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Books > Reference & Interdisciplinary > Communication studies > Research methods
A particularly important component of any research project is its ethical dimensions which can refer to varied categories of practice - from the protection of human subjects involved in medical and social research to the publication of results research. More recently, with the estimation of the possible consequences of the implementation of technology, it is important for today's researchers to address the standards of scientific practice and avoid unethical behavior. Ethics in Research Practice and Innovation is an essential reference source that discusses current and historical aspects of ethical values in scientific research and technologies, as well as emerging perspectives of conducting ethical research in a variety of fields. Featuring research on topics such as clinical trials, human subjects, and informed consent, this book is ideally designed for practitioners, medical professionals, nurses, researchers, scientists, scholars, academicians, policy makers, and students seeking coverage on the ethical risks and limitations of research practice.
Originally published in 1975. The main concern of this book is the nature of the gap between the theoretical issues, raised at an abstract level by social scientists, and their facts, the material organized in an empirical analysis. The author draws on material from several disciplines to explore the contributions of social science theory to historical insight.
Interrupted Time Series Analysis develops a comprehensive set of models and methods for drawing causal inferences from time series. It provides example analyses of social, behavioral, and biomedical time series to illustrate a general strategy for building AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) impact models. Additionally, the book supplements the classic Box-Jenkins-Tiao model-building strategy with recent auxiliary tests for transformation, differencing, and model selection. Not only does the text discuss new developments, including the prospects for widespread adoption of Bayesian hypothesis testing and synthetic control group designs, but it makes optimal use of graphical illustrations in its examples. With forty completed example analyses that demonstrate the implications of model properties, Interrupted Time Series Analysis will be a key inter-disciplinary text in classrooms, workshops, and short-courses for researchers familiar with time series data or cross-sectional regression analysis but limited background in the structure of time series processes and experiments.
Statistical Power Analysis explains the key concepts in statistical power analysis and illustrates their application in both tests of traditional null hypotheses (that treatments or interventions have no effect in the population) and in tests of the minimum-effect hypotheses (that the population effects of treatments or interventions are so small that they can be safely treated as unimportant). It provides readers with the tools to understand and perform power analyses for virtually all the statistical methods used in the social and behavioral sciences. Brett Myors and Kevin Murphy apply the latest approaches of power analysis to both null hypothesis and minimum-effect testing using the same basic unified model. This book starts with a review of the key concepts that underly statistical power. It goes on to show how to perform and interpret power analyses, and the ways to use them to diagnose and plan research. We discuss the uses of power analysis in correlation and regression, in the analysis of experimental data, and in multilevel studies. This edition includes new material and new power software. The programs used for power analysis in this book have been re-written in R, a language that is widely used and freely available. The authors include R codes for all programs, and we have also provided a web-based app that allows users who are not comfortable with R to perform a wide range of analyses using any computer or device that provides access to the web. Statistical Power Analysis helps readers design studies, diagnose existing studies, and understand why hypothesis tests come out the way they do. The fifth edition includes updates to all chapters to accommodate the most current scholarship, as well as recalculations of all examples. This book is intended for graduate students and faculty in the behavioral and social sciences; researchers in other fields will find the concepts and methods laid out here valuable and applicable to studies in many domains.
The social sciences have seen a substantial increase in comparative and multi-sited ethnographic projects over the last three decades. Yet, at present, researchers seeking to design comparative field projects have few scholarly works detailing how comparison is conducted in divergent ethnographic approaches. In Beyond the Case, Corey M. Abramson and Neil Gong have gathered together several experts in field research to address these issues by showing how practitioners employing contemporary iterations of ethnographic traditions such as phenomenology, grounded theory, positivism, and interpretivism, use comparison in their works. The contributors connect the long history of comparative (and anti-comparative) ethnographic approaches to their contemporary uses. By honing in on how ethnographers render sites, groups, or cases analytically commensurable and comparable, Beyond the Case offers a new lens for examining the assumptions, payoffs, and potential drawbacks of different forms of comparative ethnography.
Exploring the relationships between qualitative research and social change, this book asks how social change is informed and influenced by research. Examples discussed are from research practice and experiences in the fields of sociology, social work, professional practice, education, criminal justice and anthropology.
Data visualization has emerged as a serious scholarly topic, and a wide range of tools have recently been developed at an accelerated pace to aid in this research area. Examining different ways of analyzing big data can result in increased efficiency for many corporations and organizations. Data Visualization and Statistical Literacy for Open and Big Data highlights methodological developments in the way that data analytics is both learned and taught. Featuring extensive coverage on emerging relevant topics such as data complexity, statistics education, and curriculum development, this publication is geared toward teachers, academicians, students, engineers, professionals, and researchers that are interested in expanding their knowledge of data examination and analysis.
A comprehensive introduction to social network analysis that hones in on basic centrality measures, social links, subgroup analysis, data sources, and more Written by military, industry, and business professionals, this book introduces readers to social network analysis, the new and emerging topic that has recently become of significant use for industry, management, law enforcement, and military practitioners for identifying both vulnerabilities and opportunities in collaborative networked organizations. Focusing on models and methods for the analysis of organizational risk, "Social Network Analysis with Applications" provides easily accessible, yet comprehensive coverage of network basics, centrality measures, social link theory, subgroup analysis, relational algebra, data sources, and more. Examples of mathematical calculations and formulas for social network measures are also included. Along with practice problems and exercises, this easily accessible book covers: The basic concepts of networks, nodes, links, adjacency matrices, and graphsMathematical calculations and exercises for centrality, the basic measures of degree, betweenness, closeness, and eigenvector centralitiesGraph-level measures, with a special focus on both the visual and numerical analysis of networksMatrix algebra, outlining basic concepts such as matrix addition, subtraction, multiplication, and transpose and inverse calculations in linear algebra that are useful for developing networks from relational dataMeta-networks and relational algebra, social links, diffusion through networks, subgroup analysis, and more An excellent resource for practitioners in industry, management, law enforcement, and military intelligence who wish to learn and apply social network analysis to their respective fields, "Social Network Analysis with Applications" is also an ideal text for upper-level undergraduate and graduate level courses and workshops on the subject.
Generation Z (GenZ) is the young generation born between the mid-1990s and 2010s. They are now entering the market and starting their first jobs. Therefore, managers must shape the company workplace environment to encourage young employees to work efficiently and connect their future with the company. Only then both managers and employees will share mutual satisfaction from collaboration and aim at the common target, which should be the prosperity of the company. This book presents research results and techniques for analyzing the working expectations and needs of GenZ. The analyses were made in various countries in Europe: The Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland, and Portugal. The book contains chapters that present the analysis results and technical chapters that outline modern methods of analysis of management data, including tutorial chapters on Machine Learning, which currently make a strong appearance in research in various disciplines. This volume will be of interest to researchers, academics, practitioners, and students in the fields of management studies, research methods, and human resource management.
1. Police ethnographies are always popular because they offer unique perspectives on police work and organisation. This book is provocative in challenging past conceptions of police culture. 2. Policing remains a popular area of teaching and is also the topic of specific degree pathways. In the UK, Police Culture is often an upper level module on Professional Policing degrees, so this book offers useful supplementary reading.
This book begins with an introductory outline of the structure of the city politics of the United States. There is a study of the city in the federal system, including the politics of feudal aid. This is followed by four case studies: the political roles of mayor, manager, boss and adminstrator-entrepreneur in the city. Madgwick concludes with some comparative reflections indicating the significance of this study for British local government. This book was first published in 1970.
Research designs can be distinguished along various dimensions, but
all face the same set of core issues. What is a relevant research
problem? How can the concepts and measurements be improved? Which
and how many variables and cases should be selected? What
theoretical conclusions can be drawn from the research? Which
evidence would lead to a rejection and reformulation of the initial
theory?
Impact is of increasing importance to all researchers, given its growing centrality to those who fund, assess and use research around the world. Delivering Impact in Management Research sets out a detailed and nuanced analysis of how research impact is best delivered in practice. Starting with a rich conceptualisation, the authors move on to discuss models through which meaningful impact is framed and delivered. The book explains processes, skills and approaches to impact, along with examples and insights into potential pitfalls and solutions. Examples are drawn from around the world and systems such as the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF) are discussed as part of a key contribution to primary debates globally. A significant contribution to the long-standing discussion about relevance in business, management and organisation studies research, this concise book is essential reading for scholars and university administrators seeking to advance their understanding of delivering and demonstrating world-class research that matters.
Uses an integrative approach, examining the personal, social, and cognitive dimensions of science practice. Features engaging Case Studies across sciences and time periods for reflection and discussion Largely written by students for students, with description of each author's personal connection to the scientist examined and discussion questions following each case study. Invites discussion of questions such as "What is a scientist?" "What is science?" "What does it mean to do science, and when is one doing it?" Offers scholarly commentary on the value of case studies for psychology of science (and psychology more broadly) Includes a chapter of commentary from an authority on case study method and the philosophical foundations of psychology.
Traditional research discourses continue to present academic work as rational, detached, objective and free from emotion. This volume argues that the presentation of research as 'objective' conceals the subject positions of researchers, and the emotional imperatives that often drive research. The collection engages with the emotional experiences of researchers working in different traditions, contexts and sites, and demonstrates their centrality in data production, analysis, dissemination and ethical practice. This edited volume offers contributions from a range of well-established and early career scholars who argue for an emotional rebellion in the academic world. The authors reflect on their own experiences of research, generously sharing their approach to their craft, and the uncertainties, concerns, enjoyments, and questions it entails. The contributors are based in a range of disciplines across the humanities, social sciences and STEM, and in the museum sector. This provides a unique opportunity for reflection on differences between and similarities across disciplinary boundaries, shedding new light on common problems and opportunities stimulated by emotion in research. The collection demonstrates how emotion can be valuable and meaningful in the activities of research, reflection and dissemination: offering authenticity to the academic voice, bringing clarity to interpretive biases, producing engaging outputs which connect with diverse readerships, and potentially reshaping disciplinary foundations and relations. Emotion and the Researcher: Sites, Subjectivities and Relationships will be an invaluable companion for researchers, postgraduate students and other academics with an interest in the emotional elements of conflict, negotiation, relationality and reflexivity, within and beyond the research encounter.
An easy-to-use guide to American regional folklore with advice on conducting research, regional essays, and a selective annotated bibliography. American Regional Folklore begins with a chapter on library research, including how to locate a library suitable for folklore research, how to understand a library's resources, and how to construct a research strategy. Mood also gives excellent advice on researching beyond the library: locating and using community resources like historical societies, museums, fairs and festivals, storytelling groups, local colleges, newspapers and magazines, and individuals with knowledge of the field. The rest of the book is divided into eight sections, each one highlighting a separate region (the Northeast, the South and Southern Highlands, the Midwest, the Southwest, the West, the Northwest, Alaska, and Hawaii). Each regional section contains a useful overview essay, written by an expert on the folklore of that particular region, followed by a selective, annotated bibliography of books and a directory of related resources. Fully annotated bibliographies on the folklore of each of eight regions of the United States Engaging overview essays by folklore scholars introduce each of the U.S. regions covered A list of literary authors who incorporate folklore themes in their writings, together with a brief list of some of their major works A list of folklore-related museums, with addresses and phone numbers, a list of folklore journals, and, when possible, a list of websites
Since the pioneering discoveries of Hodgkin, Huxley, and Katz, it has been clear that specific ion conductance pathways underlie electrical act- ity. Over the ensuing 50 years, there has been ever increasing, and occasi- ally explosive, changes in the scope of efforts to understand ion channel behavior. The introduction of patch clamp technology by Erwin Neher and Bert Sakmann about 20 years ago led to the realization of the great variety of novel ion channel species, and the subsequent revolution in cl- ing has revealed an even greater diversity of the underlying molecular entities. Today, advances in the study of ion channel structure and function c- tinue at a high pace, from angstrom resolution imaging of crystallized ch- nels to their genetic manipulations in animals. In this regard, the field is a balanced one that inquires not only what ion channel entities are there, or how they operate, but also where are these molecular electronic switches? However, this balance is not particularly well presented to the general sci- tific audience or to specialists in the field. There are plenty of wonderful and useful books and monographs, as well as conferences and meetings on v- tually every aspect of ion channel structure and function. However, we are unaware that the channel localization theme has been considered in a u- fied forum.
Experts present proven methods and techniques for studying about or in Africa! Research, Reference Services, and Resources for the Study of Africa helps you steer clear of washouts, cave-ins, and dead ends on the road to successful research onor inAfrica. This one-of-a-kind research guide presents practical solutions to frequently occurring problems in the study of Africa, including Internet accessibility problems, errors that will affect a known item search, the imposition of colonial legacy, and dealing with gender and class bias. Unlike most references on Africa that concentrate on collection development, this unique book focuses on the study of Africa, making it a must-have for academic librarians, Africanist scholars, and Africana librarians. Specialists, generalist librarians, and end users all depend on tools designed to provide access to information in libraries and on the web including OPACs databases, and search engines. In this book, these tools, research methods, and the accessibility of information on Africa are examined, offering students and professionals a thorough guide to the most successful researching route. Research, Reference Services, and Resources for the Study of Africa provides assistance in the research process according to a variety of categories including: evaluating OPACs and similar databases for known-item searching using keywords, subject headings, bias, indexing, full-text searching, terminology, cataloguing, user-centered information services, and other search strategies to find what you are looking for using Internet resources to your advantage using the partnerships between the U.S. and African libraries and scholarly institutions to help improve information access using techniques for reference librarians to act as a force increasing women's roles in the study of Africa and much more! Research, Reference Services, and Resources for the Study of Africa offers all the information necessary to avoid research hang-ups that affect the study of Africa, and the necessary information to pass these skills on to students.
When reading and thinking about published research, students often find it difficult to understand the complexity of what is involved in the process of research and how it is presented. And although there are many books about research and research methods, very few focus specifically on critically reading research that has been completed by others. Understanding Research: An Introduction To Reading Research aims to introduce key concepts through the use of simple language to promote better understanding, build on South African examples and case studies, and develop the conceptual knowledge and necessary skills to evaluate research carefully and critically. Contents include the following:
Understanding Research is an indispensable guide for all students in the social sciences and education who want to learn more about reading and understanding research.
Agreement among raters is of great importance in many domains. For example, in medicine, diagnoses are often provided by more than one doctor to make sure the proposed treatment is optimal. In criminal trials, sentencing depends, among other things, on the complete agreement among the jurors. In observational studies, researchers increase reliability by examining discrepant ratings. This book is intended to help researchers statistically examine rater agreement by reviewing four different approaches to the technique. The first approach introduces readers to calculating coefficients that allow one to summarize agreements in a single score. The second approach involves estimating log-linear models that allow one to test specific hypotheses about the structure of a cross-classification of two or more raters' judgments. The third approach explores cross-classifications or raters' agreement for indicators of agreement or disagreement, and for indicators of such characteristics as trends. The fourth approach compares the correlation or covariation structures of variables that raters use to describe objects, behaviors, or individuals. These structures can be compared for two or more raters. All of these methods operate at the level of observed variables. This book is intended as a reference for researchers and practitioners who describe and evaluate objects and behavior in a number of fields, including the social and behavioral sciences, statistics, medicine, business, and education. It also serves as a useful text for graduate-level methods or assessment classes found in departments of psychology, education, epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, communication, advertising and marketing, and sociology. Exposure to regression analysis and log-linear modeling is helpful.
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