A.3.2 List of Topics by Week.- A.3.3 Reference List.- B Statistical Software.- B.1 SAS.- B.1.1 The SAS Setup.- B.1.2 Details on the DATA Step.- B.1.3 SAS Procedures.- B.1.4 Further Details of SAS.- B.2 S-PLUS.- B.2.1 S-PLUS Preliminaries.- B.2.2 The S-PLUS Setup.- B.2.3 Basic S-PLUS Commands.- B.2.4 Efficient Use of S-PLUS.- B.2.5 S-PLUS Statistical Procedures.- B.2.6 S-PLUS Glossary.- C Statistical Addendum.- C.1 Univariate Distributions.- C.2 Multivariate Distributions.- C.3 Statistical Tests.- C.4 Sample SizTrade ReviewFrom the reviews: THE AMERICAN STATISTICIAN "Although there are other books that effectively tackle the individual aspects described above, this book seems to be the most ideally suited to teaching a well-rounded statistics course at the undergraduate of graduate level…[It] gives informative and self-contained discussions for the many aspects of consulting in balanced proportions that would make using the book for a textbook delightfully straightforward. The collection of case studies is diverse in disciplines considered and level of difficulty, and seems to focus on interesting problems that students will find highly motivating…a valuable resource for statistical consultants, both beginning and established…a prime candidate for use as a stand-alone textbook…since it contains a desirable balance of materials with statistical methodology, oral and written communication skills, and rich case studies…It will make a solid long-term reference for students. Also, for instructors of more traditional senior undergraduate and junior graduate courses, it provides useful case studies to illustrate standard methods in realistic settings that can easily be implemented."Table of ContentsIntroduction to Statistical Consulting * Communication * Methodological Aspects * A Consulting Project from A to Z * Introduction to Case Studies * Case Studies from Group I * Case Studies from Group II * Case Studies from Group III * Additional Case Studies

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Book SynopsisResearch design is fundamental to all scientific endeavors, at all levels and in all institutional settings. In many social science disciplines, however, scholars working in an interpretive-qualitative tradition get little guidance on this aspect of research from the positivist-centered training they receive. This book is an authoritative examination of the concepts and processes underlying the design of an interpretive research project. Such an approach to design starts with the recognition that researchers are inevitably embedded in the intersubjective social processes of the worlds they study.In focusing on researchersâ theoretical, ontological, epistemological, and methods choices in designing research projects, Schwartz-Shea and Yanow set the stage for other volumes in the Routledge Series on Interpretive Methods. They also engage some very practical issues, such as ethics reviews and the structure of research proposals. This concise guide explores where researcTrade Review"Peregrine Schwartz-Shea and Dvora Yanow’s Interpretive Research Design: Concepts and Processes is not a "how-to" book nor it is a philosophical meditation on the differences among methodologies, though both of these elements are present. Rather it is a book about "the good" and "the other," the criteria we use to evaluate what counts as "research" in social science, and the politics of categorization. . . . It is an important and eminently readable book that deserves a wide readership among researchers, grant reviewers, journal editors, and graduate students." Thomas J. Catlaw, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory"Schwartz-Shea and Yanow answer all the questions that pester and unnerve fieldworkers, in language that is understandable and with examples that make all the complex meanings clear. Their book will help both novices and experienced researchers find their way to believable and unassailable results."Howard S. Becker, author of Tricks of the Trade and Writing for Social Scientists"Interpretive Research Design offers essential guidance for students and scholars who want to reach beyond the confines of positivist inquiry. In clear, engaging prose, the authors explain how to develop the key elements of an interpretive study and communicate them effectively to reviewers and readers. The authors, both leading figures in contemporary debates over methodology, offer perspectives on research that are consistently insightful and occasionally (wonderfully) provocative."Joe Soss, University of Minnesota"Interpretive Research Design is a streamlined, clear, and important discussion of a topic of crucial concern across the social sciences. Bringing together interpretive principles and practice, this welcome book reminds us that scholars who study not rocks or genomes but people and communities require a commensurate understanding of science. Both interpretivists and non-interpretivists who seek greater familiarity with the tradition must read—and ponder deeply—Schwartz-Shea and Yanow’s lucid discussion to learn what good interpretive social science looks, sounds, and feels like."Edward Schatz, University of Toronto"Schwartz-Shea and Yanow clearly demonstrate the stakes, value, and reasoning behind interpretive research in the field. Both interpretivist and non-interpretivist political scientists desperately need this volume to achieve their potential for excellence in research: it guides interpretivists in their efforts to conduct sophisticated yet accessible research on critical topics across the range of subfields in the discipline, and it allows non-interpretivists to recognize equal excellence in interpretivist and positivist modalities and insights."Cecelia Lynch, University of California, Irvine"Interpretive Research Design: Concepts and Processes is an indispensable handbook that should have a place on the bookshelf of every politics, policy and public administration scholar whose work is informed by an interpretive approach. More importantly, in regards to shaping the future development of these social scientific disciplines, Schwartz-Shea and Yanow’s text should have a place on every Research Design and Methods syllabi. That way, regardless of their methodological persuasions, students will become as familiar with the practice of interpretive social science research as they are with alternative approaches."Richard Holtzman, Bryant University, Smithfield"Interpretive Research Design: Concepts and Processes is one of the few research texts I've read cover to cover and that I recommend to students frequently."Debra D. Burrington, Colorado Technical University"Peregrine Schwartz-Shea and Dvora Yanow’s Interpretive Research Design: Concepts and Processes is not a "how-to" book nor it is a philosophical meditation on the differences among methodologies, though both of these elements are present. Rather it is a book about "the good" and "the other," the criteria we use to evaluate what counts as "research" in social science, and the politics of categorization. . . . It is an important and eminently readable book that deserves a wide readership among researchers, grant reviewers, journal editors, and graduate students." Thomas J. Catlaw, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory"Schwartz-Shea and Yanow answer all the questions that pester and unnerve fieldworkers, in language that is understandable and with examples that make all the complex meanings clear. Their book will help both novices and experienced researchers find their way to believable and unassailable results."Howard S. Becker, author of Tricks of the Trade and Writing for Social Scientists"Interpretive Research Design offers essential guidance for students and scholars who want to reach beyond the confines of positivist inquiry. In clear, engaging prose, the authors explain how to develop the key elements of an interpretive study and communicate them effectively to reviewers and readers. The authors, both leading figures in contemporary debates over methodology, offer perspectives on research that are consistently insightful and occasionally (wonderfully) provocative."Joe Soss, University of Minnesota"Interpretive Research Design is a streamlined, clear, and important discussion of a topic of crucial concern across the social sciences. Bringing together interpretive principles and practice, this welcome book reminds us that scholars who study not rocks or genomes but people and communities require a commensurate understanding of science. Both interpretivists and non-interpretivists who seek greater familiarity with the tradition must read—and ponder deeply—Schwartz-Shea and Yanow’s lucid discussion to learn what good interpretive social science looks, sounds, and feels like."Edward Schatz, University of Toronto"Schwartz-Shea and Yanow clearly demonstrate the stakes, value, and reasoning behind interpretive research in the field. Both interpretivist and non-interpretivist political scientists desperately need this volume to achieve their potential for excellence in research: it guides interpretivists in their efforts to conduct sophisticated yet accessible research on critical topics across the range of subfields in the discipline, and it allows non-interpretivists to recognize equal excellence in interpretivist and positivist modalities and insights."Cecelia Lynch, University of California, Irvine"Interpretive Research Design: Concepts and Processes is an indispensable handbook that should have a place on the bookshelf of every politics, policy and public administration scholar whose work is informed by an interpretive approach. More importantly, in regards to shaping the future development of these social scientific disciplines, Schwartz-Shea and Yanow’s text should have a place on every Research Design and Methods syllabi. That way, regardless of their methodological persuasions, students will become as familiar with the practice of interpretive social science research as they are with alternative approaches."Richard Holtzman, Bryant University, Smithfield"Interpretive Research Design: Concepts and Processes is one of the few research texts I've read cover to cover and that I recommend to students frequently."Debra D. Burrington, Colorado Technical UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Wherefore Research Designs? 2. Ways of Knowing: Research Questions and Logics of Inquiry 3. Starting from Meaning: Contextuality and its Implications 4. The Rythms of Interpretive Research I: Getting Going 5. The Rhythms of Interpretive Research II: Understanding and Generating Evidence 6. Designing for Trustworthiness: Knowledge Claims and Evaluations of Interpretive Research 7. Design in Context: From the Human Side of Research to Writing Proposals and Research Manuscripts 8. Speaking Across Epistemic Communities

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Book SynopsisWhile many researchers study offenders and offending, few actually journey into the correctional world to meet offenders face to face. This book offers researchers, practitioners, and students a step-by-step guide to effectively research correctional populations, providing field-tested advice for those studying youth and adults on probation, on parole, and in jails and prisons. The book addresses topics such as how to build rapport with offenders and those who monitor them; how to select from the many types of correctional data that can be collected; how to navigate the informed consent process and maintain research ethics; and how to manage the logistics of doing research. With personal stories, what if scenarios, case studies, and real-world tools like checklists and sample forms, the authors share methods of negotiating the complexities that researchers often face as they work with those behind bars.Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments 1. Introduction 2. Gaining Access to and Building Rapport with Correctional Populations 3. Types of Correctional Data That Can Be Collected 4. Informed Consent Process and Research Ethics 5. Logistics of Doing Research with Correctional Populations Appendix A. Agency Letter of Support Appendix B. Weekly Contact Sheet for Staff with Client Caseloads in the Experimental (SOCP) Group Appendix C. Weekly Contact Code Sheet for Staff with Client Caseloads in the Experimental (SOCP) Group Appendix D. Publically Available Data Sources Appendix E. “Thinking for a Change” Facilitator Peer Rating Form Appendix F. General Informed Consent for Traditional Placements in the Florida Faith and Community-Based Delinquency Treatment Initiative (FCBDTI) Appendix G. Example of Re-Consent for Youths Participating in the Faith and Community-Based Delinquency Treatment Initiative (FCBDTI) Appendix H. Informed Consent Form for Youth Interview Appendix I. Example IRB Protocol Appendix J. Application for a Research Assistant Position References Recommended Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisThe relationship between human communities and the environment is extremely complex. In order to resolve the issues involved with this relationship, interdisciplinary research combining natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities is necessary. In this 2010 book, specialists summarise methods and research strategies for various aspects of social research devoted to environmental issues. Each chapter is illustrated with ethnographic and environmental examples, ranging from Australia to Amazonia, from Madagascar to the United States, and from prehistoric and historic cases to contemporary rural and urban ones. It deals with climate change, deforestation, environmental knowledge, natural reserves, politics and ownership of natural resources, and the effect of differing spatial and temporal scales. Contributing to the intellectual project of interdisciplinary environmental social science, this book shows the possibilities social science can provide to environmental studies and to largTrade Review'… an important contribution to the field … it provides the reader with an overview of the field without championing one theoretical or methodological approach over the others …' Journal of Anthropological ResearchTable of Contents1. Introduction E. A. Smith and I. Vaccaro; 2. People, numbers, and natural resources: demography in environmental research O. Beltran; 3. Production decisions and time allocation: a guide to data collection R. Hames; 4. Analyzing the politics of natural resources: from theories of property rights to institutional analysis and beyond A. Poteete; 5. Extreme events, tipping points and vulnerability: methods in political economy of environment E. C. Jones; 6. Local communities and natural resources: ethnobiology in practice L. Zanotti, D. Glover and J. Sepez; 7. Mapping histories: cultural landscapes and walkabout methods V. Strang; 8. Metaphors and myths in news reports of an Amazonian lost tribe: society, environment and literary analysis C. Slater; 9. Water decision-makers in a desert city: text analysis and environmental social science Amber Wutich and C. Gravlee; 10. Linking human and natural systems: social networks, environment and ecology J. Johnson and D. Griffith; 11. Khat commodity chains in Madagascar: multi-sited ethnography at multiple scales L. Gezon; 12. Spatio-temporal methodologies in environmental anthropology: geographic information systems, remote sensing, landscape changes and local knowledge E. Brondizio and R. R. Chowdhury; 13. Deep time, diachronic change, and the integration of multi-scalar data: archaeological methods for exploring human-environment dynamics E. Jones; 14. Comparing trajectories of climate, class and production: an historical ecology of American yeomen M. Scholl, D. N. Murray and C. L. Crumley; 15. Anthropology and natural resource management: methodological integrations S. Aswani.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of a SABR Baseball Research Award, Society for American Baseball Research""Finalist for the CASEY Award for Best Baseball Book of the Year, Spitball Magazine"

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Book SynopsisThis book provides a theoretically grounded introduction to new and emerging approaches to public engagement and research communication. -- .Trade Review‘This is an excellent book that can be read from cover to cover or used as a reference text.’Paul Webb, September 2016 in LSE review of books -- .Table of ContentsPart I: Introduction1. Creative research communication2. History3. ParticipantsPart II: Approach4. Face-to-Face5. Art6. Digital7. Social media8. Political9. Crowd-sourced researchPart III: Conclusion10. Impact11. Ethics12. DisseminationIndex

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Book SynopsisShows how narrative inquiry can be used in educational and social science research. Tracing the origins of narrative inquiry in the social sciences, this book offer practical ideas for conducting fieldwork, composing field notes, and conveying research results. It also includes stories and examples that reveal a range of narrative methods.Table of ContentsPreface xiii Acknowledgments xvii The Authors xix Prologue xxi 1 Why Narrative? 1 2 Thinking Narratively: A Case at the Boundaries 21 3 Thinking Narratively: Reductionistic and Formalistic Boundaries 34 4 What Do Narrative Inquirers Do? 48 5 Being in the Field: Walking into the Midst of Stories 63 6 From Field to Field Texts: Being in a Place of Stories 80 7 Composing Field Texts 92 8 From Field Texts to Research Texts: Making Meaning of Experience 119 9 Composing Research Texts 138 10 Persistent Concerns in Narrative Inquiry 169 Epilogue 187 References 191 Index 199

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Book SynopsisWriting a research proposal is one of the most important tasks facing academics, researchers and postgraduate students. Yet there is a good deal of misinformation and a great lack of guidance about what constitutes a good research proposal and what can be done to maximise one's chances of writing a successful research proposal. Denicolo and Becker recognise the importance of developing an effective research proposal for gaining either a place on a research degree programme or funding to support research projects and set out to explore the main factors that that proposal writers need to attend to in developing successful proposals of their own. Developing Research Proposals will help readers to understand the context within which their proposal will be read, what the reviewers are looking for and will be influenced by, while also supporting the development of relevant skills through advice and practical activities. This book: Trade ReviewThis is a sound introduction to proposal writing, especially for those unfamiliar with the process. It is clearly presented and written in largely jargon-free language that will appeal to the neophyte... The work is useful as an introduction to the proposal-writing process. Maryam NazariOnline Information Review This book is essential reading for those writing research proposals for a PhD application as well as those writing proposals to funding bodies. It is intended for those who are writing proposals for the first time but also for those who may have written proposals before, but never succeeded in getting funding... For me, this book is perfectly pitched. It is simple, but not simplistic. It offers practical advice, but also interrogates your thinking about the actual research design...This book is an excellent addition to any newer researcher′s bookshelf as well as for administrative staff and those in research offices who support academics writing proposals. You get a sense that the authors are true experts and genuinely want to support new and early academics in what is an increasingly competitive part of modern day academia.Annika CoughlinSRA News Developing Research Proposals is a very accessible and authoritative guide, and part of Sage’s informative Success in Research Series... Overall, the authors have written a book providing a wealth of information and advice that would come in handy not only to those interested in maximizing their chances to get a research degree place or funding for project in a complex and demanding environment, but also to those interested in their personal development as researchers.Andreea MoiseLSE Review of Books Table of ContentsPrologue Serendipity Intended Readers Overview of the Rook The Task Before You What is a Research Proposal? A Pervasive Task Defined A Celebration of Difference First Steps in Meeting the Needs of Your Readership Finding out about Research Degree Opportunities Finding out about Research Funding Opportunities General Preliminary Explorations Skills Inventory When Is a Research Proposal Required and Why? Motivation Sources of Funding Gaining a Richer View of Funders′ Requirements Gaining Financial Awards for Study Identifying Potential Supervisors/Advisors Securing a Place on a Higher Degree by Research Programme Sections Within a Proposal - What Funders or Research Degree Reviewers Are Looking for Main Features of Proposals What Are the Key Aspects of Proposal Preparation? Pre-Preparation The Title, Abstract and Covering Letter The Body of the Proposal - Audience and Style Developing Your Proposal Draft Language Register, Voice and Verb Tense The Conceptual Framework Stages in the Production of Proposal - Advance Planning The Constraints of Time What Should Be Included in the Introduction, Rationale and Literature Review? Orientating Your Reader to Your Purpose The Introduction The Rationale Preparing for the Literature Review The Literature Review Itself The Process of Searching the Literature Constructing Your Argument What Is the Significance of the Aims, Objectives, and Research Questions/Hypotheses? Level of Specificity Required Clarification of Terms - Aims and Objectives Research Questions and Hypotheses Paradigms Why Paradigm Identification Is Important The Link between Aims/Objectives and Research Questions/Hypotheses What Should Be Included in the Methodology/Research Implementation Sections? Consistency between Purpose and Procedures Clarification of ′Shorthand′ Terms Methodology - Approach and Justification Consistency and Justification Research Using Positivist Approaches Presenting and Analysing Quantitative Results Research Using Interpretivist Approaches Presenting and Analysing Qualitative Results Using the Right Language Ethical Considerations Evaluation Plan What Financial Considerations Are Required? The Ground Rules of Budgeting The Financial Demands of a Research Degree Project Financial Considerations for All Researchers Types and Styles of Budgets for Funding Applications Key Elements of the Budget: Personnel Key Elements of the Budget: Operating Costs The Budget after Submission of the Proposal What Planning and Organisation Details Are Required? Establishing Goals and Deadlines Project Planning and Time Management Implementation Plans Research Governance People Management Schedules and Timelines Who Are the other Potential Contributors to and Referees for Your Project? Building Professional Relationships Building on Overviews of Requirements Making Contacts and Seeking Help Developing Collaborations and Partnerships The Review Process What Reviewers Are Seeking from Proposals Reality Check - Grit Your Teeth! Where Does It End? Reactions, Reflections and Anticipations After Submission Receiving Feedback from Reviewers Reasons for Rejection Responding to Feedback Back to the Beginning The Continuous Cycle of Proposal Writing Appendix 1 Funding Sources Appendix 2 Resources Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisA rich source of ideas about sociological research methods to assist the researcher in determining what method will provide the most reliable and useful knowledge, how to choose between different methodologies, and what constitutes the most fruitful relationship between sociological theories and research methods.Table of ContentsI: The Translation of Human Events; 1: Communication: The Context of Change; 2: The Mathematics of Communication; 3: Feedback; 4: A Transactional Model of Communication; 5: Social Perception and Appraisal; 6: Some Tentative Axioms of Communication; II: The Symbolic Significance of Behavior; 7: Social Interaction in Everyday Life; 8: The Nature of Symbolic Interactions; 9: Symbolic Strategies; 10: Facial Engagements; 11: When People Talk With People; 12: Language Within Language; 13: Communication Without Words; 14: Defensive Communication; III: The Structure of Communicative Acts; 15: Communication Boundaries; 16: Turn-Taking in Conversations; 17: Visual Behavior In Social Interaction; 18: Hand Movements; 19: The Significance of Posture in Communication Systems; 20: Communicative Silences: Forms and Functions; IV: The Intersubjectivity of Understanding; 21: Understanding Ourselves; 22: Interaction and Interexperience in Dyads; 23: Intersubjectvity and Understanding; 24: Elements of the Interhuman 1; V: The Environment of Communication; 25: Communication: The Flow of Information; 26: The Medium Is The Message; 27: Intercultural Communication; 28: Adumbration As a Feature of Intercultural Communication; 29: Man At The Mercy of Language; Postscript

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Book SynopsisDescribing an innovative approach to the evaluation of complex health interventions, this book allows reader to assess what interventions work, how and for whom. Proposing how realist evaluation methods may be incorporated within trials and systematic reviews, this approach provides useful evidence to inform policy and scientific advancement.Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Why are trials and systematic reviews necessary but insufficient to inform health policy?; 3. Realist critiques and manifesto for evaluation and reviews; 4. Building realist theory in evaluations; 5. Refining realist theory through process evaluations; 6. Testing realist theory through trials or other evaluation designs; 7. Building and refining realist theory in systematic reviews; 8. Testing realist theory through synthesising outcome evaluations; 9. Using evidence to inform intervention scale-up and transfer; 10. Using evidence to refine middle range theory; Conclusions.

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Book SynopsisDuring the Cold War, Switzerland functioned as a hub for Chinese propaganda networks. Despite its fierce anti-communism, the Swiss Confederation was one of the first capitalist countries to recognise the People''s Republic of China (PRC). As a neutral country and as the home base for many international organisations, Switzerland represented a strategic centre for the spread of Maoism throughout the world. Focusing on cultural diplomacy and questioning the notion of soft power, this book explores how the PRC developed its influence and its prestige abroad through its Embassy in Bern, the most important in Western Europe. The book also discusses how China's approach in Switzerland, bypassing traditional diplomatic structures, and relying on contacts with individual people foreign friends was then used, and continues to be used, in many other countries, including the United States, France, and Japan.Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I Diplomacy and Propaganda 1. Obstacles to a Sino-Swiss cultural diplomacy 2. Swiss cultural events in China 3. China’s "people’s diplomacy" Part II The Many Faces of Friendship 4. Under surveillance (1949-1964) 5. Golden age (1964-1976) 6. Bittersweet twilight (1976-1989) Part III Pro-Chinese Culture and Politics 7. The voice of Beijing in Switzerland 8. A small step for Man, a giant leap for Friendship 9. With a friend like Han Suyin… Conclusion

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Book SynopsisImagination and Arts-Based Practices for Integration in Research explores the philosophical assumptions, defining concepts, and methodological issues related to the introduction of intentional imaginative mental processes and arts-based practices into some or all phases of investigation, and data integration of particular research approaches.Although typically central to mixed, multi-method, and arts-based research, the practice of integrating diverse forms of data might be applied to other research traditions. The integration of data diversity represents a deviation from traditional scientific thinking demanding a dramatic paradigm shift inclusive of multi-dimensional, nondiscursive, aesthetic, rhizomatic, and imaginative mental processes. In this book, imaginative mental processes and arts-based practices are described and illustrated as approaches to investigating, revealing, and understanding the elusive yet essential meanings hidden in the crevices, shadows, andTable of Contents1. Introduction 2. Imagination: Changing Worldview and Social Discourse 3. Dialectical Aesthetic Intersubjectivity: A Philosophical Perspective 4. Imagination in Research: Reconceptualizing Method, Data, and Evidence 5. Imaginative Processes and Arts-based practices in Research 6. Imagination and Integration in Mixed and Multi-Method Research 7. Integration Using Imagination Processes and Arts-Based Practices 8. Conclusion

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The methodological needs of environmental studies are unique in the breadth of research questions that can be posed, calling for a textbook that covers a broad swath of approaches to conducting research with potentially many different kinds of evidence.Fully updated to address new developments such as the effects of the internet, recent trends in the use of computers, remote sensing, and large data sets, this new edition of Research Methods for Environmental Studies is written specifically for social science-based research into the environment. This revised edition contains new chapters on coding, focus groups, and an extended treatment of hypothesis testing. The textbook covers the best-practice research methods most used to study the environment and its connections to societal and economic activities and objectives. Over five key parts, Kanazawa introduces quantitative and qualitative approaches, mixed methods, and the special requirements of interdisciplina

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Book SynopsisThis book presents a comprehensive overview of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the long-running dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Armenian-majority region of Azerbaijan. It outlines the historical development of the dispute, explores the political and social aspects of the conflict, examines the wars over the territory including the war of 2020 which resulted in a significant Azerbaijani victory, and discusses the international dimensions.Table of ContentsM. Hakan Yavuz and Michael M. Gunter, "Introduction." Part I: Conceptual and Historical Origins 1. Kamala Imranli-Lowe, "Karabakh: Historical Background." 2. Jamil Hasanli, "The Sovietization of Azerbaijan and a Road to Autonomy in Nagorno-Karabakh (1920–1923)." 3. Eldar Abbasov, "Armenian Irredendist Nationalism and Its Transformation into the Mass Karabakh Movement,"MIATSUM" (1965–1988)." 4. Farid Shafiyev, "The Orientalizing of Azerbaijanis and the Armenia-Azerbaijani Conflict." Part II: The First Karabakh War and the Consequences 5. Michael M. Gunter, "Self-Determination or Territorial Integrity? International Legal/Political Doctrines in Opposition and Their Implications for Karabakh." 6. Shamkhal Abilov and Ceyhun Mahmudlu, "The UN Security Council Resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh: View from Azerbaijan." 7. Araz Aslanli, "The Politics of Ceasefire and the Occupation." 8. Farhad Mirzayev, "The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: International Law Appraisal." 9. Kamal Makili-Aliyev, "International Law and the Changes in the Status Quo of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict in 2020." Part III: The Second Karabakh War and the Consequences 10. Edward J. Erickson, "How Do We Explain Victory? The Karabakh Campaign of 2020." 11. Ali Askerov and Gubad Ibadoglu, "The Causes and Consequences of the Second Karabakh War: September 27, 2021–November 10, 2021." Part IV: Foreign Policy and the Karabakh War 12. M. Hakan Yavuz, "Turkish Foreign Policy and the Karabakh Conflict." 13. Emil Avdaliani, "Georgia and the Second Karabakh War." 14. Esmira Jafarova, "The Role of the United States in the Armenia-Azerbaijani Conflict." 15. Orhan Gafarli, "Russia's Role in the Karabakh Conflict." 16. Michael B. Bishku, "Israel's Foreign Policy toward the Karabakh Conflict." 17. Mesiagha Mahammadi and Vasif Huseynov, "Iran’s Policies Toward the Karabakh Conflict." 18. Brendon J. Cannon, "The Arab States and the Karabakh War." 19. Ozay Mehmet, "The Nagorno-Karabakh War: Diaspora Politics in Canadian Foreign Policy."

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Book SynopsisThis practical book offers a guide to finding, choosing, and applying theoretical frameworks to social sciences research, and provides researchers with the scaffolding needed to reflect on their philosophical orientations and better situate their work in the existing landscape of empirical and theoretical knowledge.Using a multifaceted approach, the book provides clear definitions, primary tenets, historical context, highlights of the challenges and contemporary discussion and, perhaps more importantly, concrete and successful examples of studies that have drawn on and incorporated each theoretical framework. The authors define and explain the connections among such concepts as ontology, epistemology, paradigm, theory, theoretical frameworks, conceptual frameworks, and research methodology; describe the process of finding and effectively using theoretical and conceptual frameworks in research; and offer brief overviews of particular theories within the following disciplines: Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Understanding and Applying Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks 3. Critical Theories 4. Sociology 5. Psychology 6. Education 7. Leadership 8. Public Policy 9. Political Science 10. Economics 11. Organisational Studies 12. Business

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the ways in which Russia and Belarus use disinformation, weaponised historical narratives, and the politics of memory for domestic and foreign policy purposes, utilising these factors to justify aggressive foreign policy in defensive terms and, domestically, for legitimating local ruling elites, consolidating the states' propaganda machines, and mobilising both societies around national power centres. Besides analysing Russian and Belarusian disinformation, geopolitical narratives, and policies, the book also assesses the effectiveness of these measures and discusses how the West can counteract the geopolitical narratives disseminated by Russia and Belarus that attempt to undermine Western democracies and weaken the resilience of its societies.Trade ReviewThis book is topical, authoritative, insightful and comprehensive. It outlines the origins and mechanisms of Russia and Belarusian disinformation campaigns. It explains how they work — and how we can counter them. Anyone interested in the freedom and security of the free world should read it. Edward Lucas, fmr. senior editor, The Economist, author Deception and The New Cold WarThis timely book adds to our understanding of the growing threat of disinformation, especially from Russia and Belarus. Societies can only properly respond to information environment threats if there is a thorough knowledge of the myths and false narratives seeking to undermine our societies. The book’s insights make for compelling read for all countering disinformation practitioners from national administrations and international organisations to academia and the think tank community; forewarned is forearmed. Baiba Braže, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public DiplomacyIn order to address disinformation, we need to understand it on a deeper level. This book gives us exactly that, and more, offering an insightful perspective of how disinformation and propaganda became the intricate tools to advance the agendas of both Russian and Belarusian regimes. A must-read for all willing to profoundly understand the threat of today. Martyna Bildziukiewicz, Head of East Stratcom Task Force, European External Action ServiceThe authors demonstrate with intellectual rigour that in the hands of authoritarian states such as Russia and Belarus, disinformation is more than a social evil; it is a tool of warfare seeking to undermine democratic institutions and polarise our societies into political disorder. The authors back up their analysis with extensive research, deep knowledge and the use of concrete examples that expose the techniques and strategies that Russia and Belarus are using today to weaken the West, and that other adversaries will undoubtedly seek to emulate tomorrow. This is why this book is so valuable and so timely. All those concerned with the health of democracy and the liberal society should put it at the top of their reading list - and then resolve to take action along the lines that this book usefully recommends.Jamie Shea, Professor of Strategy and Security, University of ExeterTable of ContentsIntroduction Agnieszka Legucka and Robert Kupiecki 1. Russia: Her Political and Historical Identities - Strategic Dilemmas Adam Daniel Rotfeld 2. Russian Disinformation: Old Tactics and New Narratives Agnieszka Legucka 3. "Western Betrayal": The Founding Myth of Russian Foreign Policy Robert Kupiecki 4. How to Weaponize Information: Russian Patterns Jakub Olchowski 5. Political Narratives as a Source of Lukashenka's Legitimacy Justyna Olędzka, Max Rust 6. The Role and Place of Belarus in Contemporary Russian Geopolitical Narratives Michał Słowikowski 7. The Myth of a Great Patriotic War and Russia’s Foreign Policy Maria Domańska 8. Russia’s Approach to International Law as a Foreign Policy Tool: the Case of the Annexation of Ukrainian Crimea Sławomir Dębski 9. The Strategic Culture of Russia: Why is the Dialogue so Challenging? Agata Włodkowska 10. When Europe is Sick, Russia is Not the Remedy: A French Attempt at a European Reset with Russia? Marek Menkiszak 11. Sanctions as a Form of Dialogue Ernest Wyciszkiewicz 12. Does the West Need a Coherent Response to Russian Disinformation? Tomasz Chłoń

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Book SynopsisThis third edition is again a practical introduction to communication research methods, foregrounding the role research plays in communication and media industry careers.Covering major methodologies such as surveys, experiments, focus groups, in-depth interviews, content analysis, and others, the book takes the reader through the research process from beginning to end. The text continues to help students link the research methods they learn to practical contexts through its activities and features, which include Voices From Industry boxes written by practitioners that give insight into application of methods; Steps to Success research review checklists; and numerous end-of-chapter activities to reinforce concepts. This third edition contains updates throughout, including an expanded discussion of reliability and validity across both qualitative and quantitative research contexts as well as new Research in Action boxes that showcase how research is used in professional and public contexts.The text is ideally suited to both undergraduate and graduate courses in communication research methods within communication, media, and mass communication programs.Online resources, including sample syllabi, PowerPoint slides, and test banks are available at www.routledge.com/9781032288819.Table of Contents1. Basic Principles of Research and a Guide to Using This Book 2. Basic Concepts of Research 3. Scholarly Research and the Creation of Knowledge 4. Ethical Research 5. Concept Explication and Measurement 6. Sampling 7. Effective Measurement 8. Validity 9. Studying People quantitatively 10. Studying people qualitatively 11. Analyzing texts and other artifacts 12. Reliability and subjectivity 13. Descriptive Statistics 14. Estimation and Inference 15. Bivariate and Multivariate Statistics

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Book SynopsisThis text provides an easy-to-read introduction to qualitative research methods in social work, taking into account contemporary contexts and social conditions.Drawing from a range of social work perspectives, it allows the reader to make the connection between social work values, theory and specific research methods and approaches.Comprised of 11 chapters, it covers overarching epistemological perspectives and knowledge construction; designing a research question; research design and methods; data collection and analysis; research ethics and dissemination; and impact and research translation. Highlighting social work's unique commitment to social justice, it positions social work research as embedded in the profession's values.As the first book to comprehensively connect social work values and emancipatory frameworks, including decolonising practices, with research methods, it shows readers the connection between social work theory and choices in relation to et

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Book SynopsisMethodological Concepts: A Critical Guide clarifies many key terms and issues in social research methodology. It outlines the conventional meanings of these terms, but also addresses their contentious character. The aim is to offer interpretations of them that provide a coherent conception of the nature of social science. This book is premised on the idea that more clarity about the meaning of major methodological concepts is essential, and that the disagreements which pervade the field must be addressed. Numerous key terms are discussed across 13 chapters, including methodology', method', inquiry', research', science', truth', fact', rigour', bias', objectivity', data', evidence', induction', deduction', abduction', understanding', explanation', reflexivity', triangulation', theory', and researcher integrity'. These concepts have been implicated in fundamental divisions among social scientists, exemplified by the paradigm wars' of the past few decades. The chapters Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Methodology and method 2. Inquiry, research, and science 3. Truth 4. Fact 5. Bias and objectivity 6. Rigour 7. Data and evidence 8. Deduction, induction, and abduction 9. Understanding and explanation 10. Reflexivity 11. Triangulation 12. Theory 13. Researcher integrity References Glossary of philosophical terms

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThis thoroughly practical and engaging textbook conveys the skills needed to responsibly develop, conduct, scrutinize, and interpret statistical analyses without requiring high-level math.Regression Analysis details the most common sources of statistical biases, including those not covered in other textbooks. Rather than focusing on complicated equations, the book describes these biases visually and with examples of situations in which they could arise. Unique features include an innovative approach to describing the elusive concept of âœholding other factors constant,â proper interpretations of the strength of evidence in light of the Bayesian critique of hypothesis testing, and a focus on ethical research practices. This third edition features coverage of the Generalized AutoRegressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model, Time Series Cross Section models and Multi-level (Hierarchical) models, and has been updated throughout to include more examples.This is the textbook the author wishes he had learned from, as it would have helped him avoid many research mistakes he made in his career. It is ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate students learning quantitative methods in the social sciences, business, medicine, and data analytics. It will also appeal to researchers and academics looking to better understand regressions.

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Book SynopsisApplied Statistics I:Basic Bivariate Techniques has been created from the first half of Rebecca M. Warner's popular Applied Statistics: From Bivariate Through Multivariate Techniques. The author's contemporary approach differs from some of the well-worn texts in the market, and reflects current thinking in the field. It spends less time on statistical significance testing, and moves in the direction of the new statistics by focusing more on confidence intervals and effect size. Instructors of upper undergraduate or beginning graduate level courses will find that the greater focus on basic concepts such as partition of variance and effect size is more useful to students, particularly as preparation for more advanced courses. Spending less time on statistical significance testing allows for more time to be devoted to more interesting and useful statistics that students will see in journal articles (such as correlation and regression). This introductory statisticTable of Contents1. Evaluating Numeric Information Introduction Guidelines for Numeracy Source Credibility Message Content Evaluating Generalizability Making Causal Claims Quality Control Mechanisms in Science Biases of Information Consumers Ethical Issues in Data Collection and Analysis Lying with Graphs and Statistics Degrees of Belief Summary 2. Basic Research Concepts Introduction Types of Variables Independent and Dependent Variables Typical Research Questions Conditions for Causal Inference Experimental Research Design Non-experimental Research Design Quasi- Experimental Designs Other Issues in Design and Analysis Choice of Statistical Analysis (Preview) Populations and Samples: Ideal Versus Actual Situations Common Problems in Interpretation of Results Appendix 2 A: More About Levels of Measurement Appendix 2 B: Justification for Use of Likert and Other Rating Scales as Quantitative Variables (In Some Situations) 3. Frequency Distribution Tables Introduction Use of Frequency Tables for Data Screening Frequency Tables for Categorical Variables Elements of Frequency Tables Using SPSS to Obtain a Frequency Table Mode, Impossible Score Values, and Missing Values Reporting Data Screening for Categorical Variables Frequency Tables for Quantitative Variables Frequency Tables for Categorical Versus Quantitative Variables Reporting Data Screening for Quantitative Variables What We Hope to See in Frequency Tables for Categorical Variables What We Hope to See in Frequency Tables for Quantitative Variables Summary Appendix 3 A: Getting Started in IBM SPSS ® version 25 Appendix 3 B: Missing Values in Frequency Tables Appendix 3 C: Dividing Scores into Groups or Bins 4. Descriptive Statistics Introduction Questions about Quantitative Variables Notation Sample Median Sample Mean (M) An Important Characteristic of M: Sum of Deviations from M = 0 Disadvantage of M: It is Not Robust Against Influence of Extreme Scores Behavior of Mean, Median and Mode in Common Real-World Situations Choosing Among Mean, Median, and Mode Using SPSS to Obtain Descriptive Statistics for a Quantitative Variable Minimum, Maximum, and Range: Variation among Scores The Sample Variance s2 Sample Standard Deviation (s or SD) How a Standard Deviation Describes Variation Among Scores in a Frequency Table Why Is There Variance? Reports of Descriptive Statistics in Journal Articles Additional Issues in Reporting Descriptive Statistics Summary Appendix 4 A Order of Arithmetic Operations Appendix 4 B Rounding 5. Graphs: Bar Charts, Histograms, and Box Plots Introduction Pie Charts for Categorical Variables Bar Charts for Frequencies of Categorical Variables Good Practice for Construction of Bar Charts Deceptive Bar Graphs Histograms for Quantitative Variables Obtaining a Histogram Using SPSS Describing and Sketching Bell-Shaped Distributions Good Practices in Setting up Histograms Box Plot (Box and Whiskers Plot) Telling Stories About Distributions Uses of Graphs in Actual Research Data Screening: Separate Bar Charts or Histograms for Groups Use of Bar Charts to Represent Group Means Other Examples Summary 6. The Normal Distribution and z Scores Introduction Locations of Individual Scores in Normal Distributions Standardized or “z” Scores Converting z Scores Back into Original Units of X Understanding Values of z Qualitative Description of Normal Distribution Shape More Precise Description of Normal Distribution Shape Reading Tables of Areas for the Standard Normal Distribution Dividing the Normal Distribution Into Three Regions: Lower Tail, Middle, Upper Tail Outliers Relative to a Normal Distribution Summary of First Part of Chapter Why We Assess Distribution Shape Departure from Normality: Skewness Another Departure from Normality: Kurtosis Overall Normality Practical Recommendations Reporting Information About Distribution Shape, Missing Values, Outliers, and Descriptive Statistics for Quantitative Variables Summary Appendix 6 A: The Mathematics of the Normal Distribution Appendix 6 B: How to Select and Remove Outliers in SPSS Appendix 6 C: Quantitative Assessments of Departure from Normality Appendix 6 D: Why Are Some Real-World Variables Approximately Normally Distributed? 7. Sampling Error and Confidence Intervals Descriptive Versus Inferential Uses of Statistics Notations for Samples Versus Populations Sampling Error and the Sampling Distribution for Values of M Prediction Error Sample Versus Population (Revisited) The Central Limit Theorem: Characteristics of the Sampling Distribution of M Factors that Influence Population Standard Error Effect of N on Value of the Population Standard Error Describing the Location of a Single Outcome for M Relative to a Population Sampling Distribution (Setting Up a z Ratio) What We Do When ?? Is Unknown The Family of t Distributions Tables for t Distributions Using Sampling Error to Set Up a Confidence Interval How to Interpret a Confidence Interval Empirical Example: Confidence Interval for Body Temperature Other Applications for CIs Error Bars in Graphs of Group Means Summary 8. The One-Sample t test: Introduction to Statistical Significance Tests Introduction Significance Tests as Yes/No Questions About Proposed Values of Population Means Stating a Null Hypothesis Selecting an Alternative Hypothesis The One-Sample t Test Choosing an Alpha (?) Level Specifying Reject Regions Based on ?, Halt and df Questions for the One-Sample t Test Assumptions for the Use of the One-Sample t Test Rules for the Use of NHST First Example: Mean Driving Speed (Nondirectional Test) SPSS Analysis: One Sample t Test for Mean Driving Speed “Exact” p Values Reporting Results for a Two-tailed One-Sample t Test The Driving Speed Data Reconsidered Using a One-Tailed Test Reporting Results for a One-tailed One-Sample t Test: Advantages/ Disadvantages of One Tailed Tests Traditional NHST Versus New Statistics Recommendations Things You Should Not Say About p Values Summary 9. Issues in Significance Tests: Effect Size, Statistical Power, and Decision Errors Beyond p Values Cohen’s d: An Effect Size Index Factors that Affect the Size of t Ratios Statistical Significance Versus Practical Importance Statistical Power Type I and Type II Decision Errors Meanings of “Error” Use of NHST in Exploratory Versus Confirmatory Research Inflated Risk of Type I Error From Multiple Tests Interpretation of Null Outcomes Interpretation of Null Outcomes Interpretation of Statistically Significant Outcomes Understanding Past Research Planning Future Research Guidelines for Reporting Results What You Cannot Say Summary Appendix 9 A Further Explanation of Statistical Power 10. Bivariate Pearson Correlation Research Situations Where Pearson r Is Used Correlation and Causal Inference How Sign and Magnitude of r Describe an X, Y Relationship Setting Up Scatter Plots With Examples of Perfect Linearity Most Associations Are Not Perfect Different Situations In Which r = 0 Assumptions for Use of Pearson r Preliminary Data Screening for Pearson r Effect of Extreme Bivariate Outliers Research Example Data Screening for Research Example Computation of Pearson r How Computation for Correlation Is Related to Pattern of Data Points in the Scatter Plot Testing the Hypothesis That ?0 = 0 Reporting Many Correlations and Inflated Risk of Type I Error Obtaining CIs for Correlations Pearson’s r and r2 as Effect-Size Indexes and Partition of Variance Statistical Power and Sample Size for Correlation Studies Interpretation of Outcomes for Pearson’s r SPSS Example Results Sections for One and Several Pearson r Values Reasons to Be Skeptical of Correlations Summary Appendix 10 A: Nonparametric Alternatives to Pearson r Appendix 10 B: Setting Up a 95% CI for Pearson r Appendix 10 C: Testing Significance of Differences Between Correlations Appendix 10 D: Factors That Artifactually Influence the Magnitude of Pearson’s r Appendix 10 E: Analysis of Non Linear Relationships 11. Bivariate Regression Research Situations Where Bivariate Regression is Used New Information Provided by Regression Regression Equations and Lines Two Versions of Regression Equations Steps in Regression Analysis Preliminary Data Screening Formulas for Bivariate Regression Coefficients Statistical Significance Tests for Bivariate Regression Confidence Intervals for Regression Coefficients Effect Size and Statistical Power Empirical Example Using SPSS: Salary Data SPSS Output: Salary Data Plotting the Regression Line: Salary Data Results Section: Salary Data Using Regression Equation to Predict Score for Individual: Joe’s Hr Data Partition of SS in Bivariate Regression: Joe’s Hr Data Issues in Planning a Bivariate Regression Study Plotting Residuals Standard Error of the Estimate, sy.x Summary Appendix 11 A OLS Derivation of Equation for Regression Coefficients Appendix 11 B Fully Worked Example for SS values: Joe’s HR Data 12. The Independent Samples t Test Research Situations Where the Independent Samples t Test is Used Hypothetical Research Example Assumptions for Use of the Independent Samples t Test Preliminary Data Screening: Evaluating Violations of Assumptions and Getting to Know Your Data Computation of Independent Samples t Test Statistical Significance of Independent Samples t Test Confidence Interval Around (M1 – M2) SPSS Commands for Independent Samples t Test SPSS Output for Independent Samples t Test Effect-Size Indexes for t Factors that Influence the Size of t Results Section Graphing Results: Means and CIs Decisions About Sample Size for the Independent Samples t Test Issues in Designing a Study Summary Appendix 12 A: A Nonparametric Alternative to the Independent Samples t Test 13. One-Way Between-S Analysis of Variance Research Situations Where Between-S One-Way ANOVA is Used Questions in One-Way Between S ANOVA Hypothetical Research Example Assumptions and Data Screening for One-Way ANOVA Computations for One-Way Between-S ANOVA Patterns of Scores and Magnitudes of SSbetween and SSwithin Confidence Intervals (CIs) For Group Means Effect Sizes for One-Way Between-S ANOVA Statistical Power Analysis for One-Way Between-S ANOVA Planned Contrasts Post Hoc or “Protected” Tests One Way Between S ANOVA Procedure in SPSS Output from SPSS for One Way Between S ANOVA Reporting Results from One Way Between S ANOVA Issues in Planning a Study Summary Appendix A ANOVA Model and Division of Scores Into Components Appendix B Expected Value of F When H0 is True Appendix C Comparison of ANOVA to t Test Appendix D Nonparametric Alternative to One Way Between S ANOVA 14. Paired Samples t-Test Independent Versus Paired Samples Designs Between-S and Within-S or Paired Groups Designs Types of Paired Samples Hypothetical Study: Effects of Stress on Heart Rate Review: Data Organization for Independent Samples New: Data Organization for Paired Samples A First Look at Repeated Measures Data Calculation of Difference (d) Scores Null Hypothesis for Paired Samples t Test Assumptions for Paired Samples t Test Formulas for Paired Samples t Test SPSS Paired Samples t Test Procedure Comparison of Results For Independent Samples t and Paired Samples t Tests Effect Size and Power Some Design Problems in Repeated Measures Designs Results for Paired Samples t-Test: Stress and HR Further Evaluation of Assumptions for Larger Dataset Summary Appendix A Nonparametric Alternative to Paired Samples t: Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test 15. One Way Repeated Measures ANOVA Introduction Null Hypothesis for Repeated Measures ANOVA Preliminary Assessment of Repeated Measures Data Computations for One-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA Use of SPSS Reliability Procedure for One Way Repeated Measures ANOVA Partition of SS in Between-S Versus Within-S ANOVA Assumptions for Repeated Measures ANOVA Choices of Contrasts in GLM Repeated Measures SPSS GLM Procedure for Repeated Measures ANOVA Output for GLM Repeated Measures ANOVA Paired Samples t Tests as Follow Up Results Effect Size Statistical Power Counterbalancing in Repeated Measures Studies More Complex Designs Summary Appendix 15 A Test for Person by Treatment Interaction 16. Factorial Analysis of Variance (Between – S) Research Situations Where Factorial Design Is Used Questions in Factorial ANOVA Null Hypotheses in Factorial ANOVA Screening for Violations of Assumptions Hypothetical Research Situation Computations for Between-S Factorial ANOVA Computation of SS, df, and MS in Two Way Factorial Effect Size Estimates for Factorial ANOVA Statistical Power Follow-Up Tests Factorial ANOVA Using the SPSS GLM Procedure SPSS Output Results Design Decisions and Magnitudes of SS Terms Summary Appendix 16 A: Unequal Cell ns in Factorial ANOVA Appendix 16 B: Weighted Versus Unweighted Means Appendix 16 C: Model for Factorial ANOVA Appendix 16 D: Fixed Versus Random Factors 17. Chi Square Analysis of Contingency Tables Evaluating Association Between Two Categorical Variables First Example: Contingency Tables for Titanic Data What is Contingency? Conditional and Unconditional Probabilities Null Hypothesis for Contingency Table Analysis Second Empirical Example: Dog Ownership Data Preliminary Examination of Dog Ownership Data Expected Cell Frequencies If H0 True Computation of Chi Squared Significance Test Evaluation of Statistical Significance of ?2. Effect Sizes for Chi Squared Chi Squared Example Using SPSS Output from Crosstabs Procedure Reporting Results Assumptions and Data Screening For Contingency Tables Other Measures of Association for Contingency Tables Summary Appendix 17 A: Margin of Error For Percentages in Surveys Appendix 17 B: Contingency Tables With Repeated Measures: McNemar Test Appendix 17 C: Fisher Exact Test Appendix 17 D: How Marginal Distributions for X and Y Constrain Maximum Value of ?? Appendix 17 E: Other Uses of ?2 18. Selection of Bivariate Analyses and Review of Key Concepts Selecting Appropriate Bivariate Analyses Types of Independent and Dependent Variables (Categorical Versus Quantitative) Parametric Versus Nonparametric Analyses Comparisons of Means or Medians Across Groups (Categorical IV and Quantitative DV) Problems with Selective Reporting of Evidence and Analyses Limitations of Statistical Significance Tests and p Values Statistical Versus Practical Significance Generalizability Issues Causal Inference Results Sections Beyond Bivariate Analyses: Adding Variables Some Multivariable or Multivariate Analyses Degrees of Belief

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Book SynopsisIdentify, evaluate, and practice good research using Research and Evaluation in Education and Psychology: Integrating Diversity With Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods by renowned scholar Donna M. Mertens. This introductory research methods text incorporates the viewpoints of various research paradigms into its descriptions of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods as well as program evaluation. The work covers five major paradigms: post-positivist, constructivist, transformative, pragmatic, and Indigenous. Special emphasis on conducting research with culturally complex communities, based on the perspectives of feminists, ethnic/racial minorities, and people with disabilities is a hallmark of this text. In each chapter, the author carefully explains each step of the research process, from the literature review to analysis and reporting. Additionally, each chapter includes a published sample study and abstract to illustrate the concepts discussTrade Review"Mertens′s Research and Evaluation text is a well-rounded textbook that students enjoy reading because the ideas are presented in such a way that they connect to each student′s area of study. If you want your students to read the chapter, this is the research methods book for your class." -- Karen H. Larwin"A methods text grounded in research that describes in detail the history behind different methodologies and their historical underpinnings. It has a wide range of study samples to help students make sense of the content." -- Erin M. Ramirez"Good survey text for research methods" -- Sawyer Hunley"A very good and resourceful book for training scientist-practitioners in the mental health profession." -- Allen Appiah-Boateng"This is a solid master′s level introductory textbook that addresses the material that helping professionals need to be able to work in the field and to be able to evaluate and consume current research." -- Brenda Gerhardt"This book provides many good examples/research studies that can be used in classroom discussions." -- Chia-Lin Tsai"The author does an excellent job utilizing various features (e.g., charts, tables, checklists, ′extending your thinking,′ textbox, critical questions, research and evaluation examples) that facilitate reader learning, engagement, critical reflection on gained knowledge and various aspects of the research process, commitment to quality and ethics in research, and willingness to make connections and extend one′s thinking. It is well-written and organized, concise, and straightforward." -- Elena Yu. PolushTable of ContentsChapter 1 • A Brief History of Research: Paradigms, Ethical Practice, and Contested Territory Chapter 2 • Evaluation Chapter 3 • Focusing the Research: Literature Review and Community Engagement Chapter 4 • Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research Chapter 5 • Causal Comparative and Correlational Approaches Chapter 6 • Survey Methods Chapter 7 • Single-Case Research Chapter 8 • Qualitative Research and Action Research Chapter 9 • History, Narrative Inquiry, and Autoethnography Chapter 10 • Mixed Methods Research Chapter 11 • Sampling Chapter 12 • Data Collection Chapter 13 • Data Analysis, Interpretation, and Use

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Book SynopsisIn this second edition of Counterfactuals and Causal Inference, completely revised and expanded, the essential features of the counterfactual approach to observational data analysis are presented with examples from the social, demographic, and health sciences. Alternative estimation techniques are first introduced using both the potential outcome model and causal graphs; after which, conditioning techniques, such as matching and regression, are presented from a potential outcomes perspective. For research scenarios in which important determinants of causal exposure are unobserved, alternative techniques, such as instrumental variable estimators, longitudinal methods, and estimation via causal mechanisms, are then presented. The importance of causal effect heterogeneity is stressed throughout the book, and the need for deep causal explanation via mechanisms is discussed.Trade Review'The use of counterfactuals for causal inference has brought clarity to our reasoning about causality. And this second edition by Morgan and Winship will bring clarity to anyone trying to learn about the field. It is an excellent introduction to the topic, and a fine place to begin learning causal inference.' Tyler J. VanderWeele, Harvard University, Massachusetts'This improved edition of Morgan and Winship's book elevates traditional social sciences, including economics, education and political science, from a hopeless flirtation with regression to a solid science of causal interpretation, based on two foundational pillars: counterfactuals and causal graphs. A must for anyone seeking an understanding of the modern tools of causal analysis, and a must for anyone expecting science to secure explanations, not merely descriptions.' Judea Pearl, University of California, Los Angeles'More has been learned about causal inference in the last few decades than the sum total of everything that had been learned about it in all prior recorded history. The first comprehensive survey of the modern causal inference literature was the first edition of Morgan and Winship. Now with the second edition of this successful book comes the most up-to-date treatment.' Gary King, Harvard University, Massachusetts'The second edition of Counterfactuals and Causal Inference should be part of the personal library of any social scientist who is engaged in quantitative research. For those with a copy of the first edition, purchase of the second edition is indeed well worth the investment.' Peter Messeri, Canadian Studies in PopulationTable of ContentsPart I. Causality and Empirical Research in the Social Sciences: 1. Introduction; Part II. Counterfactuals, Potential Outcomes, and Causal Graphs: 2. Counterfactuals and the potential-outcome model; 3. Causal graphs; Part III. Estimating Causal Effects by Conditioning on Observed Variables to Block Backdoor Paths: 4. Models of causal exposure and identification criteria for conditioning estimators; 5. Matching estimators of causal effects; 6. Regression estimators of causal effects; 7. Weighted regression estimators of causal effects; Part IV. Estimating Causal Effects When Backdoor Conditioning Is Ineffective: 8. Self-selection, heterogeneity, and causal graphs; 9. Instrumental-variable estimators of causal effects; 10. Mechanisms and causal explanation; 11. Repeated observations and the estimation of causal effects; Part V. Estimation When Causal Effects Are Not Point Identified by Observables: 12. Distributional assumptions, set identification, and sensitivity analysis; Part VI. Conclusions: 13. Counterfactuals and the future of empirical research in observational social science.

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Book SynopsisStatistical designs, sample surveys and evaluation designs are fundamental tools for solving queries related to population parameters and the effects of public programs and policies. This book explores the concepts of effective sampling and evaluation techniques in a cohesive and concise manner. Sampling design techniques, including simple random sampling, stratified sampling, systematic sampling and cluster sampling, are presented in detail. These techniques play a vital role when choosing an appropriate sample survey design. The concepts of multistage design, non-sampling errors and evaluation techniques including before-after design, one-time treatment and control design are discussed extensively. The book focuses on different methods of estimation, including multiple regression analysis and logistic regression. It covers the issue of bias in a design, the source of such bias and ways to overcome it. Clear guidelines with remedial measures are outlined to facilitate choosing a suitaTable of ContentsPreface; Acknowledgements; Foreword Fred Arnold; List of tables; List of figures; 1. Introduction to sample survey designs; 2. Basic sampling designs; 3. Multi-stage designs; 4. Probability sampling under imperfect frame; 5. Tackling non-sampling errors; 6. Introduction to evaluation design; 7. Designs for causal effects: setting comparison groups; 8. Designs for causal effects: allocation of study units; 9. Statistical tests for measuring impact; 10. Case studies; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisFor both students and professionals seeking to understand the burgeoning field of network analysis, our text offers a comprehensive overview that integrates theory, method, and cutting-edge application with R (a free platform that is becoming the standard for the field).Trade Review'This is the text social network analysts have long awaited. Written by four of the most dynamic thinkers in the field, it achieves the impossible on multiple fronts: seamlessly integrating theory, method, and implementation; appropriate for novice and veteran analysts alike; truly comprehensive in scope, from the classic to the cutting edge; and somehow both sophisticated and accessible - featuring, for several important concepts, the clearest and most thoughtful treatment of the material I've ever seen. I feel certain it will become the foundational text for the next generation of relational scholars and I can't wait to have it on my shelf.' Kevin Lewis, University of California, San Diego'This wonderful book manages to cover an incredibly wide range of methodological, substantive, and theoretical issues, always making the connection between these clear to even a novice reader. Using careful, but intuitively accessible, discussions of cases, it translates complex theoretical concepts into concrete analytic examples with code. It is the class on network analysis everyone has wanted to take, distilled into book form.' John Levi Martin, University of Chicago'This book provides a wonderful integration of the theoretical and conceptual basis of social network analysis with modern methods. Traditional methods are not forgotten! The accompanying R tutorials are a great resource. The approach is original and convincing. The book offers excellent material for beginners, but also seasoned network researchers will learn a lot from it.' Tom Snijders, Universities of Groningen and OxfordTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Network analysis today; Part I. Thinking Structurally: 2. What is social structure?; 3. What is a social network?; 4. How are social network data collected?; 5. How are social network data visualized?; Part II. Seeing Structure: 6. Structuration and ego-centric networks; 7. Sociality and elementary forms of structure; 8. Cohesion and groups; 9. Hierarchy and centrality; 10. Positions and roles; 11. Affiliations and dualities; 12. Networks and culture; Part III. Making Structural Predictions: 13. Models for networks; 14. Models for network diffusion; 15. Models for social influence; Conclusion: 16. Network analysis tomorrow.

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Book SynopsisCause-and-effect questions are the motivation for most research in the social, demographic, and health sciences. The counterfactual approach to causal analysis represents a unified framework for the prosecution of these questions. This second edition aims to convince more social scientists to take this approach when analyzing these core empirical questions.Trade Review'The use of counterfactuals for causal inference has brought clarity to our reasoning about causality. And this second edition by Morgan and Winship will bring clarity to anyone trying to learn about the field. It is an excellent introduction to the topic, and a fine place to begin learning causal inference.' Tyler J. VanderWeele, Harvard University, Massachusetts'This improved edition of Morgan and Winship's book elevates traditional social sciences, including economics, education and political science, from a hopeless flirtation with regression to a solid science of causal interpretation, based on two foundational pillars: counterfactuals and causal graphs. A must for anyone seeking an understanding of the modern tools of causal analysis, and a must for anyone expecting science to secure explanations, not merely descriptions.' Judea Pearl, University of California, Los Angeles'More has been learned about causal inference in the last few decades than the sum total of everything that had been learned about it in all prior recorded history. The first comprehensive survey of the modern causal inference literature was the first edition of Morgan and Winship. Now with the second edition of this successful book comes the most up-to-date treatment.' Gary King, Harvard University, Massachusetts'The second edition of Counterfactuals and Causal Inference should be part of the personal library of any social scientist who is engaged in quantitative research. For those with a copy of the first edition, purchase of the second edition is indeed well worth the investment.' Peter Messeri, Canadian Studies in PopulationTable of ContentsPart I. Causality and Empirical Research in the Social Sciences: 1. Introduction; Part II. Counterfactuals, Potential Outcomes, and Causal Graphs: 2. Counterfactuals and the potential-outcome model; 3. Causal graphs; Part III. Estimating Causal Effects by Conditioning on Observed Variables to Block Backdoor Paths: 4. Models of causal exposure and identification criteria for conditioning estimators; 5. Matching estimators of causal effects; 6. Regression estimators of causal effects; 7. Weighted regression estimators of causal effects; Part IV. Estimating Causal Effects When Backdoor Conditioning Is Ineffective: 8. Self-selection, heterogeneity, and causal graphs; 9. Instrumental-variable estimators of causal effects; 10. Mechanisms and causal explanation; 11. Repeated observations and the estimation of causal effects; Part V. Estimation When Causal Effects Are Not Point Identified by Observables: 12. Distributional assumptions, set identification, and sensitivity analysis; Part VI. Conclusions: 13. Counterfactuals and the future of empirical research in observational social science.

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Book SynopsisIn the age of data-driven problem-solving, applying sophisticated computational tools for explaining substantive phenomena is a valuable skill. Yet, application of methods assumes an understanding of the data, structure, and patterns that influence the broader research program. This Element offers researchers and teachers an introduction to clustering, which is a prominent class of unsupervised machine learning for exploring and understanding latent, non-random structure in data. A suite of widely used clustering techniques is covered in this Element, in addition to R code and real data to facilitate interaction with the concepts. Upon setting the stage for clustering, the following algorithms are detailed: agglomerative hierarchical clustering, k-means clustering, Gaussian mixture models, and at a higher-level, fuzzy C-means clustering, DBSCAN, and partitioning around medoids (k-medoids) clustering.Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Setting the stage for clustering; 3. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering; 4. k-means clustering; 5. Gaussian mixture models; 6. Advanced methods; 7. Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisThe second edition of Statistics for the Social Sciences prepares students from a wide range of disciplines to interpret and learn the statistical methods critical to their field of study. By using the General Linear Model (GLM), the author builds a foundation that enables students to see how statistical methods are interrelated enabling them to build on the basic skills. The author makes statistics relevant to students'' varying majors by using fascinating real-life examples from the social sciences. Students who use this edition will benefit from clear explanations, warnings against common erroneous beliefs about statistics, and the latest developments in the philosophy, reporting, and practice of statistics in the social sciences. The textbook is packed with helpful pedagogical features including learning goals, guided practice, and reflection questions.Trade Review'Dr Warne's gift for teaching statistics is apparent in his writing of this book. Indeed, I wish I had this book when I was a student. His use of the General Linear Model as a schema for understanding how statistical methods are interrelated sets the book apart from others.' Leena J. Landmark, Associate Professor of Special Education, Sam Houston State University, USATable of Contents1. Statistics and Models; 2. Levels of Data; 3. Models of Central Tendency and Variability; 4. Visual Models; 5. Linear Transformations and z-Scores; 6. Probability and the Central Limit Theorem; 7. Null Hypothesis Statistical Significance Testing and z-Tests; 8. One-Sample t-Tests; 9. Paired-Samples t-Tests; 10. Unpaired Two-Sample t-Tests; 11. Analysis of Variance; 12. Correlation; 13. Regression; 14. Chi-Squared Test; 15 Applying Statistics to Research, and Advanced Statistical Methods.

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Book SynopsisThe best decisions made by public managers are based not on instinct, but on an informed understanding of what's happening on the ground. Policy may be directed by ideology, but it must also be founded on reality. The challenge of making the right decisions as a public manager is often, therefore, based on the need for rigorous, actionable research. Now in a thoughtfully revised second edition, this textbook shows students of Public Administration exactly how to use both qualitative and quantitative research techniques to give them the best chance to make the right decisions.Uniquely, Eller, Gerber, and Robinson present research methodologies through a series of real-life case studies, with each chapter exploring situations where a public manager can use research to answer specific questions, demonstrating how that research can inform future policy. Taking readers through the key concepts, from research design and sampling to interviews, survey data, and more statisticTable of ContentsSection 1. The Purpose and Value of Evaluation and Analytic Skills and their Use in Evidence in Decision-making 1. Introduction: What is Research? 2. Evidence-based Practice for Public Affairs 3. The Research Process: An Introduction to Key Concepts 4. Conducting Preliminary Research Section 2. The Basic Operations of Research: Setting Up a Project, Gathering Data 5. Research Design 6. Measurement 7. Population Sampling 8. Case Studies 9. Interviews 10. Field Research 11. Survey Data Section 3. Estimating How the World Works: Testing Claims and Drawing Inferences 12. Coding and Data Display 13. Descriptive Statistics 14. Introduction to Probability and Distributions 15. Hypothesis Testing 16. Measures of Association Section 4. Advanced Quantitative Techniques and Applied Decision Tools 17. Simple Linear Regression 18. Multiple Least Squares Regression Analysis 19. Applied Decision Tools 20. Mixing Research Methods Section 5. Managing Project, Completing Projects 21. Managing Research and Evaluation Projects 22. Presenting Research: Writing and Speaking in Policy and Management Settings 23. Conclusion: Bringing It All Together Appendix

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Book SynopsisThis book introduces and critically explores walking as an innovative method for doing social research, showing how its sensate and kinaesthetic attributes facilitate connections with lived experiences, journeys and memories, communities and identities. The book situates walking methods historically, sociologically, and in relation to biographical and arts-based research, as well as new work on mobilities, the digital, spatial, and the sensory.The book is organised into three sections: theorising; experiencing; and imagining walking as a new method for doing biographical research. There is a key focus upon the Walking Interview as a Biographical Method (WIBM) on the move to usefully explore migration, memory, and urban landscapes, as part of participatory, visual, and ethnographic research with marginalised communities and artists and as re-formative and transgressive. The book concludes with autobiographical walks taken by the authors and a discussion about the future of theTrade Review“This superb book explores the intersections between walking and ethnography, narrative and biographic methods, visual and participatory methods. The authors’ enthusiasm is infectious and will surely inspire researchers to get walking!” Jennifer Fleetwood, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Goldsmiths College, UK“Walking Methods is an important contribution to the field of walking studies through a critical new method – the Walking Interview as a Biographical Method (WIBM). The book is comprehensive in scope, detailing the history and current iterations of ‘methods on the move’ across the arts and social sciences. WIBM is significant because it considers how people’s biographies and life stories are shaped through perambulation that takes place through various durations and movements. Rich in examples, exercises, and (auto)biographical reflections this book makes a unique contribution to walking methods.”Stephanie Springgay, Associate Professor, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, The University of Toronto, Canada“A learned, revealing and absorbing route one guide to the sociology of walking and using the self as a sociological resource. Essential.”Chris Rojek, Professor of Sociology, City University of London, UK“This book is the first complex composition of theoretical and empirical approaches to the different aspects of ‘research on the move’. Deeply inspiring for sociologists, anthropologists, psychologists, and researchers of cultural studies. The high quality pedagogue supports qualitative researchers, especially those working and representing biographical studies.” Prof. Kaja Kaźmierska, Director of the Institute of Sociology, and Chair of the ESA Research Network 3 on Biographical Perspectives on European Societies, University of Lodz, PolandTable of ContentsIntroduction Part I: Theorizing/Observing/Thinking 1. Methods on the Move: Moving Methods 2. Theorizing Walking in the Sociological Imagination – Walking in Context 3. Walking, Art-Making and Biographical Research Exercise One: Walking and Theorizing - Observing/Thinking Part II: Experiencing 4. Migration, Memory and Place - Connecting with Memory and Place in Urban Landscapes 5. Walking as Re-Formative and Transgressive: Health, Pilgrimage, Trespass, Marching 6. Walking in the Downtown Eastside – Experiencing the WIBM as Participatory, Visual and Ethnographic Exercise Two: Walking, Sensing, Experiencing Part III: Imagining 7. Walking, Sex Work, and Community: Towards a Radical Democratic and Imaginative Space for addressing Sexual and Social Inequalities 8. The Phenomenology of Walking in a Garden 9. Walking Artists: Critical Dialogues and Imaginaries 10. Auto/Biographical Encounters in Time and Space – Roots and Routes Exercise Three: Walking and Imagining – Time/Memory/Making Conclusion: The Future of the Walking Interview as a Biographical Method Exercise Four: WIBM Exercise – Observing, Experiencing, Imagining The Walking Interview as a Biographical Method – Principles and Practice: A Framework

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Book SynopsisChanging Art into Research: Soliloquy Methodology presents a research methodology that enables inquiry into one's personal experiences in an endeavour to reveal essential commonalities of human experience. Arts-informed research methods are becoming increasingly popular with scholars in Arts, Education and the Social Sciences, but there is often confusion about how to turn arts practice into rigorous inquiry.This book examines the theoretical perspectives needed to inform these research approaches, which are often missing in methods teaching and research. Soliloquy is a new methodology that interprets and applies Husserl's philosophical concept of Transcendental Phenomenology. It marries together the synthesizing powers of the unconscious mind with the analytical capacities of conscious cognition and articulation. It further explores the possibility that both cognitive and intuitive ways of knowing are valid and appropriate for academic inquiry, provided theTable of ContentsAcknowledgements; Preface; 1. A Concise Overview of Soliloquy 2. The Co-Existing Realities of the Ephemeral and the Eternal: Aristotle and Plato 3. Intuition 4. The Theoretical Perspective of Soliloquy: Transcendental Phenomenology 5. Soliloquy for the Intuitive Researcher: The Methods; Glossary of Terms

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Table of ContentsAppendix D: Glossary Chapter 1: Introduction to Evidence-Based Inquiry Chapter 2: Research Designs and Reading Research Reports Chapter 3: Research Problems, Questions and Hypotheses Chapter 4: Review of Literature Chapter 5: Designing Quantitative Research: Purpose, Validity, and Ethical Considerations Chapter 6: Participants, Subjects and Sampling for Quantitative Designs Chapter 7: Descriptive Statistics Chapter 8: Quantitative Data Collection: Technical Adequacy Chapter 9: Collecting Quantitative Data Chapter 10: Nonexperimental Research Designs, Surveys, and Secondary Data Analysis Chapter 11: Experimental, Quasi-Experimental, and Single-Subject Designs Chapter 12: Understanding and Reporting Inferential Data Analyses Chapter 13: Designing Qualitative Research Chapter 14: Collecting Qualitative Data Chapter 15: Qualitative Data Analysis Chapter 16: Mixed-Methods Designs Chapter 17: Concept Analysis and Historical Research Chapter 18: Evaluation Research and Policy Analysis Chapter 19: Action Research Appendix A: Answers to Application Problems Appendix B: Guidelines for Writing Research Proposals Appendix C: Guidelines for Writing Research Reports Appendix E: Calculations for Selected Descriptive and Inferential Statistics

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Book SynopsisFirst published Open Access under a Creative Commons license as What is Diary Method?, this title is now also available as part of the Bloomsbury Research Methods series.This book provides an up-to-date, concise, and engaging introduction to solicited diary method, aimed at researchers and students who want to employ this methodology in their projects. Its primary focus is on the use of solicited diary method in the context of social and health-related research, but it also offers useful guidance on the everyday practice of diary-keeping. The authors draw on published research that makes use of this method, including their own independent studies involving older adults and family carers. The book opens with an overview of the development of diary techniques and a discussion of the value of the method, and provides an overview of the different ways of collecting and using diary data and techniques for analysing it. Key ethical issues are sensitively discussed. Trade Review[The authors'] considerable experience of using diary method in health and social care research, together with the many practical examples drawn from up-to-date and diverse literature, makes this an enjoyable and authentic read, as well as an important contribution to the literature ... Bartlett and Milligan have raised the profile and value of diary method as a versatile research tool. The book is an excellent starting point for academics and students who will be inspired by the many practical examples. It is also an ideal reference text for those wishing to incorporate diary method into research methods courses ... [and] has much to offer those in health and social research. I will be recommending this book to my students and colleagues. * International Journal of Research & Method in Education *Gives an excellent overview of how solicited diaries can offer researchers new insights into people’s experiences. A welcome addition to the research methods literature for anyone involved in health and social sciences research. * Jenny Hislop, Senior Researcher at the University of Oxford, UK *First easily understandable book on diary method, which comprehensively explains how to do it practically. Perfectly suitable for undergraduates. Easy to follow and good step-by-step instructions. Great chapters on sensory and audiovisual approaches and mixed methods approaches, they really add great value to the book. * Stephanie Tischler, IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems, Austria *Table of ContentsSeries Editor Foreword 1. The Development of Diary Techniques for Research 2. Engaging with Diary Techniques 3. Practical Issues with Diary Techniques: Design and Analysis 4. The Rise of Technology and its Influences on Diary Methods 5. Exploring Issues of Participation, Control and Ethics 6. Methodological Issues and Future Directions References Index

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Book SynopsisEmergent Methods in Social Research introduces state-of-the-art social research methods that address the growing methods-theory gap within and across the disciplines. In this text, editors Sharlene Nagy Hesse-Biber and Patricia Leavy combine original, in-depth introductions, previously published articles, and original works to provide readers with a comprehensive view of new and cutting-edge research methods and methodologies. Key Features: Combines theoretical and empirical pieces: Both theoretical and methodological issues at the cutting edge of research are explored. The linking of theoretical and empirical pieces, in addition to the focus on emergent methods, makes this book highly unique to the field. Focuses on two sub-topics: Emerging research techniques across disciplines and emerging methods within disciplines are examined. The scope of the work offers a very broad perspective of the possible uses and issues surTrade Review"All of the book′s chapters are written with enthusiasm and an interest to stimulate researchers to make new uses of traditional data gathering methods and/or develop new ideas." -- Daunta A. NiteckiTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction: Emergent Methods in Social Research Within and Across Disciplines Skirting a Pleated Text: De-Disciplining an Academic Life - Laurel Richardson Getting Connected: How Sociologists Can Access the High Tech Elite - Trond Aren Undheim A Sociologist Among Economists: Some Thoughts on Methods, Positionality, and Subjectivity - Sarah Babb Ethnography and Conversation Analysis: What Is the Context of an Utterance? - Douglas W. Maynard Creativity Within Qualitative Research on Families: New Ideas for Old Methods - Sharon A. Deacon Sampling Human Experience in Naturalistic Settings - Tamlin Conner and Eliza Bliss-Moreau Feminist Visualization: Re-envisioning GIS as Method in Feminist Geographic Research - Mei-Po Kwan Practical Strategies for Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Applications to Health Research - David Morgan Performing Autoethnography: An Embodied Methodological Praxis - Tami Spry Exposed Methodology: The Body as a Deconstructive Practice - Wanda S. Pillow Ethnodrama: Performed Research—Limitations and Potential - Jim Mienczakowski On the Listening Guide: A Voice-Centered Relational Method - Carol Gilligan, Renee Spencer, M. Katherine Weinberg and Tatiana Bertsch Friendship as Method - Lisa Tillmann-Healy Gender Imago - Niza Yanay and Nitza Berkovitch The Personal is Political: Using Daily Diaries to Examine Everyday Prejudice-Related Experiences - Lauri L. Hyers, Janet K. Swim, Robyn K. Mallett Feminist Media Ethnography in India: Exploring Power, Gender, and Culture in the Field - Radhika Parameswaran Conclusion: “Coming at Things Differently”: The Need for Emergent Methods About the Editors About the Contributors

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Book SynopsisThis second edition provides an excellent overview of the field by covering the traditional themes and current trends in image centred photographic visual inquiry but extends this by demonstrating the rich possibilities available through the analysis of everyday objects, places and interactions. The book includes chapters on researching 2D and 3D visual data, along with lived and living visual data, and also features a brand new chapter on researching the virtual world of the internet. Drawing on theoretical traditions as diverse as semiotics, ethnomethodology, symbolic interactionism and material culture studies, the second edition provides an invaluable guide for researchers interested in conducting innovative visual inquiry. Packed with exercises and projects, the book makes it easy for students to undertake their own research with limited resources and budget. The new edition also features helpful icons alerting researchers to important ethical considerations that areTrade ReviewStocked with artful new insights, methods and observations without jettisoning more enduring concerns, the field of visual research as presented here is a very welcome sight.David RoweUniversity of Western Sydney In this newest edition, the authors take visual research far beyond the study of two-dimensional images to show readers how observational techniques can be marshalled to analyze public and private spaces in the built environment, human interaction and the culture of everyday life. Researching the Visual is a real eye-opener.David GrazianUniversity of Pennsylvania ...Although the book does not explicitly say that this would be useful for educational researchers, the content and style does lend itself well to be a useful methodological resource for those educationalists engaged in research or postgraduate study who are curious about visual methods. And for the adventurous, the many excellent examples of exercises and projects and the illustrations throughout will provide a good place to start. This book would also be a positive addition to the reading list of any lecturers who are keen to explore visual methods with their students. -- Jill Clark, School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, Newcastle UniversityThe Impact of the Social Sciences provides wide-ranging new data on how non-academic impact occurs in social, business or policy contexts as well as identifying the types of research and researcher best placed to produce these ′auditable or recordable occasions of influence′. It also proposes the idea of ′a hidden iceberg mass of knowledge′ called the Dynamic Knowledge Inventory that builds up in the public domain and remains dormant, ready for some unspecified use. This framework also highlights the collective and cumulative nature of social science research available to user communities. As REF impact case studies and ′Pathway to Impact′ statements rely on specific impacts emerging from individual research projects, the Dynamic Knowledge Inventory challenges a major assumption of the impact agenda. -- Jacqueline Aldridge, Kent Business School, University of KentThe Impact of the Social Sciences provides wide-ranging new data on how non-academic impact occurs in social, business or policy contexts as well as identifying the types of research and researcher best placed to produce these ′auditable or recordable occasions of influence′. It also proposes the idea of ′a hidden iceberg mass of knowledge′ called the Dynamic Knowledge Inventory that builds up in the public domain and remains dormant, ready for some unspecified use. This framework also highlights the collective and cumulative nature of social science research available to user communities. As REF impact case studies and ′Pathway to Impact′ statements rely on specific impacts emerging from individual research projects, the Dynamic Knowledge Inventory challenges a major assumption of the impact agenda. -- Jacqueline Aldridge, Kent Business School, University of KentThe Impact of the Social Sciences provides wide-ranging new data on how non-academic impact occurs in social, business or policy contexts as well as identifying the types of research and researcher best placed to produce these ′auditable or recordable occasions of influence′. It also proposes the idea of ′a hidden iceberg mass of knowledge′ called the Dynamic Knowledge Inventory that builds up in the public domain and remains dormant, ready for some unspecified use. This framework also highlights the collective and cumulative nature of social science research available to user communities. As REF impact case studies and ′Pathway to Impact′ statements rely on specific impacts emerging from individual research projects, the Dynamic Knowledge Inventory challenges a major assumption of the impact agenda. -- Jacqueline Aldridge, Kent Business School, University of KentTable of ContentsA Very Short Introduction: The Scope of Visual Research Ethics in Visual Research Visual Research: The Disciplinary Core Two-Dimensional Visual Data: Photographs and Beyond Three-Dimensional Visual Data Lived Visual Data Living Forms of Visual Data Virtual Visual Data

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