Description
Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPreface
Acknowledgments
1 Why Research?
Why Research
What Is Research?
Classifying Research
Impediments to Conducting Sound Research
How Can We Make Research Interesting and Persuasive?
The Research Process
Final Words
2 Developing Research Questions
Selecting a Topic
From Topic to Research Question
Refining Research Questions
An Example
Final Words
3 Data
What Are Data?
Sources of Data
From Concepts to Variables
Forms of Data
Final Words
4 Principles of Data Management
Codebooks
Documentation
Coding
Data Cleaning and Screening
Naming Conventions
Principles of File Management
Final Words
5 Finding and Using Secondary Data
Types of Secondary Data
Why Use Secondary Data?
Sources of Secondary Data
Examples of Searching for, Downloading, and Importing Data
A Simple Test of the Conceptual Model
The Pew Research Center Data
Final Words
6 Primary and Administrative Data
Principles for Primary Data
Administrative Data and Linking Datasets
Final Words
7 Working with Missing Data
Why Are Missing Data a Problem?
Reasons for Missing Data
Types of Missing Data
Forms and Patterns of Missing Data
Addressing Missing Data in the Analysis Stage
Finals Words
8 Principles of Data Presentation
Presenting Data
Visual Images
First Principles: Clarity, Precision, and Efficiency
Why Words Are Not Enough
Types of Tables and Graphics
Principles of Data Presentation
Final Words
9 Designing Tables for Data Presentations
Table or Graphic?
Tables
Examples of Tables
Final Words
10 Designing Graphics for Data Presentations
Graphics
Examples of Graphics
Where to Next?
Final Words
Appendix: Introduction to Statistical Software
Stata
SPSS
SAS
R
Final Words
References
Index
