Taking the Fear Out of Data Analysis provides readers with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand, perform, and interpret quantitative data analysis effectively. Acknowledging that people often dislike statistics and quantitative methods, this book illustrates that statistical reasoning can be a fun and intuitive part of our lives. Key Features: Split into three sections covering how to understand data, preparing data for analysis and carrying out the analysis Blends theory with practical examples in a logical and straightforward manner to guide readers in making sense of statistical inference Offers universal knowledge that can be applied to a variety of software applications with limited technical complexity to aid the learning process Short and concise chapters focusing on the essence of the topics covered, such as analytical techniques that are typically used in behavioral and social science research Significantly revised and updated, this textbook is an essential text for both undergraduate and postgraduate students in fields such as information systems, international business and marketing. It will also be beneficial for practitioners involved in data science, data analytics, and market research.

Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. This exciting Research Agenda expertly addresses the question: What will be important within the family business field and for family businesses in practice over the next decade? Top international contributors explore farsighted theories, methods and topics, often taking a multi-disciplinary approach in order to outline the potential routes for further advancing family business research. Chapters cover the significance of new family trends, entrepreneurial legacy, board diversity, spatial-familiness, corruption, innovation and digital business transformation, challenging core assumptions surrounding the family business phenomenon and mapping the future of the discipline. A Research Agenda for Family Business will prove a stimulating read for family business and entrepreneurship scholars, as well as academics focusing on strategy, HR, organizational behaviour and corporate governance. Practitioners will also find this book valuable for reflecting on challenges that they are facing and navigating developments in the family business field.

The growing diversity of contemporary paid work has provoked increased interest in understanding and evaluating the quality of working lives. This Handbook provides critical reflections on recent research in the field, including examining the inextricable links between working life and well-being. The Handbook offers comprehensive support to researchers working in quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods traditions. Drawing from an international evidence base, the contributors use examples of research into key contemporary issues such as the gendered nature of work, skills mismatch, job insecurity, work-life balance, flexibility, the gig economy and the physical work environment. Chapters explore how research methods have been used to investigate aspects of both paid and unpaid work, raising further questions and highlighting limitations. The Handbook of Research Methods on the Quality of Working Lives is an essential resource for all those involved in areas that study, or touch on, the quality of working lives which will benefit both new and experienced researchers inside and outside academia and across disciplines such as economics, human resource management, psychology and social policy.

In the Fourth Edition of this bestselling book, John W Creswell and new co-author Cheryl N Poth explore the philosophical underpinnings, history and key elements of each of five qualitative inquiry traditions: narrative research, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography and case study - putting them side by side, so that we can see the differences. They relate research designs to each of the traditions of enquiry and provide strategies for writing introductions to studies, collecting data, analyzing data, writing a narrative and verifying results.

Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. Within the span of a generation, innovation and entrepreneurship have emerged as two of the most vital forces in the economy and in society. This Research Agenda highlights new insights and approaches to guide future thinking, research and policy in the area. To accomplish this, the editors have brought together a group of accomplished scholars spanning economics, management, public policy and finance. Drawing on the experiences and insights of leading scholars this Research Agenda covers a broad array of rich and promising topics, including entrepreneurial ecosystems, finance and the role of universities. Focusing on the intersection and overlap between the two disciplines, the Research Agenda begins by establishing the theoretical basis between the two topics, before exploring impact, context, academic entrepreneurship, start-ups, policy and corporate governance. The book concludes with three provocative chapters: Friederike Welter highlighting the power of words and images, Sameeksha Desai discussing the role of artificial intelligence and Mark Casson presenting a case for radical change to how entrepreneurship is studied. Presenting the most salient findings and themes in current literature, A Research Agenda for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is essential for researchers in innovation, as well as policy makers at both the local and national levels influenced by the increasing importance of entrepreneurship and innovation.

For the current multidisciplinary community of tourism and hospitality scholars, support for research methods has been disparate and uneven. In this Handbook, renowned experts fulfil a pressing need to outline, gather and resolve methodological issues within tourism and hospitality into one original, global and comprehensive work. With over 40 chapters by leading researchers, this Handbook allows for the exploration of new innovative ideas and presents future challenges in the field. Sharing their trusted methods and previous successes and failures, the authors cover various quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods approaches, including sampling and knowledge transfer. Sections also explore the foundations of research and wider debates in tourism and hospitality, such as ethical issues and climate change. Compiling the most up-to-date methods from global research, this Research Handbook will be a key companion for post-graduate students. Established researchers of hospitality and tourism will find this Handbook to be an excellent concise read to assist in their continuing research. Contributors include: S.-A. Adams, F. Ali, L. Andrades, V. Biaett, I. Booyens, C.B. Califf, A. Canosa, C. Cobanoglu, E.T. Coberly, C. Cooper, J.J. Daigle, S. De Urioste-Stone, A. Decrop, F. Dimanche, J.P. Fefer, X. Font, J. Fitchett, S. Goolaup, A. Graham, B.J Gregorash, T. Griffin, M. Hall, E. Hermans, A. Hindley, G. Hoogendoorn, D. Hristov, W.G. Kim, M.D. Lopez-Gamero, H. Mair, R.E. Manning, J. Masset, W.J. McLaughlin, J.F. Molina-Azorin, G. Moscardo, R. Nunkoo, A. Ogle, A.M. Oliveri, E. Park, J. Pereira-Moliner, E.M. Pertusa-Ortega, S. Pike, S. Power, G. Prayag, H.R. Ramkissoon, L. Ruhanen, B. Seetanah, S.L. Slocum, C. Soler, E. Sorokina, D. Stanford, T.S. Stumpf, J.J. Tari, V. Teeroovengadum, Thomlinson, M. Trandberg Jensen, Y. Wang, L. White, E. Wilson, N. Wise, M.-Y. Wu, P.F. Xie, J. Xu

In 1788 John Adams created a sublime ambition for all nations - 'a government of laws and not of men'. In the intervening years we have come to learn that legislation itself works through the interpretations of the many men and women who work on the inside and the outside of the law. Effective regulation thus depends not only on scrupulous legal analysis, with its appeal to precedent, conceptual clarity and argumentation, but also on sound empirical research, which often reveals diversity in implementation, enforcement and observance of the law in practice. In this outstanding, worldly-wise book Leeuw and Schmeets demonstrate how to bridge the gap between the letter and the delivery of the law. It is packed with examples, cases and illustrations that will have international appeal. I recommend it to students and practitioners engaged across all domains of legislation and regulation.' - Ray Pawson, University of Leeds, UK Empirical Legal Research describes how to investigate the roles of legislation, regulation, legal policies and other legal arrangements at play in society. It is invaluable as a guide to legal scholars, practitioners and students on how to do empirical legal research, covering history, methods, evidence, growth of knowledge and links with normativity. This multidisciplinary approach combines insights and approaches from different social sciences, evaluation studies, Big Data analytics and empirically informed ethics. The authors present an overview of the roots of this blossoming interdisciplinary domain, going back to legal realism, the fields of law, economics and the social sciences, and also to civilology and evaluation studies. The book addresses not only data analysis and statistics, but also how to formulate adequate research problems, to use (and test) different types of theories (explanatory and intervention theories) and to apply new forms of literature research to the field of law such as the systematic, rapid and realist reviews and synthesis studies. The choice and architecture of research designs, the collection of data, including Big Data, and how to analyze and visualize data are also covered. The book discusses the tensions between the normative character of law and legal issues and the descriptive and causal character of empirical legal research, and suggests ways to help handle this seeming disconnect. This comprehensive guide is vital reading for law practitioners as well as for students and researchers dealing with regulation, legislation and other legal arrangements.

This Field Guide offers a rich variety of academic approaches to facilitate leadership development in adults. It is an invaluable resource, giving insightful worked examples linked to theory and reflective commentary. The extensive experiences of world leading exponents of leadership development are distilled into practical application for immediate use. The Editors have selected a diverse range of approaches to leadership development which demonstrate the broad platform of techniques and methods that enable leadership in individuals and organisations to flourish. This Field Guide is embedded in theoretical and academic ideas but still provides accessible and comprehensive knowledge to development teams. Key points at the end of each chapter help the reader to adopt or translate the approaches for their own organisation and industrial context. This Field Guide will be an invaluable resource for human resource specialists, learning facilitators and trainers, and faculty heads. It will also appeal to leadership academics and postgraduate students, such as Masters students in business and psychology, and those focusing on careers in human resources and education. Contributors: S.J. Allen, A. Armitage, S. Bainbridge, S. Barnes, R. Bathurst, J. Billsberry, P. Chapman, K. DeCay, G. Edwards, C.P. Egri, S. Endres, J.L. Goolsby, J. Gosling, E. Guthey, B. Hawkins, C. Jarvis, D.M. Jenkins, S. Kempster, F. Kennedy, D. Ladkin, J. MacInnes, N. Modha, J.C. Quick, D. Schedlitzki, A.J. Schwartz, W.I. Serhane, S. Smith, A.F. Turner, M. Uhl-Bien, E. Watton, J. Weibler, S. Western

Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. This unique Research Agenda addresses salient current issues in evaluation research, offering a broad perspective on the role of evaluation in society. International expert contributors explore how evaluation research is not only academic research engaged in practical problem-solving, but is also research that takes a critical look at this engagement, providing inspiration for reflexivity among evaluators. Drawing on a range of perspectives, including sociology, organization theory, psychoanalytic theory, and feminism, chapters analyse examples of how evaluation works in a number of arenas, such as education, research, and voluntary work. Taking a critical look at evaluation as a social phenomenon, this Research Agenda will be a useful resource for scholars and students of evaluation, public administration and management, and public policy. It will also be beneficial in helping practitioners and researchers to understand the major emerging issues within the field of evaluation.

This comprehensive Handbook is aimed at both academic researchers and practitioners in the field of complexity science. The book?s 26 chapters, specially written by leading experts, provide in-depth coverage of research methods based on the sciences of complexity. The research methods presented are illustratively applied to practical cases and are readily accessible to researchers and decision-makers alike. The Handbook'?s wide range of research methods are clearly illustrated with case studies that demonstrate their practical application. They range from the regeneration of communities to musical performance; from complex governance networks to psychotherapy; from gender dynamics to agent-based modelling; and the appropriate response to pandemics. Some unusual research methods ? based on art, psychology and multi-level networks ? are also included. Furthermore, the book incorporates discussions on the philosophical aspect of research methods and explores important theoretical concepts, such as exaptation, emergence, self-organisation and co-evolution. This is an ideal resource for academics and researchers in the field seeking and exploring new research methods. For decision-makers and researchers trying to address complex challenges it will be an essential source of inspiration that will arm them with effective state-of-the-art research methods for the future. Contributors include: P. Allen, P. Andriani, S. Banerjee, Y. Bar-Yam, P. Beautement, C.R. Booth, J. Bromley, H.L. Brown, J. Burton, G. Carignani, B. Castellani, G.C. Crawford, C. Day, C.J. Dister, R. Durie, E.G. Eason, K.M. English, J. Fortune, M. Gabbay, J. Goldstein, J.K. Hazy, K. Hopkinson, N. Hupert, E.S. Ihara, H.J. Jensen, J. Johnson, D.G. Kelty-Stephen, W.G. Kennedy, L. Kuhn, B. Lichtenstein, C. Lundy, B. McKelvey, E. Mitleton-Kelly, S. Mockett, G. Morcoel, S. Mukherjee, S.K. Palit, A. Paraskevas, B. Pourbohloul, R. Rajaram, F.A. Razak, K.A. Richardson, J. Rowan Scott, Y. Shapiro, S. Kim, J. Stead, H. Stuteley, A. Tait, C.J. Tompkins, L. Varga, X. Wan, P.R. Wolenski, M.E. Wolf-Branigin, K. Wyatt

This insightful book offers practical advice to fieldworkers in social research, enabling robust and judicious applications of research methods and techniques in data collection. It also outlines data collection challenges that are commonly faced when working in the field. Authors address key strategies to tackle the major challenges to fieldwork, including advice on using indigenous or innovative skills and making intelligent use of the advantages already available within standard research methodologies. International contributors provide a hands-on account of research methodologies as applied in the field, with particular focus on research ethics and community culture and interactions. The book offers a number of useful case studies, featuring examples of the application of research techniques in different cultural and socio-economic contexts. Utilizing an innovative and dynamic 'storytelling' method, this book will be a useful research tool for fieldworkers engaging in social science research in community settings, as well as students in the field learning the core techniques of fieldwork.

This invaluable manual from world-renowned expert Johnny Saldana illuminates the process of qualitative coding and provides clear, insightful guidance for qualitative researchers at all levels. The fourth edition includes a range of updates that build upon the huge success of the previous editions: A structural reformat has increased accessibility; the 3 sections from the previous edition are now spread over 15 chapters for easier sectional reference There are two new first cycle coding methods join the 33 others in the collection: Metaphor Coding and Themeing the Data: Categorically Includes a brand new companion website with links to SAGE journal articles, sample transcripts, links to CAQDAS sites, student exercises, links to video and digital content Analytic software screenshots and academic references have been updated, alongside several new figures added throughout the manual It remains the only book that looks specifically at coding qualitative data, as a core but often neglected skill that researchers and students alike need to effectively make sense of their data and to identify patterns, before they can analyse the material. Saldana presents a range of coding options with advantages and disadvantages to help researchers to choose the most appropriate approach for their project, reinforcing their perspective with real world examples, used to show step-by-step processes and to demonstrate important skills.

Most students struggle with learning how to find references, use them effectively, and cite them appropriately in a required format. One of the most common formats is that of APA. The authors all have vast experience teaching writing courses to various levels of studentsfrom undergraduates to graduates in other countries. However, there was lacking a book that could explain the basics of APA in simple, easy-to-understand language for non-native speakers of English, who are often unfamiliar with using references and formatting an essay in a particular method. In order to offer English Learner student writers a source of information that is appropriate for their level, and is cost-effective, this updated APA 7th edition guidebook provides students with important information in clear, concise, user-friendly language, as well as to offer practical examples that will help them grasp the concept of secondary research writing. Much of the published materials on the market targets native speakers of English. The problem with this is that they present the nitpicky details of APA in ways that do not make sense to native speakers of English, let alone to those for whom English is not their first language, because the information is presented in very technical terms that are not easyto understand. This handbook presents the same information in simplified terms with images and step-by-step instructions in ways that make sense to both native and non-native English speaking student writers. Additionally, student writers often struggle with understanding the concept of plagiarism, as well as how to find sources, evaluate the appropriateness of sources, and use sources in effective ways (e.g., how to integrate quotes, when to paraphrase, among others). This book provides this important information that is concise and easy to understand. NOTE: This is a REVISED edition of our original The Concise APA Handbook, which has been updated for APA 7th edition, which was issued in the fall, 2019.

Human resource management as a field of research is a broad church, with a wide variety of research methods in use. This Handbook focuses on qualitative research methods and explores the opportunities and challenges of new technologies for innovating data collection and data analysis. The editors have brought together 18 chapters, written by some of the world's leading researchers in their field. They begin with the importance of good project design and then move on to reflect on innovations and developments in data sources, such as netnographical methods, legal research methods, the use of news media, and historical research. They go on to outline innovations in data collection methods with particular pertinence to key HRM topics. Finally, the contributors explore innovative data analysis, looking at the importance of computer-supported qualitative research, causal cognitive mapping and deriving behavioural role descriptions from the perspectives of job-holders. This Handbook is an invaluable tool for students, researchers and academics in the field of human resource management. Contributors: P. Ackers, S. Branch, R. Cameron, C. Cassell, G. Clarkson, J. Cogin, J. Ewart, M.T. Hardin, M. Humphreys, R. Johnstone, M. Learmonth, D. Lewin, R. Loudoun, F. Malik, A. McDowall, J.L. Ng, W. Nienhueser, L.S. Radcliffe, S. Ramsay, J. Richards, C. Rojon, S. Sambrook, M.N.K. Saunders, K. Townsend, K.L. Unsworth, R. Winter

'Any student undertaking a politics degree at graduate level will find this book an indispensible introduction to the subject they are approaching and it will also be useful for teachers seeking to orientate themselves within the discipline as a whole. This is particularly true because of the supporting detail the book provides and the way it links up technical exposition to fundamental philosophical questions. From a student point of view it does not shrink from providing useful practical tips on how to present and publish research results and how to check out established themes with new data. This is a book which political scientists at all levels will benefit from reading. It should also stimulate them to take a fresh look both at their own work and that of others - and - who knows? - perhaps forge some of that unity across the discipline which is the main subject of its discussion.' - Colin Hay, University of Sheffield, UK and L'Institut d'Etudes Politiques at Sciences Po, France 'This Handbook provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date account of the current state of empirical-analytical political science. The contributions share a systemic and multi-layered approach combining political actors, organizations, and institutions. In addition, types of data and data collection as well as advanced types of data analysis are described and explained. Finally, much can be learned about the evaluation of research output and publication strategies. The editors have motivated a stellar set of 40 authors to contribute to the 33 chapters of the Handbook. The index makes it easy to navigate the vast ocean of results and ideas. The Handbook is a ''must have'' for scholars interested in what political science can contribute to reliably answer the most important questions facing the complex world of politics today.' - Hans-Dieter Klingemann, Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin (Berlin Social Science Center), Germany This Handbook offers a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art research methods and applications currently in use in political science. It combines theory and methodology (qualitative and quantitative), and offers insights into the major approaches and their roots in the philosophy of scientific knowledge. Including a comprehensive discussion of the relevance of a host of digital data sources, plus the dos and don'ts of data collection in general, the book also explains how to use diverse research tools and highlights when and how to apply these techniques. With wide-ranging coverage of general political science topics and systemic approaches to politics, the editors showcase research methods that can be used at the micro, meso and macro levels. Chapters explore applied and fundamental knowledge, approaches and their usefulness, meta-theoretical issues, and the art and practice of undertaking research. This highly accessible book provides hands-on information on research topics and methods, and offers the reader extensive bibliographies for in-depth exploration of cutting edge techniques. Finally, it discusses the relevance of political science research, as well as the art of publishing, reporting and submitting your research findings. An essential tool for researchers in political science, public administration and international relations, this book will be an important reference for academics and students employing research methods and techniques across the social sciences, including sociology, anthropology and communication studies.

The importance of scientific investigation and research is becoming more pronounced in today's society, with many organizations relying on this research to make informed decisions. As such, research methodology courses have been integrated into undergraduate and master's programs at most academic institutions where students are being challenged to conduct and write research. Social Research Methodology and New Techniques in Analysis, Interpretation, and Writing is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on the main concepts of research writing, including the guidelines of research methodology and proposal designing. While highlighting topics such as mixed method research, research objectives, and project proposals, this publication provides examples of eight PhD proposals and the frameworks used in organizing qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method research. This book is ideally designed for graduate-level students, academicians, researchers, educators, scholars, education administrators, and policymakers seeking current research on the key steps and techniques used in organizing social research proposals.