Social research and statistics Books

Book SynopsisResearchers frequently experience sexualized interactions, sexual objectification, andharassmentas they conduct fieldwork.These experiences are often left out of ethnographers' tales from the field and remain unaddressed within qualitativeliterature.Harassedargues that the androcentric, racist, and colonialist epistemological foundations of ethnographicmethodology contribute to the silence surrounding sexualharassmentand other forms of violence. Rebecca Hanson and Patricia Richards challenge readers to recognizehow these attitudes put researchers at risk, further the solitude experienced by researchers,lead others to question the validity of their work, and, inturn, negatively impact the construction of ethnographic knowledge. To improve methodological training, data collection,and knowledge produced by all researchers,Harassedadvocates for an embodied approach to ethnography that reflexively engages with theways in which researchers' bodies shape the knowledge they produce. By challenTrade Review"Harassed is an important, insightful text that should become a staple for research methods classes in anthropology, sociology, and women’s and gender studies. . . . This is a must-read for anyone conducting or supervising ethnographic research. . . . Highly recommended." * CHOICE *"One of this book’s major contributions is to lay bare the gendered character of ethnography as practical endeavor and intellectual pursuit. Interview extracts vividly convey how prevailing conventions create pernicious traps and impossible binds for female researchers, for whom the very act of entering a field site alone and unknown frequently contravenes prescribed norms of feminine conduct and so renders them vulnerable to overtures and advances. . . . While positioned as a challenge to institutional silence, Harassed could instead be seen as throwing down the gauntlet, providing a comprehensive appraisal of the problem and setting out clear-headed proposals for change." * Times Higher Education *"One of this book’s major contributions is to lay bare the gendered character of ethnography as practical endeavor and intellectual pursuit. Interview extracts vividly convey how prevailing conventions create pernicious traps and impossible binds for female researchers, for whom the very act of entering a field site alone and unknown frequently contravenes prescribed norms of feminine conduct and so renders them vulnerable to overtures and advances. . . . While positioned as a challenge to institutional silence, Harassed could instead be seen as throwing down the gauntlet, providing a comprehensive appraisal of the problem and setting out clear-headed proposals for change." * Times Higher Education *"Harassed should be required reading for any class on ethnography or in-depth interviewing, for any researcher conducting ethnography or interviews, and for any faculty member who is advising students conducting such work. Armed with this book, researchers will not only be better able to protect themselves but they will also gain a model for how to learn and teach from their own embodied experiences in the field." * Gender & Society *"When my friends and I faced gendered issues during fieldwork, we viewed it as an anomalous problem to manage as best we could. Hanson and Richards move beyond individual-level suggestions on how to handle risks; they challenge academic assumptions about the very nature of ethnography. Their vision of an embodied ethnography should inform ongoing conversations about how we produce knowledge as well as how to appropriately train and support our students and colleagues." * Social Forces *"Harassed should be required reading for any class on ethnography or in-depth interviewing, for any researcher conducting ethnography or interviews, and for any faculty member who is advising students conducting such work. Armed with this book, researchers will not only be better able to protect themselves but they will also gain a model for how to learn and teach from their own embodied experiences in the field." * Gender & Society *"The book is an essential read for any student and/or researcher using and/or teaching ethnography as a methodology, as it is a much-needed point of departure for a discussion about the roles of our bodies, gender, and sexuality in our interactions with other people and in the construction of ethnographic knowledge. Moreover, it is an essential read for anyone engaged in international development research as it complements calls within the wider research governance framework for increased safeguarding, accountability, and transparency." * Anthropology in Action *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1 • Ethnographic Fixations 2 • Gendered Bodies and Field Research 3 • Sexual Harassment in the Field 4 • The Costs 5 • Constructing Knowledge 6 • Moving Forward Notes References Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisHarm takes shape in and through what is suppressed, left out, or taken for granted.This book is a guide tounderstanding and uncovering what is left unsaidwhether concealed or silenced, presupposed or excluded. Drawing on a variety of real-world examples, narrative criminologist Lois Presser outlines how to determine what or who is excluded from textual materials. With strategies that can be added to the tool kits of social researchers and activists alike, Unsaidprovides a richly layered approach to analyzing and dismantling the power structures that both create and arise from what goes without saying.Trade Review"Presser concedes the impossibility of creating a comprehensive, all-inclusive text in which nothing is left unsaid as she advocates for honest and critical reflection to identify the unspoken assumptions and silenced viewpoints characteristic of all texts." * CHOICE *Table of ContentsContents Preface Acknowledgments 1. Kept Quiet 2. Too Little or Too Much Said 3. Figurative Expression 4. Missing Subjects 5. The Social Construction of Absences 6. Concluding Remarks: Boundless Texts, Better Worlds Appendix: A Word on Sampling Glossary Notes References Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisAcclaim for the first edition:'A tour-de-force of trust research methodologies, from survey methods to critical incidents to hermeneutics... will prove invaluable to trust researchers of every stripe.'- Aks Zaheer, University of Minnesota'This book fills an important gap. The burgeoning field of trust research has employed a wide variety of definitions and methods, but until the appearance of this Handbook there was no comprehensive overview of them. Its contributions, many written by leading international experts, cover conceptual issues as well as qualitative and quantitative methods. The editors are all working at the frontiers of trust research and in this Handbook they have compiled an indispensable source of reference for years to come.'- John Child, University of Birmingham, UK'This is the right book at the right time. Central to the advancement of research on trust is the need to address a host of methodological, empirical, and analytical challenges. This Handbook provides a vital resource for doing so and holds the promise of infusing the literature with novel and enhanced approaches for studying and understanding trust. Researchers new to the field as well as established experts will find a wealth of insights contained herein.'- Bill McEvily, University of Toronto, CanadaDrawing together a wealth of research methods knowledge gained by trust researchers into one essential volume, this book provides an authoritative in-depth consideration of quantitative and qualitative methods for empirical study of trust in the social sciences.This second edition of the Handbook of Research Methods on Trust provides a fully updated and extended account of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods for empirical research. While many researchers have already drawn inspiration and insight from the previous edition, the dynamic development of trust research calls for further and deeper engagement with methodological issues, particular methods, practical research experience, and current challenges and innovations as offered by this new edition.Identifying innovative methods for researching trust, this important handbook will prove invaluable for students and academics in the social sciences who are interested in trust, particularly postgraduates planning empirical research on trust, undergraduates researching issues of trust, faculty teaching research-based courses on trust and related topics, and experienced trust researchers looking for reflection, discussion and inspiration.Contributors: S.J. Addison, N. Alex, M.J. Ashleigh, R. Bachmann, D. Barrera, K.M. Bijlsma-Frankema, M.C. Bligh, B.F. Blumberg, G. Breeman, C. Brinsfield, C. Burns, V. Buskens, J.S. Carroll, S.M. Conchie, D.L. Ferrin, D.E. Gibbons, N. Gillespie, C. Goodall, J.C. Kohles, R.M. Kramer, T.M. Kühlmann, A. Langley, V. Le Gall, R.J. Lewicki, E. Meyer, M. Muethel, R. Münscher, B. Nooteboom, J.M. Peiró, A. Pentland, R.L. Priem, W. Raub, R.A. Roe, D.M. Rousseau, R.H. Searle, M. Tillmar, E.M. Uslaner, B. Waber, A.A. Weibel, F. Welter, M. Williams, R. ZolinTrade ReviewAs any field of academic study matures, researchers refine methods for investigating the phenomenon of interest. For research on trust, this Handbook Second Edition reflects where the trust literature has been, where it is now, and where it is going with respect to research methods. If you are a mature trust scholar, or someone starting research on trust, the Handbook is an indispensable resource for evaluating the full range of methods that may be appropriate for your study. --Steven C. Currall, University of California, DavisTable of ContentsContents: 1. Introduction. Researching Trust: The Ongoing Challenge of Matching Objectives and Methods Fergus Lyon, Guido Möllering and Mark N.K. Saunders PART I CONCEPTUAL ISSUES 2. Pursuing Ecological Validity in Trust Research: Merits of Multi-Method Research Roderick M. Kramer 3. An Abductive Approach to Investigating Trust Development in Strategic Alliances Véronique Le Gall and Ann Langley 4. Trust Research: Measuring Trust Beliefs and Behaviors Roy J. Lewicki and Chad Brinsfield 5. Agent-Based Simulation of Trust Bart Nooteboom 6. Researching Trust in Different Cultures Friederike Welter and Nadezhda Alex 7. Trust and Social Capital: Challenges for Studying their Dynamic Relationship Boris F. Blumberg, Jose M. Peiró and Robert A. Roe 8. Measuring Generalized Trust: In Defense of the ‘Standard’ Question Eric M. Uslaner PART II QUALITATIVE RESEARCH 9. Access and Non-Probability Sampling in Qualitative Research on Trust Fergus Lyon 10. Working With Difficult to Reach Groups: A ‘Building Blocks’ Approach to Researching Trust in Communities Christine Goodall 11. Cross-Cultural Comparative Case Studies: A Means of Uncovering Dimensions of Trust Malin Tillmar 12. Using Mixed Methods-Combining Card Sorts and In-Depth Interviews Mark N.K. Saunders 13. Mixed Methods Application in Trust Research: Simultaneous Hybrid Data Collection in Cross-Cultural Settings Using the Board-Game Method Miriam Muethel 14. Using Scenarios as Part of a Concurrent Mixed Methods Design Susan J. Addison 15. Utilising Repertory Grids in Macro-Level Comparative Studies Reinhard Bachmann 16. Deepening the Understanding of Trust: Combining Repertory Grid and Narrative to Explore the Uniqueness of Trust Melanie J. Ashleigh and Edgar Meyer 17. Studying Trust Relationships using Social Network Analysis Roxanne Zolin and Deborah E. Gibbons 18. Hermeneutic Methods in Trust Research Gerard Breeman 19. Using Critical Incident Technique in Trust Research Robert Münscher and Torsten M. Kühlmann PART III QUANTITATIVE APPROACHES 20. Survey Measures of Trust in Organizational Contexts: An Overview Nicole Gillespie 21. The Actor–Partner Interdependence Model: A Method for Studying Trust in Dyadic Relationships Donald L. Ferrin, Michelle C. Bligh and Jeffrey C. Kohles 22. Embedded Trust: The Analytical Approach in Vignettes, Laboratory Experiments and Surveys Davide Barrera, Vincent Buskens and Werner Raub 23. Measuring the Decision to Trust Using Metric Conjoint Analysis Richard L. Priem and Antoinette A. Weibel 24. Diary Methods in Trust Research Rosalind H. Searle 25. Measuring Implicit Trust and Automatic Attitude Activation Calvin Burns and Stacey M. Conchie 26. A Voice is Worth a Thousand Words: The Implications of the Micro-Coding of Social Signals in Speech for Trust Research Benjamin Waber, Michele Williams, John S. Carroll and Alex ‘Sandy’ Pentland 27. It Takes a Community to Make a Difference: Evaluating Quality Procedures and Practices in Trust Research Katinka M. Bijlsma-Frankema and Denise M. Rousseau Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis engaging book explores the porous borders of research with art, therapy and education, helping researchers reflect on their practice and consider more carefully the potential consequences and impacts of their work.Table of ContentsPart 1: Introduction to qualitative, creative, and embodied research Introduction to Part 1 Lesson 1: Reflection Lesson 2: Awareness Lesson 3: Relationship Part 2: Disciplinary borders Introduction to Part 2 Lessons from art Lessons from science Lessons from ethics Part 3: Case studies Introduction to Part 3 Case study 1: Working with children Case study 2: Working with artists and researchers Case study 3: Working with embodied academics Case study 4: Working with scientists Weaving in

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisExplores past, current, and future policies and trends concerning the sales and illicit movement of artifacts from Mesoamerica to museums and private collections. Informed by the fields of anthropology, economics, law, and criminology, contributors critically analyse practices of research and collecting in Central American countries.Trade Review“The book’s fresh insights break new paths of research in archaeological looting, the antiquities trade, and national and international heritage law.”—Anthropology Book Forum“An insightful and fascinating exploration. . . . Offers a cutting-edge analysis of the antiquities market that should be of interest to archaeologists, museum professionals, and art historians as well as criminologists and sociologists.”—Hispanic American Historical Review

Read more less

Book SynopsisSignificantly revised, the fifth edition of the most complete, accessible text now covers all three approaches to structural equation modeling (SEM)--covariance-based SEM, nonparametric SEM (Pearlâs structural causal model), and composite SEM (partial least squares path modeling). With increased emphasis on freely available software tools such as the R lavaan package, the text uses data examples from multiple disciplines to provide a comprehensive understanding of all phases of SEM--what to know, best practices, and pitfalls to avoid. It includes exercises with answers, rules to remember, topic boxes, and new self-tests on significance testing, regression, and psychometrics. The companion website supplies helpful primers on these topics as well as data, syntax, and output for the book's examples, in files that can be opened with any basic text editor. New to This Edition *Chapters on composite SEM, also called partial least squares path modeling or variance-based Trade Review"In this ambitious work, Kline thoughtfully and patiently presents diverse perspectives, effectively enlarging the world of SEM while maintaining coherence. The fifth edition's breadth and timeliness make it an easy choice as the primary text in a graduate course on SEM, with readability that journal articles often lack. Researchers will appreciate the book as an entry point to a range of literatures within the SEM world. Kline’s embrace of open-source R software for SEM is very welcome, as it makes the book’s computer examples immediately accessible to readers everywhere."--Edward E. Rigdon, PhD, Marketing RoundTable Professor, Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University "Kline’s fifth edition is thoroughly updated and greatly expanded. I love the emphasis on Open Science, and I am impressed by the variety of new methodological techniques in SEM that Kline has managed to effectively introduce in the fifth edition. I can’t wait to use this text in my SEM class!"--D. Betsy McCoach, PhD, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut "A wonderful introductory book that can be used by individuals without extensive quantitative backgrounds. I use this book to teach an introductory SEM course, but I also use it as a personal reference for my research. It is very readable, which is the number-one reason why I assign this text to my students. I love the walk-through examples with references to real data and syntax. I have always liked Kline’s practical recommendations, and they continue to be really helpful for newbies to SEM--my students constantly reference these sections."--Naomi Ekas, PhD, Department of Psychology, Texas Christian University "One of the primary strengths of Kline’s book is that it is written in plain English, but with sufficient sophistication that the reader is well prepared to read more technical books or articles on advanced topics. Another strength is the helpful remedies and hints, such as the topic box on the causes of nonpositive definite data matrices and solutions. The most practical advantage of Kline’s text is the exercises at the end of each chapter, and the corresponding answers and explanations."--Stephanie Castro, PhD, College of Business, Florida Atlantic University "The substantially revised fifth edition lives up to the reputation of prior editions and will be a valuable resource to anyone learning SEM. The online primers are very thorough and give students great refreshers on background topics, including exercises with answers. This edition has appropriate balance between the three 'families' of SEM; I appreciate the detailed descriptions of Pearl’s structural causal model."--Jam Khojasteh, PhD, College of Education and Human Services, Oklahoma State University-Perfectly addresses the needs of social scientists like me without formal training in mathematical statistics....Can be read by any graduate in psychology or even by keen undergraduates interested in exploring new vistas. Yet it will also constitute a surprisingly good read for experienced researchers in search of some refreshing insights in their favorite techniques....A real tour de force....Succeeds in reconciling comprehensiveness and comprehensibility. (on the second edition)--The Psychologist, 01/01/2006ƒƒThe greatest strength of this book is Kline's ability to present materials in an engaging, accessible manner. In nearly all situations, Kline is able to describe even the more complex material in practical, (relatively) jargon-free terms....In this regard, this book is unparalleled, and I suspect that this strength alone will make this the book of choice for many who are eager to learn SEM but who do not possess extensive quantitative backgrounds....This book could be readily adapted to courses for students with a basic understanding of correlation and regression or as part of a course for more advanced students. (on the second edition)--PsycCRITIQUES, 06/29/2005ƒƒThis wonderfully written book is an impressive introduction to structural equation models (SEM) containing a sharp mix of expert analysis and observations....Contains important resources for both theoretical and applied researchers interested in SEM....Appropriate as a text for graduate students and a reference for researchers, providing both audiences with valuable insight into the subject matter. (on the second edition)--Journal of the American Statistical Association, 03/01/2006Table of Contents□I□n□t□r□o□d□u□c□t□i□o□n□□ □-□ □W□h□a□t□&□r□s□q□u□o□;□s□ □N□e□w□□ □-□ □B□o□o□k□ □W□e□b□s□i□t□e□□ □-□ □P□e□d□a□g□o□g□i□c□a□l□ □A□p□p□r□o□a□c□h□□ □-□ □P□r□i□n□c□i□p□l□e□s□ □&□g□t□;□ □S□o□f□t□w□a□r□e□□ □-□ □S□y□m□b□o□l□s□ □a□n□d□ □N□o□t□a□t□i□o□n□□ □-□ □E□n□j□o□y□ □t□h□e□ □R□i□d□e□□ □-□ □P□l□a□n□ □o□f□ □t□h□e□ □B□o□o□k□□ □I□.□ □C□o□n□c□e□p□t□s□,□ □S□t□a□n□d□a□r□d□s□,□ □a□n□d□ □T□o□o□l□s□□ □1□.□ □P□r□o□m□i□s□e□ □a□n□d□ □P□r□o□b□l□e□m□s□□ □-□ □P□r□e□p□a□r□i□n□g□ □t□o□ □L□e□a□r□n□ □S□E□M□□ □-□ □D□e□f□i□n□i□t□i□o□n□ □o□f□ □S□E□M□□ □-□ □B□a□s□i□c□ □D□a□t□a□ □A□n□a□l□y□z□e□d□ □i□n□ □S□E□M□□ □-□ □F□a□m□i□l□y□ □M□a□t□t□e□r□s□□ □-□ □P□e□d□a□g□o□g□y□ □a□n□d□ □S□E□M□ □F□a□m□i□l□i□e□s□□ □-□ □S□a□m□p□l□e□ □S□i□z□e□ □R□e□q□u□i□r□e□m□e□n□t□s□□ □-□ □B□i□g□ □N□u□m□b□e□r□s□,□ □L□o□w□ □Q□u□a□l□i□t□y□□ □-□ □L□i□m□i□t□s□ □o□f□ □T□h□i□s□ □B□o□o□k□□ □-□ □S□u□m□m□a□r□y□□ □-□ □L□e□a□r□n□ □M□o□r□e□□ □2□.□ □B□a□c□k□g□r□o□u□n□d□ □C□o□n□c□e□p□t□s□ □a□n□d□ □S□e□l□f□-□T□e□s□t□□ □-□ □U□n□e□v□e□n□ □B□a□c□k□g□r□o□u□n□d□ □P□r□e□p□a□r□a□t□i□o□n□□ □-□ □P□o□t□e□n□t□i□a□l□ □O□b□s□t□a□c□l□e□s□ □t□o□ □L□e□a□r□n□i□n□g□ □a□b□o□u□t□ □S□E□M□□ □-□ □S□i□g□n□i□f□i□c□a□n□c□e□ □T□e□s□t□i□n□g□□ □-□ □M□e□a□s□u□r□e□m□e□n□t□ □a□n□d□ □P□s□y□c□h□o□m□e□t□r□i□c□s□□ □-□ □R□e□g□r□e□s□s□i□o□n□ □A□n□a□l□y□s□i□s□□ □-□ □S□u□m□m□a□r□y□□ □-□ □S□e□l□f□-□T□e□s□t□□ □-□ □S□c□o□r□i□n□g□ □C□r□i□t□e□r□i□a□□ □3□.□ □S□t□e□p□s□ □a□n□d□ □R□e□p□o□r□t□i□n□g□□ □-□ □B□a□s□i□c□ □S□t□e□p□s□□ □-□ □O□p□t□i□o□n□a□l□ □S□t□e□p□s□□ □-□ □R□e□p□o□r□t□i□n□g□ □S□t□a□n□d□a□r□d□s□□ □-□ □R□e□p□o□r□t□i□n□g□ □E□x□a□m□p□l□e□□ □-□ □S□u□m□m□a□r□y□□ □-□ □L□e□a□r□n□ □M□o□r□e□□ □4□.□ □D□a□t□a□ □P□r□e□p□a□r□a□t□i□o□n□□ □-□ □F□o□r□m□s□ □o□f□ □I□n□p□u□t□ □D□a□t□a□□ □-□ □P□o□s□i□t□i□v□e□ □D□e□f□i□n□i□t□e□n□e□s□s□□ □-□ □M□i□s□s□i□n□g□ □D□a□t□a□□ □-□ □C□l□a□s□s□i□c□a□l□ □(□O□b□s□o□l□e□t□e□)□ □M□e□t□h□o□d□s□ □f□o□r□ □I□n□c□o□m□p□l□e□t□e□ □D□a□t□a□□ □-□ □M□o□d□e□r□n□ □M□e□t□h□o□d□s□ □f□o□r□ □I□n□c□o□m□p□l□e□t□e□ □D□a□t□a□□ □-□ □O□t□h□e□r□ □D□a□t□a□ □S□c□r□e□e□n□i□n□g□ □I□s□s□u□e□s□□ □-□ □S□u□m□m□a□r□y□□ □-□ □L□e□a□r□n□ □M□o□r□e□□ □-□ □E□x□e□r□c□i□s□e□s□□ □-□ □A□p□p□e□n□d□i□x□ □4□.□a□.□ □S□t□e□p□s□ □o□f□ □M□u□l□t□i□p□l□e□ □I□m□p□u□t□a□t□i□o□n□□ □5□.□ □C□o□m□p□u□t□e□r□ □T□o□o□l□s□□ □-□ □E□a□s□e□ □o□f□ □U□s□e□,□ □N□o□t□ □S□u□s□p□e□n□s□i□o□n□ □o□f□ □J□u□d□g□m□e□n□t□□ □-□ □H□u□m□a□n□&□n□d□a□s□h□;□C□o□m□p□u□t□e□r□ □I□n□t□e□r□a□c□t□i□o□n□□ □-□ □T□i□p□s□ □f□o□r□ □S□E□M□ □P□r□o□g□r□a□m□m□i□n□g□□ □-□ □E□a□s□e□ □o□f□ □U□s□e□,□ □N□o□t□ □S□u□s□p□e□n□s□i□o□n□ □o□f□ □J□u□d□g□m□e□n□t□□ □-□ □C□o□m□m□e□r□c□i□a□l□ □v□e□r□s□u□s□ □F□r□e□e□ □C□o□m□p□u□t□e□r□ □T□o□o□l□s□□ □-□ □R□ □P□a□c□k□a□g□e□s□ □f□o□r□ □S□E□M□□ □-□ □F□r□e□e□ □S□E□M□ □S□o□f□t□w□a□r□e□ □w□i□t□h□ □G□r□a□p□h□i□c□a□l□ □U□s□e□r□ □I□n□t□e□r□f□a□c□e□s□□ □-□ □C□o□m□m□e□r□c□i□a□l□ □S□E□M□ □C□o□m□p□u□t□e□r□ □T□o□o□l□s□□ □-□ □S□E□M□ □R□e□s□o□u□r□c□e□s□ □f□o□r□ □O□t□h□e□r□ □C□o□m□p□u□t□i□n□g□ □E□n□v□i□r□o□n□m□e□n□t□s□□ □-□ □S□u□m□m□a□r□y□□ □I□I□.□ □S□p□e□c□i□f□i□c□a□t□i□o□n□,□ □E□s□t□i□m□a□t□i□o□n□,□ □a□n□d□ □T□e□s□t□i□n□g□□ □6□.□ □N□o□n□p□a□r□a□m□e□t□r□i□c□ □C□a□u□s□a□l□ □M□o□d□e□l□s□□ □-□ □G□r□a□p□h□ □V□o□c□a□b□u□l□a□r□y□ □a□n□d□ □S□y□m□b□o□l□i□s□m□□ □-□ □C□o□n□t□r□a□c□t□e□d□ □C□h□a□i□n□s□ □a□n□d□ □C□o□n□f□o□u□n□d□i□n□g□□ □-□ □C□o□v□a□r□i□a□t□e□ □S□e□l□e□c□t□i□o□n□□ □-□ □I□n□s□t□r□u□m□e□n□t□a□l□ □V□a□r□i□a□b□l□e□s□□ □-□ □C□o□n□d□i□t□i□o□n□a□l□ □I□n□d□e□p□e□n□d□e□n□c□i□e□s□ □a□n□d□ □O□t□h□e□r□ □T□y□p□e□s□ □o□f□ □B□i□a□s□□ □-□ □P□r□i□n□c□i□p□l□e□s□ □f□o□r□ □C□o□v□a□r□i□a□t□e□ □S□e□l□e□c□t□i□o□n□□ □-□ □d□-□S□e□p□a□r□a□t□i□o□n□ □a□n□d□ □B□a□s□i□s□ □S□e□t□s□□ □-□ □G□r□a□p□h□i□c□a□l□ □I□d□e□n□t□i□f□i□c□a□t□i□o□n□ □C□r□i□t□e□r□i□a□□ □-□ □D□e□t□a□i□l□e□d□ □E□x□a□m□p□l□e□□ □-□ □S□u□m□m□a□r□y□□ □-□ □L□e□a□r□n□ □M□o□r□e□□ □-□ □E□x□e□r□c□i□s□e□s□□ □7□.□ □P□a□r□a□m□e□t□r□i□c□ □C□a□u□s□a□l□ □M□o□d□e□l□s□□ □-□ □M□o□d□e□l□ □D□i□a□g□r□a□m□ □S□y□m□b□o□l□i□s□m□□ □-□ □D□i□a□g□r□a□m□s□ □f□o□r□ □C□o□n□t□r□a□c□t□e□d□ □C□h□a□i□n□s□ □a□n□d□ □A□s□s□u□m□p□t□i□o□n□s□□ □-□ □C□o□n□f□o□u□n□d□i□n□g□ □i□n□ □P□a□r□a□m□e□t□r□i□c□ □M□o□d□e□l□s□□ □-□ □M□o□d□e□l□s□ □w□i□t□h□ □C□o□r□r□e□l□a□t□e□d□ □C□a□u□s□e□s□ □o□r□ □I□n□d□i□r□e□c□t□ □E□f□f□e□c□t□s□□ □-□ □R□e□c□u□r□s□i□v□e□,□ □N□o□n□r□e□c□u□r□s□i□v□e□,□ □a□n□d□ □P□a□r□t□i□a□l□l□y□ □R□e□c□u□r□s□i□v□e□ □M□o□d□e□l□s□□ □-□ □D□e□t□a□i□l□e□d□ □E□x□a□m□p□l□e□□ □-□ □S□u□m□m□a□r□y□□ □-□ □L□e□a□r□n□ □M□o□r□e□□ □-□ □E□x□e□r□c□i□s□e□s□□ □-□ □A□p□p□e□n□d□i□x□ □7□.□a□.□ □A□d□v□a□n□c□e□d□ □T□o□p□i□c□s□ □i□n□ □P□a□r□a□m□e□t□r□i□c□ □M□o□d□e□l□s□□ □8□.□ □L□o□c□a□l□ □E□s□t□i□m□a□t□i□o□n□ □a□n□d□ □P□i□e□c□e□w□i□s□e□ □S□E□M□□ □-□ □R□a□t□i□o□n□a□l□e□ □o□f□ □L□o□c□a□l□ □E□s□t□i□m□a□t□i□o□n□□ □-□ □P□i□e□c□e□w□i□s□e□ □S□E□M□□ □-□ □D□e□t□a□i□l□e□d□ □E□x□a□m□p□l□e□□ □-□ □S□u□m□m□a□r□y□□ □-□ □L□e□a□r□n□ □M□o□r□e□□ □-□ □E□x□e□r□c□i□s□e□s□□ □9□.□ □G□l□o□b□a□l□ □E□s□t□i□m□a□t□i□o□n□ □a□n□d□ □M□e□a□n□ □S□t□r□u□c□t□u□r□e□s□□ □-□ □S□i□m□u□l□t□a□n□e□o□u□s□ □M□e□t□h□o□d□s□ □a□n□d□ □E□r□r□o□r□ □P□r□o□p□a□g□a□t□i□o□n□□ □-□ □M□a□x□i□m□u□m□ □L□i□k□e□l□i□h□o□o□d□ □E□s□t□i□m□a□t□i□o□n□□ □-□ □D□e□f□a□u□l□t□ □M□L□□ □-□ □A□n□a□l□y□z□i□n□g□ □N□o□n□n□o□r□m□a□l□ □D□a□t□a□□ □-□ □R□o□b□u□s□t□ □M□L□□ □-□ □F□I□M□L□ □f□o□r□ □I□n□c□o□m□p□l□e□t□e□ □D□a□t□a□ □v□e□r□s□u□s□ □M□u□l□t□i□p□l□e□ □I□m□p□u□t□a□t□i□o□n□□ □-□ □A□l□t□e□r□n□a□t□i□v□e□ □E□s□t□i□m□a□t□o□r□s□ □f□o□r□ □C□o□n□t□i□n□u□o□u□s□ □O□u□t□c□o□m□e□s□□ □-□ □F□i□t□t□i□n□g□ □M□o□d□e□l□s□ □t□o□ □C□o□r□r□e□l□a□t□i□o□n□ □M□a□t□r□i□c□e□s□□ □-□ □H□e□a□l□t□h□y□ □P□e□r□s□p□e□c□t□i□v□e□ □o□n□ □E□s□t□i□m□a□t□o□r□s□ □a□n□d□ □G□l□o□b□a□l□ □E□s□t□i□m□a□t□i□o□n□□ □-□ □D□e□t□a□i□l□e□d□ □E□x□a□m□p□l□e□□ □-□ □I□n□t□r□o□d□u□c□t□i□o□n□ □t□o□ □M□e□a□n□ □S□t□r□u□c□t□u□r□e□s□□ □-□ □P□r□&□e□a□c□u□t□e□;□c□i□s□ □o□f□ □G□l□o□b□a□l□ □E□s□t□i□m□a□t□i□o□n□□ □-□ □S□u□m□m□a□r□y□□ □-□ □L□e□a□r□n□ □M□o□r□e□□ □-□ □E□x□e□r□c□i□s□e□s□□ □-□ □A□p□p□e□n□d□i□x□ □9□.□a□.□ □T□y□p□e□s□ □o□f□ □I□n□f□o□r□m□a□t□i□o□n□ □M□a□t□r□i□c□e□s□ □a□n□d□ □C□o□m□p□u□t□e□r□ □O□p□t□i□o□n□s□□ □-□ □A□p□p□e□n□d□i□x□ □9□.□b□.□ □C□a□s□e□w□i□s□e□ □M□L□ □M□e□t□h□o□d□s□ □f□o□r□ □D□a□t□a□ □M□i□s□s□i□n□g□ □N□o□t□ □a□t□ □R□a□n□d□o□m□□ □1□0□.□ □M□o□d□e□l□ □T□e□s□t□i□n□g□ □a□n□d□ □I□n□d□e□x□i□n□g□□ □-□ □M□o□d□e□l□ □T□e□s□t□i□n□g□□ □-□ □M□o□d□e□l□ □C□h□i□-□S□q□u□a□r□e□□ □-□ □S□c□a□l□e□d□ □C□h□i□-□S□q□u□a□r□e□s□ □a□n□d□ □R□o□b□u□s□t□ □S□t□a□n□d□a□r□d□ □E□r□r□o□r□s□ □f□o□r□ □N□o□n□n□o□r□m□a□l□ □D□i□s□t□r□i□b□u□t□i□o□n□s□□ □-□ □M□o□d□e□l□ □F□i□t□ □I□n□d□e□x□i□n□g□□ □-□ □R□M□S□E□A□□ □-□ □C□F□I□□ □-□ □S□R□M□R□□ □-□ □T□h□r□e□s□h□o□l□d□s□ □f□o□r□ □A□p□p□r□o□x□i□m□a□t□e□ □F□i□t□ □I□n□d□e□x□e□s□□ □-□ □R□e□c□o□m□m□e□n□d□e□d□ □A□p□p□r□o□a□c□h□ □t□o□ □F□i□t□ □E□v□a□l□u□a□t□i□o□n□□ □-□ □G□l□o□b□a□l□ □F□i□t□ □S□t□a□t□i□s□t□i□c□s□ □f□o□r□ □t□h□e□ □D□e□t□a□i□l□e□d□ □E□x□a□m□p□l□e□□ □-□ □P□o□w□e□r□ □a□n□d□ □P□r□e□c□i

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisDesigning a study and writing up a research proposal takes time---often more time than actually conducting the study! This practical guide will save you time and frustration by walking you through every step of the process. For starters, it will help you hone in on a research topic---a huge (and hugely important) first step. Then it will guide you in developing the research question, designing the study, and choosing the best strategies for sampling and measurement. The figures, tables, and exhibits offer a wealth of examples and tools, including activities and worksheets to practice alone or in a study group. While many research design books focus on either qualitative or quantitative studies, this book presents a balanced discussion of the relative strengths and limitations of each, as well as differences in how validity is handled for each. No research study can be perfect or provide all the answers. In fact, the best studies result in more questions than answers. Trade Review“The chapters are organized around the choices students need to make, rather than the types of research and issues specific to each type—an important distinguishing feature that sets this book apart from other research methods text…. In the current environment of increasing interdisciplinarity, this text is very useful to students who find themselves coming to social science research from other disciplines, or to students in need of clear guidelines who do not have the time to complete another entire research methods course.” —ChoiceThe chapters are organized around the choices students need to make, rather than the types of research and issues specific to each type — an important distinguishing feature that sets this book apart from other research methods text…. In the current environment of increasing interdisciplinarity, this text is very useful to students who find themselves coming to social science research from other disciplines, or to students in need of clear guidelines who do not have the time to complete another entire research methods course. * Choice *Table of ContentsSeries Foreword Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Choosing Your Research Question and Hypotheses Chapter 3: Choosing Your Study’s Purpose Chapter 4: Choosing Whether to Use a Qualitative, Quantitative, or Mixed-Methods Approach Chapter 5: Understanding Terms for Quantitative Studies: Concepts, Constructs, and Variables Chapter 6: Choosing Your Design Chapter 7: Choosing Your Sample Chapter 8: Planning Your Measurement Strategy for Collecting Data Chapter 9: Establishing Validity for Quantitative Studies Chapter 10: Establishing Validity for Qualitative Studies Chapter 11: Conclusion Index About the Authors About the Series Editor

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis text provides a critique of the subjective Bayesian view of statistical inference, and proposes the author's own error-statistical approach as an alternative framework for the epistemology of experiment. It seeks to address the needs of researchers who work with statistical analysis.

Read more less

Book SynopsisToday''s societies require research approaches that are creative, sensitive to cultural and contextual diversity, rooted in engagement and critical dispositions, and situated within local contexts. Action research and evaluation are inquiries into and about human lives. Both modes generate actionable data in specific contexts to facilitate positive social change and to further social justice. This book explores the potential of integrating action research and evaluation frameworks to encourage knowledge democracy, data literacy, and ethical practices. The authors draw a clear connection between program enactment and program goals, investigating the processes of design, qualitative and quantitative data collection, and analysis, and mixed methods considerations. Key questions include: why is new research paradigm needed? How do we define data literacy? How do we understand equitable societies? Working from the belief that knowledge is created constantly in our world by those in real-world settings and practical contexts, Evaluation and Action Research provides practitioners with an accessible guide to better inform practice and decision making.Table of ContentsPreface Chapter 1. Evaluation/Action Research Integrated Framework: Participative and Collaborative Chapter 2. Determining a Purpose and a Focus Chapter 3. Getting Down to the Design: Determining Our Examination Main Questions and Appropriate Designs Chapter 4. Qualitative Data Collection/Quantitative Data Collection; Mixed-Methods Considerations Chapter 5. Ethical Challenges in Action Research and Evaluation: Reflecting on Tensions Interlude: Preface to Data Analysis and Informing Data Literacy Chapter 6. Qualitative Data Analysis Chapter 7. Quantitative Data Analysis Chapter 8. Mixed-Methods: Integrating Data Analyses to Gain Comprehensive Understanding of Problems, Contexts, and Stakeholder Needs Chapter 9. Revisiting Our Integrated Model: Focus on Facilitating Social Justice and Equitable Societies Glossary References

Read more less

Book SynopsisExamineseducation and social change in Scotlandthrough analysis of a unique series of historical social surveys.

Read more less

Book SynopsisInsights from four decades of survey research in the Middle EastTrade ReviewPublic Opinion in the Middle East . . . is a well-written compilation of public opinion research that reflects the past 30 to 40 years of political, social, and economic progression in the Middle East. More broadly, this text will be applicable to survey researchers whose populations of interest are hard to reach, reside in political situations that make research difficult, or are diverse in terms of religion, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity. * PUBLIC OPINION QUARTERLY *[T]his book is a standard reference for students interested in Middle East politics, since it displays the frontline of the study of political culture in the Islamic world. Because of recent political developments in the Arab world, this book is expected to be used as a reference for future studies. * The Developing Economies *This volume is a valuable scholarly entry. . . . [T]he essays in this anthology touch upon core thematic issues profoundly relevant to the study of Middle East politics. It is a worthy contribution. * Intl. Journal of Middle East Studies *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Public Opinion Research in the Arab and Muslim Middle EastPart One Domestic Politics1. Regime Orientation and Participant Citizenship in Developing Countries: Hypotheses and a Test with Longitudinal Data from Tunisia (1981) Mark Tessler and Patricia Freeman2. The Origins of Popular Support for Islamist Movements: A Political Economy Analysis (1997) Mark Tessler3. Islam and Democracy in the Middle East: The Impact of Religious Orientations on Attitudes toward Democracy in Four Arab Countries (2002) Mark Tessler 4. Political Generations in Developing Countries: Evidence and Insights from Algeria (2004) Mark Tessler, Carrie Konold and Megan Reif5. The Democracy Barometers: Attitudes in the Arab World (2008) Amaney Jamal and Mark Tessler Part Two Political Culture And Islam6. Political Culture in Turkey: Connections among Attitudes toward Democracy, the Military, and Islam (2004) Mark Tessler and Ebru Altinoglu7. Assessing the Influence of Religious Predispositions on Citizen Orientations Related to Governance and Democracy: Findings from Survey Research in Three Dissimilar Arab Societies (2006) Mark Tessler8. Democracy and the Political Culture Orientations of Ordinary Citizens: A Typology for the Arab World and Perhaps Beyond (2009) Mark Tessler and Eleanor GaoPart Three International Conflict9. Gender, Feminism, and Attitudes toward International Conflict: Exploring Relationships with Survey Data from the Middle East (1997) Mark Tessler and Ina Warriner10. Islam and Attitudes toward International Conflict: Evidence from Survey Research in the Arab World (1998) Mark Tessler and Jodi Nachtwey11. Further Tests of the Women and Peace Hypothesis: Evidence from Cross-National Survey Research in the Middle East (1999) Mark Tessler, Jodi Nachtwey and Audra Grant12. The Political Economy of Attitudes toward Peace among Palestinians and Israelis (2002) Jodi Nachtwey and Mark Tessler13. What Leads Some Ordinary Men and Women in Arab Countries to Approve of Terrorist Acts against the West: Evidence from Survey Research in Algeria and Jordan (2007) Mark Tessler and Michael D. H. RobbinsBibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisPraise for the first edition of Research into Practice and Research Methods for Nurses and the Caring Professions:These books provide a good introduction for the uninitiated to reading and doing research. Abbott and Sapsford provide a clearly written and accessible introduction to social research ... One of their aims is to 'de-mystify' research, and in this they succeed admirably... After reading the text and the articles in the reader, and working through the various research exercises, readers should have a clear appreciation of how to evaluate other people's research and how to begin their own.-David Field, Journal of Palliative MedicineThis book, now substantially revised in its second edition, is about the appreciation, evaluation and conduct of social research. Aimed at nurses, social workers, community workers and others in the caring professions, the book is particularly focused on research which evaluates and contributes to professional practice. The autTrade Review"This is an excellent introduction to the evaluation and conduct of research. It will continue to be required reading for students of health professional courses and for other practitioners new to research." - Journal of Nursing ManagementTable of ContentsPrefaceSection oneIntroductionFinding out and making senseSection twoAssessing researchReading research reportsReading open interview researchReading observation researchReading about controlled trialsReading survey researchReading secondary-source researchSection threeDoing researchUsing secondary sourcesSurvey researchdesign and samplingExperimental practiceOpen interviewingAnalysing textParticipant observationSection fourWriting upIn conclusionresearch into practiceGlossaryIndex.

Read more less

Book Synopsis"...an extremely welcome addition to the field of feminist research."British Journal of Educational StudiesThis is a clear and accessible exploration of feminist method, methodology and epistemology. After situating herself and her work, Gayle Letherby charts the debates concerned with the epistemological, political and practical issues involved in doing feminist research, and places the debates within a wider consideration of the status of knowledge. The main focus of the book is then the particular and practical issues for feminist researchers. It examines how the process of research affects the results of that research and explores the relation between politics and practice in terms of research and knowledge production. Throughout the book there is a practical emphasis on specific examples of feminist research in action and, as well as summarizing current theoretical debates, Gayle Letherby adds to them. Feminist Research in Theory and Practice is desiTable of ContentsAcknowledgements IntroductionEducating Rita revisited: knowledge and language in the 'male' academyUnited we stand? The feminist reconstruction of knowledgeDoing it for ourselves: feminist research as feminist theory in actionQuoting and counting: the qualitative/quantitative divideWhose life is it anyway? Issues of power, empowerment, ethics and responsibilityTexts of many lives: the implications for feminist researchClose encounters: presentations and audiencesReflectionsReferencesIndex.

Read more less

Book Synopsis* What is historical research in education?* How can researchers get started in this area?* Why does this field offer a common project for historians, educationists, and researchers across the social sciences?This book explores how to set about historical research in education. The first general guide of its kind for fifty years, the book locates this field in relation to changes in educational research, historical research, and a wide range of social sciences. It offers a theoretical guide to the rationales and problems of the field as well as to current opportunities for research. It also gives practical advice for getting started and for suitable research methods in different kinds of projects, and in doing so draws critically on extensive international literature. It includes detailed case studies on the following topics in historical research: Curriculum and Classrooms, Foucauldian Interpretations, the 'Alternative Road', Literacy in the Nineteenth Century,Trade Review"I Shall put this valuable study into the hands of any of my students writing on historical topics in education, since it is an intelligent, scholarly and eminently sensible introduction to the kind of methodological issues it is actually helpful to address - David PhillipsTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsGlossary of termsGetting startedWhat the textbooks say and what they don'tHistory or education?The challenge of the social sciencesUsing published sourcesMethodological issuesDesigning and carrying out a research projectReferencesIndex.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book argues for independent, critical research on education policy in the context of attacks on the quality and usefulness of educational research in general. It takes issue with the argument, promoted bygovernment departments and agencies that education policy research should be limited to work that assists policy-makers. Against this position, the book advocates independent, critical research that scrutinizes policy in relation to its consequences for equality and social justice. It argues that practitioners and academic researchers should form a research community that develops its own knowledge base from which so-called evidence based policymaking in education may be assessed and challenged. The book offers guidance on the theoretical and methodological resources available to practitioners and others with an interest in doing research on policy and discusses some of the main issues and problems in doing policy research on education. It offers examples of research oTable of ContentsResearching education policysome argumentsTeachers as a policy case in education researchTheory, values and policy research in educationThe context of policy researchResources for policy researchHistory and policy research in educationConclusioncontesting the future?BibliographyIndex.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt has long been recognised that life history method has a great deal to offer to those engaged in social research. Indeed, right from the start of the twentieth century, eminent sociologists such as W.I. Thomas, C. Wright Mills and Herbert Blumer have suggested that it is the best, the perfect, approach for studying any aspect of social life. In recent years, life history has become increasingly popular with researchers investigating educational topics of all kinds, including: teachers' perceptions and experiences of different areas of their lives and careers; curriculum and subject development; pedagogical practice; and managerial concerns. Life History Research in Educational Settings sets out to explore and consider the various reasons for this popularity and makes the case that the approach has a major and unique contribution to make to understandings of schools, schooling and educational experience however characterised. The book draws extensively on examples of life history reseTable of ContentsIntroductionDeveloping life historiesTechniques for doing life historyWhat have you got when you've got a life story?epistemological considerationsStudying teachers' life histories and professional practiceLife stories and social contextstorylines and scriptsQuestions of ethics and power in life history researchConfronting the dilemmasBibliographyIndex.

Read more less

Book Synopsis What can computer simulation contribute to the social sciences? Which of the many approaches to simulation would be best for my social science project? How do I design, carry out and analyse the results from a computer simulation? Interest in social simulation has been growing rapidly worldwide as a result of increasingly powerful hardware and software and also a rising interest in the application of ideas of complexity, evolution, adaptation and chaos in the social sciences. Simulation for the Social Scientist is a practical textbook on the techniques of building computer simulations to assist understanding of social and economic issues and problems. This authoritative book details all the common approaches to social simulation, to provide social scientists with an appreciation of the literature and allow those with some programming skills to create their own simulations. New for this edition:A new chapter on designing multi-agent Table of Contents1: Simulation and social science 2: Simulation as a method 3: Systems dynamics and world models 4: Microanalytical simulation models 5: Queuing models 6: Multilevel simulation models7: Cellular automata 8: Multi-agent models 9: Developing multi-agent systems 10: Learning and evolutionary models Appendix A (websites) Appendix B (Linear stability analysis of the hawk–dove–lawabider model) Appendix C (Random number generators)

Read more less

Book SynopsisEvery year a vast number of research studies and a myriad of other forms of âevidenceâ are produced that have potential to inform policy and practice. Synthesis provides a way of bringing together diverse kinds of evidence to bridge the so called âgapâ between evidence and policy. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the range of approaches and methods available for synthesising qualitative and quantitative evidence and a detailed explanation of why this is important. It does this by: Looking at the different types of review and examining the place of synthesis in reviews for policy and management decision making Describing the process of conducting and interpreting syntheses Suggesting questions which can be used to assess the quality of a synthesis Synthesising Qualitative and Quantitative Health Evidence is essential reading for students and professional researchers who need to assemble and synthesise findings and insights from multiple sourcTable of ContentsAbout the authors Preface Acknowledgements PART 1 The evidence review process Different types of evidence review Stages in reviewing evidence systematically PART 2 Methods for evidence synthesis Quantitative approaches to evidence synthesis Interpretive approaches to evidence synthesis Mixed approaches to evidence synthesis PART 3 The product of evidence synthesis Organising and presenting evidence synthesis Using evidence reviews for policy and decision-making Approaches and assessment: choosing different methods andconsidering quality Useful reading References Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis"The book provides a well written guide that adeptly captures the sensitivities and complex implications of both research process and dissemination within the ever changing and highly regulated world of social work."Victoria Foster,Research Associate, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work,University of Manchester, UK, in British Journal of Social Work June 2010"This book offers many practical examples of research projects taken from the author's own experience as a researcher. These examples illustrate the usually complex concepts of research methodology by showing how they are practised in the real world of social work, so the title is apt. Especially useful are the common features of social work research discussed at length in the final chapter, as a way of finding common ground in the disputed terrain of social work as a profession, and in social work research in particular."Heather D'Cruz, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin UniversityTable of ContentsIntroductionChapter 1 Drivers, demands and constraints in social work researchChapter 2'What works': evidence for practice?Chapter 3Critical perspectives: the view from outsideChapter 4Leading the Way? Social Work Research and Service UsersChapter 5From methodology to method: quantity and evidenceChapter 6Critical and interpretive approaches: what's going on here?Chapter 7Committed Research: models and methodsChapter 8Making it HappenChapter 9Putting It All TogetherChapter 10The Value of Social Work ResearchReferences

Read more less

Book Synopsis"This book makes the task of interpreting statistical findings much more approachable and less daunting for those with little, or no, previous experience, and will provide a valuable reference for the more experienced researcher. I would recommend it to any student undertaking a Nursing Research module."Conor Hamilton, Student Nurse, Queenâs University Belfast, UKNeed help interpreting other people's health research?This book offers guidance for students undertaking a critical review of quantitative research papers and will also help health professionals to understand and interpret statistical results within health-related research papers. The book requires little knowledge of statistics, includes worked examples and is broken into the following sections: A worked example of a published RCT and a health survey Explanations of basic statistical concepts Explanations of common statistical tests A quick guide to statistical terms and concTable of ContentsPart 1 Worked ExamplesThe randomised controlled trialThe Health survey Part 2 Interpreting statistical concepts Measuring variables: continuous, ordinal and categorical data Describing continuous data: The normal distribution Describing nonparametric dataMeasuring concepts: Validity and reliability Sampling data: Probability and non-probability samples Sample size: criteria for judging adequacy Testing hypotheses: what does p actually mean? Part 3 Statistical tests Introduction to inferential statistics Comparing two independent (unrelated) groups: independent (unrelated) t test, Mann-Whitney U test, contingency analysis- Fisher's exact test and Chi-square test Comparing three or more independent (unrelated) groups: One-way ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis test and Chi-square test Comparing two sets of related data: Matched pairs or single-sample repeated measures- related (paired) t test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, sign test and McNemar's test Complex group comparisons: ANOVA / ANCOVA, Friedman two-way ANOVA by ranks and Cochrane Q test Simple tests of association: Correlation and linear regression complex associations: Multiple and logistic regression Part 4 Quick reference guide I Framework for statistical review II Glossary of termsIII Guide to statistical symbols IV Overview of common statistical tests V Guide to the assumptions that underpin statistical tests VI Summary of statistical test selection and results VII Extracts from statistical tables

Read more less

Book Synopsis"The first edition of Researching Higher Education has been a very helpful resource for those trying to make sense of the field of higher education. Malcolm Tight has accomplished a tour de force by updating and expanding that edition. This volume includes up-to-date analyses of recent higher education publications and thoughtful reflections on methodology and theory in higher education research. Requisite reading for novices to the field, but also for the experienced researchers trying to keep abreast of the developments in the field."Professor Jeroen Huisman, Director International Centre for Higher Education Management, School of Management, University of Bath, UK"The most comprehensive overview of research on higher education available, Researching Higher Education provides a multidisciplinary perspective of the field. This book will be valuable for students thinking about research as well as anyone wanting a perspective on research directions on higherTable of ContentsPart 1: Recently published research on higher educationIntroductionJournalsBooksPart 2: Issues and approaches in researching higher educationResearching teaching and learningResearching course designResearching the student experienceResearching qualityResearching system policyResearching institutional managementResearching academic workResearching knowledge and researchPart 3: The process of researching higher educationMethod and methodology in researching higher educationTheory in higher education researchResearching higher education at different levelsThe process of researching References

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow can practice be understood and developed? What part can action research play in that process? What principles lie at the heart of action research and how can they be adopted? How can action research bring about democratic and collaborative changes to practice? These and other questions are answered in this book which offers both a practical step-by-step guide to action research and an examination of the underlying principles and challenges. Action research as an approach aims to generate knowledge and achieve principled change. This book explores the overarching features and a variety of models of action research to provide advice, guidance, and support on its conduct and to identify challenges that may arise, with a focus on understanding and changing practice as a result. Throughout the book examples of action research illustrate each of the stages of action research so that you can see how action research has been conducted and applied in praTable of ContentsIntroductionThe processes of action researchThe principles of action researchConnecting research and practiceIdentifying a focus for changeDeveloping a plan for action and researchManaging the implementation of changeEvaluating action researchConcluding action researchReflecting on action research

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn invaluable resource for health professionals and students engaged in research, this thoroughly updated edition provides a guide to the major measures of health and functioning. Measures of subjective health, well-being and quality of life are introduced along with analysis of their validity and reliability and the evidence for using each one. Throughout the book each measure is explained with a summary of how each one is scored and used, making this a one-stop guide to understanding health measurements, and the basic concepts behind measuring health, quality of life and well-being. â A new look and feel makes measures and scales easier to locateâ Further research and evidence provides a greater critique of the measures â Useful source information to help you access each measure with permissionâ The addition of new scales include the Warwick-Edinburgh Wellbeing Scale, the Older Peopleâs Quality of Life Scale and the Short-Form McGillTable of ContentsConcepts Of Functioning And Health, Well-Being And Quality Of LifeTheory Of MeasurementMeasuring Functional AbilityMeasuring Broader Health StatusMeasuring Psychological Well-BeingMeasuring Social Networks And Social SupportMeasuring The Dimensions Of Subjective Well-BeingMeasuring Broader Quality Of Life

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Teacher's Guide to Classroom Research 5E is a great 'one-stop' guide for trainee or qualified teachers looking to undertake classroom research.Through its friendly, supportive and authoritative approach, A Teacher's Guide to Classroom Research 5E tackles the big issues and questions of education research and offers a clear framework for doing classroom research. The updated fifth edition retains all the features that have made it so popular over the past thirty years - such as a rich range of insightful case studies demonstrating successful classroom research in practice - whilst offering expanded coverage of research methods and techniques.Key features include: How to get started on classroom research The principles and methods of classroom research for professional learning Interpreting and analyzing data Reporting classroom research Linking to teaching and learning Whether you are a trainee teacher undertaking some form of classroom-basTable of ContentsPreface to the fifth editionAcknowledgementsA teacher's guide to classroom researchClassroom research in actionWhy classroom research by teachers?Action research and classroom research by teachersDeveloping a focusPrinciples of classroom observationMethods of observation in classroom researchData gatheringAnalysing classroom research dataReporting classroom researchTeaching and learning as the heartland of classroom researchTeacher research, school improvement and system reformBibliographyIndex

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis anthology explains the basics of oral history, and how to make use of it in research. It includes a significant collection of classic readings by oral historians.

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisSurveys are used extensively in psychology, sociology and business, as well as many other areas, but they are becoming increasingly difficult to conduct. Some segments of the population are hard to sample, some are hard to find, others are hard to persuade to participate in surveys, and still others are hard to interview. This book offers the first systematic look at the populations and settings that make surveys hard to conduct and at the methods researchers use to meet these challenges. It covers a wide range of populations (immigrants, persons with intellectual difficulties, and political extremists) and settings (war zones, homeless shelters) that offer special problems or present unusual challenges for surveys. The team of international contributors also addresses sampling strategies including methods such as respondent-driven sampling and examines data collection strategies including advertising and other methods for engaging otherwise difficult populations.Trade Review'The challenge of doing research with rare and difficult to find populations is shared across all sectors of the research industry. This book offers the first comprehensive treatment of methods specifically designed to meet that challenge.' Reg Baker, Senior Consultant, Market Strategies International'Hard- to-Survey Populations fills a key gap in the survey methods literature. It will be relied upon by both novices and experts.' Stanley Presser, Distinguished University Professor, University of MarylandTable of ContentsPart I. Introduction: 1. Defining hard-to-survey populations; 2. Hard-to-survey populations in comparative perspective; 3. Measuring undercounts for hard-to-survey groups; 4. Counting and estimating hard-to-survey populations in the 2011 Census; 5. A review of quality issues associated with studying hard-to-survey populations; Part II. Conducting Surveys in Difficult Settings: 6. Disaster research: surveying displaced populations; 7. Conducting surveys in areas of armed conflict; 8. Interviewing in disaster-affected areas: lessons learned from post-Katrina surveys of New Orleans residents; 9. Reaching and enumerating homeless populations; 10. 'Where are our costumes?': The All Ireland Traveller Health Study - our Geels 2007–11; Part III. Conducting Surveys with Special Populations: 11. Representing the populations: what general social surveys can learn from surveys among specific groups; 12. Surveying cultural and linguistic minorities; 13. Challenges to surveying immigrants; 14. Ethnographic evaluations on coverage of hard-to-count minorities in US decennial censuses; 15. Methodological and ethical issues arising in carrying out research with children and young people; 16. Challenges in the first ever national survey of people with intellectual disabilities; 17. Conducting research on vulnerable and stigmatized populations; 18. Surveying political extremists; Part IV. Sampling Strategies for the Hard to Survey: 19. Probability sampling methods for hard-to-sample populations; 20. Recent developments of sampling hard-to-survey populations: an assessment; 21. Indirect sampling for hard-to-reach populations; 22. Sampling the Māori population using proxy screening, the Electoral Roll, and disproportionate sampling in the New Zealand Health Survey; 23. Network-based methods for accessing hard-to-survey populations using standard surveys; 24. Link-tracing and respondent-driven sampling; Part V. Data Collection Strategies for the Hard to Survey: 25. Use of paid media to encourage 2010 Census participation among the hard to count; 26. The hard to reach among the poor in Europe: lessons from Eurostat's EU-SILC survey in Belgium; 27. Tailored and targeted designs for hard-to-survey populations; 28. Standardization and meaning in the survey of linguistically diversified populations: insights from the ethnographic observation of linguistic minorities in 2010 Census interviews; 29. Mobilizing hard-to-survey populations to participate fully in censuses and surveys; 30. Finding the hard to reach and keeping them engaged in research.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe uncertainty that researchers face in specifying their estimation model threatens the validity of their inferences. In regression analyses of observational data, the ''true model'' remains unknown, and researchers face a choice between plausible alternative specifications. Robustness testing allows researchers to explore the stability of their main estimates to plausible variations in model specifications. This highly accessible book presents the logic of robustness testing, provides an operational definition of robustness that can be applied in all quantitative research, and introduces readers to diverse types of robustness tests. Focusing on each dimension of model uncertainty in separate chapters, the authors provide a systematic overview of existing tests and develop many new ones. Whether it be uncertainty about the population or sample, measurement, the set of explanatory variables and their functional form, causal or temporal heterogeneity, or effect dynamics or spatial depenTrade Review'Neumayer and Plümper have made an impressive contribution to research methodology. Rich in innovation and insight, Robustness Tests for Quantitative Research shows social scientists the way forward for improving the quality of inference with observational data. A must-read!' Harold D. Clarke, Ashbel Smith Professor, University of Texas, DallasTable of Contents1. Introduction; Part I. Robustness – A Conceptual Framework: 2. Causal complexity and the limits to inferential validity; 3. The logic of robustness testing; 4. The concept of robustness; 5. A typology of robustness tests; 6. Alternatives to robustness testing?; Part II. Robustness Tests and the Dimensions of Model Uncertainty: 7. Population and sample; 8. Concept validity and measurement; 9. Explanatory and omitted variables; 10. Functional forms beyond default; 11. Causal heterogeneity and context conditionality; 12. Structural change as temporal heterogeneity; 13. Effect dynamics; 14. Spatial correlation and dependence; 15. Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRobustness testing allows researchers to explore the stability of estimates to alternative plausible model specifications. This book explains why robustness tests help researchers to deal with model uncertainty in quantitative research. With little technical knowledge required, it will be relevant to all social scientists as well as graduate students.Trade Review'Neumayer and Plümper have made an impressive contribution to research methodology. Rich in innovation and insight, Robustness Tests for Quantitative Research shows social scientists the way forward for improving the quality of inference with observational data. A must-read!' Harold D. Clarke, Ashbel Smith Professor, University of Texas, DallasTable of Contents1. Introduction; Part I. Robustness – A Conceptual Framework: 2. Causal complexity and the limits to inferential validity; 3. The logic of robustness testing; 4. The concept of robustness; 5. A typology of robustness tests; 6. Alternatives to robustness testing?; Part II. Robustness Tests and the Dimensions of Model Uncertainty: 7. Population and sample; 8. Concept validity and measurement; 9. Explanatory and omitted variables; 10. Functional forms beyond default; 11. Causal heterogeneity and context conditionality; 12. Structural change as temporal heterogeneity; 13. Effect dynamics; 14. Spatial correlation and dependence; 15. Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisResearch Methods and Statistics in Psychology provides a seamless introduction to the subject, identifying various research areas and analyzing how one can approach them statistically. The text provides a solid empirical foundation for undergraduate psychology majors, and it prepares the reader to think critically and evaluate psychological research and claims they might hear in the news or popular press. This second edition features updated examples of research and new illustrations of important principles. It also includes updated coverage of ethical issues in research and of current diversity issues.Table of ContentsPreface; Part I. Understanding Research: 1. Psychology, science, and life; 2. Ethics in research; 3. Planning research: generating a research question; 4. Practical issues in planning your research; Part II. Basic Experimental Research and Data Analysis: 5. Organizing data with descriptive statistics; 6. Conducting an experiment: general principles; 7. Experimental methods; 8. Basic inferential statistics; 9. Looking for differences between two treatments; Part III. Advanced Research and Data Analysis: 10. Looking for differences among multiple treatments; 11. Multiple independent variables: factorial designs; Part IV. Nonexperimental Research Designs: 12. Principles of survey research; 13. Correlation, regression, and non-parametric tests; Part V. Culture and Research: 14. People are different: considering cultural and individual differences in research; Appendix A. Writing a research report; Appendix B. Statistics review; Appendix C. Statistical tables; References; Author index; Subject index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTwo aspects of contemporary urban life in Africa are often described as sources of political change: the emergence of a large urban middle class and high levels of ethnic diversity and inter-ethnic social contact. Many expected that these factors would help spark a transition away from ethnic competition and clientelism toward more programmatic elections. Focusing on urban Ghana, this book shows that the growing middle class and high levels of ethnic diversity are not having the anticipated political effects. Instead, urban Ghana is stuck in a trap: clientelism and ethnic voting persist in many urban neighborhoods despite changes to the socio-economic characteristics and policy preferences of voters. Through a unique examination of intra-urban variation in patterns of electoral competition, Nathan explains why this trap exists, demonstrates its effects on political behavior, and explores how new democracies like Ghana can move past it.Trade Review'Noah L. Nathan's book is certain to become a classic study. It represents the very best among a new generation of scholarship focused on Africa's major transformations - demographic, economic, and political. Drawing on empirically rich and methodologically sophisticated analyses, Nathan convincingly explains why ethnic voting and clientelistic politicking continue to thrive in Africa's rapidly growing cities. This is the go-to book for understanding politics in urban Africa.' Leonardo R. Arriola, Director of the Center for African Studies, University of California, Berkeley'In this incisive and important book, Nathan explains why vast changes in demographic and class distribution that accompany urbanization have not produced programmatic policies or improved resource allocation. This rigorous and theoretically rich study is a must-read for connecting the political behavior of politicians and voters in the context of urban Africa.' Rachel Beatty Riedl, Northwestern University'Urbanization is one of the most important trends in contemporary Africa, yet its implications for politics remain poorly understood. Noah L. Nathan's excellent and deeply illuminating book begins to fill this critical gap. Exploiting variation in outcomes across different parts of urban Ghana, Nathan shows that the rise of an urban middle class often fails to move politics away from clientelism and that the ethnic heterogeneity of urban spaces often does little to diminish the importance of ethnicity in electoral politics. For those wanting to understand the dynamics of politics in Africa today, Electoral Politics and Africa's Urban Transition is essential reading.' Daniel N. Posner, James S. Coleman Professor of International Development, University of California, Los Angeles'In an era of booming research on Sub-Saharan Africa, Nathan has marked himself as one of the truly outstanding young scholars of the region. In this book, he throws sand in the gears of the standard account linking the growth of the middle class to the shift from clientelistic to programmatic politics by developing a rich argument with important implications for local party strategies, voter turnout and voting behavior. Nathan skillfully tests those implications with an impressive mix of original quantitative and qualitative data that he gathers across neighborhoods and census tracts in Accra. The careful attention to electoral geography provides big analytical and empirical payoffs, and this book is sure to draw wide attention from scholars of clientelism, party competition, urban politics and Sub-Saharan Africa.' Erik Wibbels, Robert O. Keohane Professor of Political Science, Duke University'In recent years, as the urban population of Ghana has burgeoned, it has become more ethnically diverse, and its middle class has grown both in wealth and in size. Contrary to the expectations of many, its politicians continue to champion ethnic appeals and distribute private benefits. In this book, Noah L. Nathan asks why so little has changed. While addressing this question, he skillfully combines ethnographic and quantitative evidence and the studies of urban migration in the industrial west. Smart, honest, and learned: this is a deeply thoughtful book.' Robert H. Bates, Eaton Professor of the Science of Government, Harvard University'Most observers of electoral politics in poor countries argue that higher incomes would create an urban middle class that would then eschew the parochial considerations of poor rural voters and demand universalistic policies to improve the general welfare. Nathan's careful deconstruction of electoral politics in Accra, Ghana's increasingly prosperous capital, shows one instance in which the theory does not hold … He argues that the low capacity of the Ghanaian state, the huge unmet demand for state resources, and the presence in Accra of many poor recent migrants from the countryside all push politicians to continue their successful past strategies.' Foreign Affairs'Taken as a whole, Nathan's book makes important contributions to our understanding of the impact of one of the most important structural developments in the developing world.' Donghyun Danny Choi, GovernanceTable of ContentsPart I. Introduction: 1. Urban politics in a trap; 2. Urban Ghana in context; Part II. The Middle Class and Programmatic Politics: 3. Class and preferences; 4. Credibility, patronage, and participation; Part III. Neighborhoods and Ethnic Competition: 5. Ethnic competition across neighborhoods; 6. Distributive politics in urban areas; 7. Neighborhood context, expectations of favoritism, and voting; Part IV. Implications for Urban Governance; 8. Turnout inequality and capture in municipal elections; 9. Paths out of the trap?; Bibliography; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAll social and policy researchers need to synthesize data into a visual representation. Producing good visualizations combines creativity and technique. This book teaches the techniques and basics to produce a variety of visualizations, allowing readers to communicate data and analyses in a creative and effective way. Visuals for tables, time series, maps, text, and networks are carefully explained and organized, showing how to choose the right plot for the type of data being analysed and displayed. Examples are drawn from public policy, public safety, education, political tweets, and public health. The presentation proceeds step by step, starting from the basics, in the programming languages R and Python so that readers learn the coding skills while simultaneously becoming familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of each visualization. No prior knowledge of either Python or R is required. Code for all the visualizations are available from the book''s website.Trade Review'Sometimes social science students understand the value of data visualization, but they are wary of the costs of mastering high-tech approaches. Professor Magallanes is the answer to this problem. This text skillfully articulates a step-by-step guide for using two of the most powerful tools in a data scientist's toolbox: R and Python. Professor Magallanes has a talent for simplifying the complicated, and honing in on the most important components of telling stories with data. This book is an essential resource for anyone whose regular habits of making graphs involve searching for someone else's code chunks on the Internet. With this book, we can all stop Googling and start graphing.' Jennifer Nicoll Victor, Professor of Political Science, George Mason University'José Manuel Magallanes Reyes is back at it again with his unique approach of simultaneously introducing users to computational social science programming in both R and Python. The approach allows readers not just to 'learn a language', but rather to learn the key conceptual ideas behind programming and computational social science. With his first volume having tackled data collection and statistical analysis, it was an absolute pleasure to see him turn his approach to the all-important subject of data visualization in this text. Having recommended his previous book to countless numbers of students, I am absolutely thrilled to now have a second volume to share as well!' Joshua A. Tucker, Professor of Politics and Co-Director, Center for Social Media and Politics, New York University'Professor Magallanes cuts directly to the heart of the matter, quickly and clearly imparting the concepts and skills that a modern social science researcher needs to communicate complex data relationships. He leads the reader through a wide variety of visualization approaches using a conversational style and systematic approach.' Dr. Timothy Gulden, Senior Policy Researcher, RAND Corporation'A wise professor once told me, 'If there is something you want your audience to remember, put it in a figure.' This timely volume will show you how, with copious examples drawn from extensive experience in social and policy research.' Abraham D. Flaxman, Professor of Global Health at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington'Information literacy demands that we convey data in digestible, visually appealing plots and graphs. However, even advanced quantitative researchers often lack the tools to produce effective visualizations of the data they work with. This is where Magallanes' book comes in. With his characteristic narrative – a meticulous but nimble prose, chock full of illustrative examples – Magallanes guides inexperienced and sophisticated readers alike through easy-to-grasp data visualizations. His presentation of geospatial and network data visualizations alone makes this an invaluable go-to reference for those working in R and Python.' Guillermo Rosas, Professor of Political Science, Washington University in St. Louis'Surviving the current deluge of social science data is only possible with novel computational analysis and machine learning techniques. Among the many approaches currently in vogue, none is more important than human visualization of data, whether in raw form, suitably plotted, or else transformed in some way meaningful to the problem at hand. Professor Magallanes' new book offers a wide range of general approaches and explicit code for developing modern data visualizations. It will be an important addition to the library of every social scientist and policy researcher contending with the flood of new data.' Robert Axtell, Professor of Computational Social Science, Department of Computational and Data Sciences, and Department of Economics, George Mason University'José Manuel Magallanes Reyes' Data Visualization for Social and Policy Research is an outstanding and greatly needed resource in a rapidly expanding area of academic and applied data analysis and empirical methodology. The guided instruction is accessible to novice users and soon has us producing powerful visualizations from simple univariate, bivariate, multivariate, geospatial, and social-media text data.' Robert J. Franzese Jr., Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Political Science, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Fellow and former President, The Society for Political Methodology''A picture is worth a thousand words.' Nowhere is this more the case than when presenting data to policymakers in order to guide decision-making. In this book, José Manuel Magallanes Reyes shows us how, drawing upon his extensive background in social science, public policy, data science, analytics, and teaching visualization to undergraduate and graduate students in political science and public policy.' Ed Lazowska, Professor, and Bill & Melinda Gates Chair Emeritus, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, Founding Director of the eScience Institute, University of WashingtonTable of Contents1. Introduction; Part I. Get Started: 2. Data for plotting; 3. Visualization basics; Part II. Visualizing Tabular Data: 4. Insights from ONE variable; 5. Insights from TWO variables; 6, Insights from THREE or more variables; Part III. Beyond Tabular Data: 7. Geospatial data; 8. Data from the social network.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSocial networks are ubiquitous. The science of networks has shaped how researchers and society understand the spread of disease, the precursors of loneliness, the rise of protest movements, the causes of social inequality, the influence of social media, and much more. Egocentric analysis conceives of each individual, or ego, as embedded in a personal network of alters, a community partially of their creation and nearly unique to them, whose composition and structure have consequences. This volume is dedicated to understanding the history, present, and future of egocentric social network analysis. The text brings together the most important, classic articles foundational to the field with new perspectives to form a comprehensive volume ideal for courses in network analysis. The collection examines where the field of egocentric research has been, what it has uncovered, and where it is headed.Trade Review'Much of the world thinks in terms of village-like groups and individuals, when in reality they're operating in social networks. That's why the Covid-19 virus spreads so quickly. Few people live in tight bubbles – they maneuver among overlapping partial networks of friends, family, neighbors, schools, and work. This myth-busting book is a masterpiece – brilliantly showing the impact of personal networks in our lives. Its unique format shows the path-breaking development of the network perspective – by linking classic readings and current research into community, cognition, culture, social capital, social movements, work, inequality, and social media.' Barry Wellman, FRSC'Personal Networks is an exemplary collection and a signal contribution to the field of social network analysis. The introduction provides both an overview for the novice and a synthesis that will interest even veteran network scholars. The classic works are impeccably chosen, with astute excerpting for undergraduate syllabi and substantial and definitive commentaries by leading contemporary authors. More recent classics are equally well chosen – I assign almost all of them in my graduate or undergraduate classes – and the extensive and engaging commentaries, in most cases by the original authors, represent valuable overviews in their own right. The papers in the final section likewise add value by reviewing research and developing theory on central fields of sociology to which the study of personal networks contributes. Personal Networks not only aggregates the main ideas in its area, it integrates them, defining a field and a research agenda. It will be an indispensable resource for anyone teaching a graduate or undergraduate course in social network analysis, a one-stop shopping experience for graduate students taking exams in this field, and a source of insight for any scholar working in this area.' Paul DiMaggio, NYUTable of ContentsPart I. Background; Introduction; Part II. Early Foundations; 1. From Simmel, 'On the Significance of Numbers for Social Life: Introduction,' 'The Isolated Individual and the Dyad,' 'The Triad,' and The Web of Group Affiliations: Commentary, 'Georg Simmel's Contribution to Social Network Research'; 2. From Katz and Lazarsfeld, Personal Influence: Commentary, 'Influencers, Backfire Effects and the Power of the Periphery'; 3. From Mitchell, 'The Concept and Use of Social Networks': Commentary, 'On J. Clyde Mitchell's 'The Concept and Use of Social Networks''; 4. From Bott, 'Urban Families: Conjugal Roles and Social Networks': Commentary, 'Commentary on Bott's 'Family and Social Network''; 5. From Festinger, Schachter, and Back, Social Pressures in Informal Groups: Commentary, 'Festinger, Schachter, and Back's Social Pressures in Informal Groups'; 6. From Bernard et al., 'The Problem of Informant Accuracy': Commentary, 'Implications of Informant Accuracy Research for Ego Networks'; 7. From White, Identity and Control: Commentary, 'On Parachutes and Lion-Taming'; Part III. Later Foundations; 8. From Fischer, To Dwell among Friends: Commentary, 'From the Northern California Community Study, 1977–78, to UCNets, 2015–20'; 9. From Granovetter, 'The Strength of Weak Ties': Commentary, 'Strength of Weak Ties in the Labor Market: An Assessment of the State of Research'; 10. From Wellman and Wortley, 'Different Strokes from Different Folks': Commentary, 'A Network Pilgrim's Progress: Twenty-Six Realizations in Fifty-Five Years'; 11. From Coleman, 'Social Capital in the Creation of Human Capital': Commentary, 'Three Decades of Research into Social Capital: Achievements, Blind Spots, and Future Directions'; 12. From Pescosolido, 'Beyond Rational Choice': Commentary, 'Confronting How People Cope with Crisis: From the Social Organization Strategy Framework to the Network Episode Model to the Network Embedded Symbiome'; 13. From Feld, 'The Focused Organization of Social Ties': Commentary, 'Reflections On 'The Focused Organization of Social Ties' and Its Implications for Bonding and Bridging' 14. From Burt, Structural Holes: Commentary, 'Structural Holes Capstone, Cautions, and Enthusiasms'; 15. From Laumann, Marsden, and Prensky, 'The Boundary Specification Problem in Network Analysis': Commentary, 'On the Boundary Specification Problem in Network Analysis: An Update and Extension to Personal Social Networks'; 16. From McPherson, Smith-Lovin, and Cook, 'Birds of a Feather': Commentary, 'The Enormous Flock of Homophily Researchers: Assessing and Promoting a Research Agenda'; 17. From Huckfeldt and Sprague, 'Networks in Context': Commentary, 'Individuals, Groups, and Networks: Implications for the Study and Practice of Democratic Politics'; 18. From Nan Lin, 'Building a Network Theory of Social Capital' Commentary, 'Social Capital: An Update'; 19. On the General Social Survey: 'Egocentric Network Studies within the General Social Survey: Measurement Methods, Substantive Findings, and Methodological Research'; Part IV. New Perspectives; 20. On Cognition: 'Network Representation Capacity: How Social Relationships are Represented in Human Mind'; 21. On Mobilization: 'How Actors Mobilize their Networks in Practice'; 22. On Trust: 'Self-Verification, Trust, and Social Capital Mobilization'; 23. On Dynamics: 'Personal Network Dynamics: Organizing Principles of Stability and Change from Complex Systems Theory'; 24. On Inequality: 'The Context of Network Inequality'; 25. On Culture: 'The Problem of Culture Flows in Weak Ties'; 26. On Migration: 'Personal Networks and Migration Trajectories'; 27. On Movements: 'The Opportunities and Challenges of Studying Social Movement Ego-Networks: Online and Offline'; 28. On Social Media: 'Studying Social Media from an Ego-Centric Perspective'.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA comprehensive introduction and teaching resource for state-of-the-art Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) using R software. This guide facilitates the efficient teaching, independent learning, and use of QCA with the best available software, reducing the time and effort required when encountering not just the logic of a new method, but also new software. With its applied and practical focus, the book offers a genuinely simple and intuitive resource for implementing the most complete protocol of QCA. To make the lives of students, teachers, researchers, and practitioners as easy as possible, the book includes learning goals, core points, empirical examples, and tips for good practices. The freely available online material provides a rich body of additional resources to aid users in their learning process. Beyond performing core analyses with the R package QCA, the book also facilitates a close integration with the R package SetMethods allowing for a host of additional protocols forTrade ReviewIn a relatively short, clear, and well-written textbook, the authors cover all the essentials of QCA. It includes all the current practices and developments that one needs to do a complete QCA analysis. I am using it in my QCA class and I think the students will like it. Gary Goertz, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre DameThis book is simply a must for anyone aiming at exploiting 'hands on' the distinctive analytic leverage of QCA, via the vast possibilities of the R environment. Benoît Rihoux, University of Louvain and COMPASSS global network (compasss.org)Every now and then, a book comes along of which you think 'why wasn't this around when I was learning this stuff?'. Because sometimes, you just want to learn from the best. The authors have written an excellent guide for both first-time users and experienced QCA scholars: robust, powerful, and a must-read. Bart Cambré, Antwerp Management SchoolEasily accessible and loaded with a wealth of examples, this important book by Oana, Schneider, and Thomann provides an expert guide to the set-analytic perspective. The integration of concepts and research strategies with the R software package makes their approach particularly successful. I expect it will quickly become the standard introduction to QCA. Peer C. Fiss, University of Southern CaliforniaSocial scientists interested in QCA should not miss this book. Oana, Schneider, and Thomann offer an introduction to QCA that is friendly, up to date, and technically advanced. The volume covers set relations, calibration of “crisp” and “fuzzy” sets, necessary conditions, sufficient configurations, temporality, advanced diagnostics, and post-QCA tools. Each chapter contains intuitive examples, advanced tips, and detailed implementation instructions in R. Aníbal Pérez-Liñán , University of Notre DameTable of ContentsPart I. Getting started: Introduction: QCA in a nutshell; Part II. Before the analytic moment: 2. Calibrating and combining sets; Part III. During the analytic moment: 3. Necessary conditions; 4. Sufficient conditions; Part IV. After the analytic moment: 5. Rounding up solid a QCA; 6. Post-QCA tools; 7. Summary and outlook.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Colombian Civil Society Organizations have changed in the last years. Chapter One presents grouping transformations of these organisations, considering which socio-economic and political aspects suffered from late XIX Century until the XX Century in Colombia, have changed governments agendas, transforming their functional perspectives. Chapter Two highlights the most common challenges related to social determinants of health in selected slum areas in Amman and Aqaba and Suggesting policy directions and interventions so as to meet these challenges. Chapter Three examines the determinants of poverty in urban slums in four secondary cities of Bangladesh (i.e., Tongi, Jessore, Mymensingh and Dinajpur) based on a census survey of 33,049 households using a probit model. Chapter Four employs phenomenological ethnography in order to examine the conditions that allow children to play with the toddler version of the German toy-making company Playmobil 1.2.3. Chapter Five questions conciliation policies, considering them as perverse effects which consequences strengthen the inequality between men and women in the labor market, and claims that inequality between men and women in the labor market intersects with other social inequalities. Chapter Six examines the Work Outcome Preferences among men and women according to organisational status. Chapter Seven characterises womens contraceptive choice by accounting for individual characteristics that theoretically shape this decision and testing empirically what characteristics are significant.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisPoverty estimatesthe number and percentage of persons living in povertyhave been of interest to Congress not only to gauge the nations economic health, but also because they are used to determine funding allocations for a variety of programs. Chapter 1 provides a synopsis of poverty measurement in the United States, focusing on the following: the official measure of poverty, which is used to obtain official counts and percentages of the poor; the Supplemental Poverty Measure, which is used for research purposes only and was developed to improve upon some limitations of the official measure; and the Health and Human Services (HHS) poverty guidelines, which are used in administering programs for low-income persons but not to measure the poor population. In chapter 2, the numbers and percentages of those in poverty are given based on the Census Bureaus estimates. It also presents a historical perspective as well as information on poverty for demographic groups (by family structure, age, race and Hispanic origin, and work status) and by state. The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) is a measure of economic deprivationhaving insufficient financial resources to achieve a specified standard of living. Chapter 3 describes the SPM, how it was developed, how it differs from the official poverty measure, and the insights it can offer. Chapter 4 explains why targeting funds to persistent poverty counties might be of interest, how persistent poverty is defined and measured and how different interpretations of the definition and different data source selections could yield different lists of counties identified as persistently poor. Our current welfare system is failing to deliver results for those that need it most. The current system is a disjointed maze of more than 80 different programs. We need a system that provides more Americans with personalized solutions, real paths out of poverty, and better opportunities to realize their potential, as detailed in chapter 5.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAdvances in Sociology Research. Volume 29 first presents a critical review of the major theoretical approaches to the study of voluntary homicide. One such group of theories refers to the so-called structural perspective, which argues that the killing of one person by another must be interpreted in the broader context of the social structure. Another group of theories refers to culture whereas some people engage in homicides mainly because they hold facilitative attitudes or values transmitted by their subcultures. Lastly, the chapter devotes space to the theories referring to the symbolic interactionist approach, which emphasizes the importance of the interaction between the perpetrator and victim of homicides. Next, the first research findings of the EU funded project Local Alliance for Integration in the field of healthcare and social care at a national level are presented, drawing upon the empirical findings of one focus group with local stakeholders in the field of healthcare and social care. Additionally, cyberbullying through social media among youth is examined through multidisciplinary qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-design research methodologies from psychology, sociology, social work, and criminology. The authors describe a project set up in East London that assessed the use of music technology as one of the primary tools in an extra-curricular music programmes, and outline its primary findings with specific reference to its potential effect on children's social behaviours. Online risks children may encounter are examined, including content risk such as online video games and contact risk related to sexting and sexual solicitation. The importance of awareness and education is emphasised along with future directions to ensure children are protected while participating in the online space. The penultimate chapter looks at how the greater part of female models are being shown in agreeable, subordinate and sexualized ways using nude, half-clad appearances of men and women. The unrealistic image portrayals in these advertisements could be inherently dangerous. The closing article discusses dilemmas of understanding the individual, presented through a scene from Monty Python's Life of Brian. The speech which Brian delivers to his assembled followers and the reactions to it display typical conceptual problems arising in both the Enlightenment's "ideology of individualism" and its arguable follow-up, the Romantic favoring of "individuality".

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this book, there are 25 chapters, each of which is an empirical analysis of either statewide data such as Texas or national data such as the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten. Each chapter contains an empirical analysis of contemporary issues in education today such as inequities in discipline consequences by student ethnicity/race, economic status, poverty, and gender; persistence rates of Black and Hispanic students in community colleges; academic achievement performance differences by ethnicity/race, economic status, and gender; and college-readiness rates of students.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow much should we trust the polls on the latest electoral campaign? When a physician tells us that a diagnosis of cancer is 90% certain or a nutritionist tells us what is healthy to eat, what should we believe? Questions such as these are greatly important, yet many of us have only a vague sense of how to answer them. In Is That a Fact?, Mark Battersby aims not only to explain how to identify misleading statistics and research, but also to give readers the understanding necessary to evaluate and use statistical information in their own decision making. This second edition is revised and updated throughout and includes a new chapter on weighing risk in personal and public decision making.Trade ReviewPraise for Is That A Fact:“Is That a Fact? is conceived as an updating for the Internet Age of Darrell Huff’s immensely popular 1954 classic, How to Lie with Statistics, with a somewhat broader focus…. Huff’s book has sold more than a million copies. Is That a Fact? deserves a similarly large readership.” — David Hitchcock, McMaster University, in Informal Logic“Using timely and important examples, Professor Battersby provides a careful and well-documented discussion of statistics, and does this without sacrificing liveliness or readability. Is That a Fact? is a fascinating book about statistics to give to all your friends.” — Trudy Govier, University of Lethbridge“A delightful discussion that beautifully clarifies what is all too often confusing or just plain confused. The book will help ordinary citizens to better understand and evaluate all sorts of scientific claims as they occur in the popular press and public policy debates. Hats off to Mark Battersby!” — Harvey Siegel, University of Miami“Mark Battersby’s Is That a Fact? is not a statistics book, but rather a book that will help thoughtful people to better notice the actual grounds (or lack thereof) of claims they are called upon or inclined to believe. This second edition adds new material (such as that on internet polling) and new and better graphics.” — David Weber, Portland State University“One of the intellectual currents of our time has been a revolution in the study of reasoning and argument. Philosophers and other academics have broadened their horizons and turned their attention to the study and analysis of the reasoning, arguments, and attempts at persuasion that inundate our lives. Mark Battersby has been an integral part of the movement in this direction. In Is That a Fact? he provides an engaging and thoroughly readable introduction to critical thinking on statistical and scientific claims. It can usefully inform the thinking of everyone who has to contend with such claims in their professional or personal lives.” — Leo Groarke, President of Trent UniversityTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroductionCHAPTER 1: How to Li(v)e with Statistics: Why We Need to Think about Statistical and Scientific InformationCHAPTER 2: Introduction to Critical ThinkingCHAPTER 3: Polling: The BasicsCHAPTER 4: Sampling Woes and Other BiasesCHAPTER 5: The Facts Ma’am, Nothing but the Facts: Getting Good DataCHAPTER 6: Making Sense of Data: What Does It All Mean?CHAPTER 7: The Power of GraphsCHAPTER 8: Correlations: What Goes with What?CHAPTER 9: Finding the Cause: Evaluating Causal ClaimsCHAPTER 10: Evaluating Scientific Claims: Looking at the ContextCHAPTER 11: Using What You’ve Learned: Finding and Evaluating Scientific InformationCHAPTER 12: Probability and JudgementCHAPTER 13: Studies Show, But So What?CHAPTER 14: Decision Making Examples: Individual Risk and Uncertainty and Public PolicyGlossaryIndex

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less