`There are few people who can write about research methods in a lively and engaging way, but Miles and Banyard are amongst them. As well as being an exceptionally clear introduction to research methods, it is full of amusing asides and anecdotes that make you want to read more. A hugely enjoyable book' - Dr Andy Field, University of Sussex Understanding and Using Statistics in Psychology takes the fear out of psychological statistics to help students understand why statistics are carried out, how to choose the best test and how to carry out the tests and understand them. Taking a non-technical approach, it encourages the reader to understand why a particular test is being used and what the results mean in the context of a psychological study, focusing on meaning and understanding rather than mindless numerical calculation. Key features include: - A light and accessible style - Descriptions of the most commonly used statistical tests and the principles that underlie them - Real world examples to aid the understanding of why statistics are valuable - Boxes on common errors, tips and quotes - Test yourself questions The perfect introductory resource, Understanding and Using Statistics in Psychology will guide any student new to statistics effortlessly through the process of test selection and analysis.

Athenian democracy continues to capture the modern imagination. This book offers an account of the evolution and operation of the Athenian political system. It assesses the main sources for the history of Athenian democracy, examines the criticism of the model, ancient and modern, and provides a virtual tour of the political cityscape of ancient Athens, describing the main political sites and structures, including the theatre.

First published in 1974, Social Work Treatment remains the most popular and trusted compendium of theories available to social work students and practitioners. It explores the full range of theoretical approaches that drive social work treatment and knowledge development, from psychoanalysis to crisis intervention. A treasure trove of practice knowledge, the text equips professionals with a broad array of theoretical approaches, each of which shine a spotlight on a different aspect of the human condition. Emphasizing the importance of a broad-based theoretical approach to practice, it helps readers avoid the pitfalls of becoming overly identified with a narrow focus that limits their understanding of clients and their contexts. This sweeping overview of the field untangles the increasingly complex problems, ideologies, and value sets that define contemporary social work practice. The result is an essential A-to-Z reference that charts the full range of theoretical approaches available to social workers, regardless of their setting or specialty.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is arguably the most well-known statistic in the contemporary world, and certainly amongst the most powerful. It drives government policy and sets priorities in a variety of vital social fields - from schooling to healthcare. Yet for perhaps the first time since it was invented in the 1930s, this popular icon of economic growth has come to be regarded by many as a 'problem'. After all, does our quality of life really improve when our economy grows 2 or 3%? Can we continue to sacrifice the environment to safeguard a vision of the world based on the illusion of infinite economic growth?

In Gross Domestic Problem, Lorenzo Fioramonti takes apart the 'content' of GDP - what it measures, what it doesn't and why - and reveals the powerful political interests that have allowed it to dominate today's economies. He also demonstrates how GDP has little if any relevance to moral principles such as equity, social justice and redistribution, and shows that an alternative is possible, as evinced by the 'de-growth' movement and initiatives such as transition towns. A startling insight into the politics of a number that has come to dominate our everyday lives.

Gross Domestic Problem does not, however, stop at the problem. What is invigorating about this book is that it provides a thorough and up-to-date picture of the various initiatives that have emerged to demote the role of GDP - from high profile initiatives lead by international organisations such as the OECD, to alternative local currencies in the streets of south London and the mountains of south Germany.

Does life have any meaning for you? Is it possible to create meaning? What do you think life is about? Do you think life is worth living?

These questions, taken from the text of Rethinking Our World, challenge the reader to look critically and creatively at many of society’s traditional beliefs. They encourage readers to look at their world differently by asking questions about change, identity and direction. The authors outline the major figures and basic principles of each philosophy, then analyse the type of thinking each approach encourages. They go on to challenge readers to examine ways in which the different approaches can be used to understand the world.

Rethinking Our World will be invaluable to undergraduate students in the human and social sciences, as well as to a more general readership seeking an understanding of the arguments in the major philosophies.

From the First Edition:

"Continues the high quality of previously published volumes in the Sage series on qualitative research methods. . . . Useful and instructive. . . . David L. Morgan deals with a number of practical issues concerning the conduct of focus groups, such as the degree of moderator involvement and group size. . . . Provides ample illustrations . . . and thought-provoking advice for researchers and students."

--Contemporary Sociology

"David L. Morgan?s book is unique among current offerings on focus groups because it is directed at academic users of focus groups rather than practitioners. His account is also unique in its critical attitude toward contemporary market research applications of focus groups. . . . The book succeeds best at providing fuel for scholarly debates about what group interviews can and cannot contribute to research."

--Journal of Marketing Research

"Provides the reader with a very clear and practical overview of the focus group as a method for field research. . . . Well-written and informative. . . . Providing the history and methodological rationale for the method. . . . Attests to the benefits or strengths of focus group research on the basis of personal opinion and testimonial evidence."

--Personnel Psychology

Only a decade ago, focus groups were virtually unknown to social scientists. Now their use in academic as well as outside settings is vast and ever growing. David L. Morgan has extensively revised and updated his best-selling Focus Groups as Qualitative Research, providing an excellent guide for researchers in every discipline. He begins his comprehensive revision with an updated introduction that offers a discussion of current social science approaches to focus groups. Expanded coverage on the comparison of focus groups to individual interviews follows, as well as more on the strengths and weaknesses of focus groups (Chapter 2). Chapter 3?s section on self-contained focus groups has also been expanded to reflect the increased range of research being done in this area. The next chapter has been thoroughly reorganized both to provide an overview of what a typical set of groups looks like as well as new insights on research design. Similarly, Chapters 5 and 6 have been reorganized and broadened to include examples from social scientists who have established their own practices and methodological research on focus groups. This best-selling research guide concludes with future directions and references that take into account the explosive growth in focus groups as a research tool for all social scientists.

Reflecting the many changes that have occurred in the study of focus groups over the years, Focus Groups as Qualitative Research, Second Edition is for qualitative researchers in every academic discipline as well as those in nonacademic settings.

How can social workers, psychologists and counsellors improve communication with their clients? What can these facilitators do to enhance their listening and empathic skills? How can they create an environment of trust in which clients - be they individuals, goups, families, or communities - can develop and grow effectively?

Person-Centred Facilitation presents the theory and practice of the person-centred approach to facilitating counselling, as developed by Carl Rogers. The text provides an introduction to the person-centred approach in relation to individuals, groups, families and communities. It offers a solid theoretical grounding which supports both academic learning and applied practice, and guides readers' understanding and self-development.

Revised and updated, the fourth edition integrates values from an African cultural perspective, and reflects the importance of social justice as an element of the developmental counselling process. It offers a wealth of South African case studies, an entirely new section on family counselling, and an expanded focus on group work counselling. Other expanded areas include aspects of constructivism; cross-cultural communication; people in conflict, and the self of the facilitator, the latter two aspects having been integrated into the text of the various chapters.

Labour Relations in South Africa provides a thorough, engaging introduction to the science and practice of labour relations in South Africa. The fifth edition presents a more critical and reflective approach, engaging with the various issues, shifts, and seismic events which have impacted this dynamic field in recent years. The text's view is expanded to encompass a multi-faceted perspective, relating to business science, law, economics, and sociology, and to focus more specifically on the context and dynamics of a developing country.

Widely acclaimed for its applied, practical and teacher-centered approach, "Psychology Applied to Teaching," 15th Edition, shows how psychological theories can help teachers better understand their students, support them as learners and improve their own practice.

The text is framed for aspiring and developing educators to see themselves as scholars of practice -- teachers who are intentional in their inquiry to improve outcomes for every learner. The text combines fresh concepts and contemporary research with long-standing theory and tools for growth. This edition integrates InTASC Standards and aligns with the Core Propositions of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, offering a roadmap for professional development.

New Learning Objectives connect Knowing and Doing Objectives to critical thinking questions explored in every chapter.

Packed with the latest research and vivid examples, Sigelman and Rider's LIFE-SPAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, 10th edition, equips you with a solid understanding of the overall flow of development and the key transformations that occur in each period of the life span. Written in clear, straightforward language, each chapter focuses on a domain of development -- such as cognitive or personality development -- and traces developmental trends and influences in that domain from infancy to old age. Sections on infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood are included. The text emphasizes theories and their use in helping us understand development, focuses on the interplay of nature and nurture in development, and also provides an expansive examination of both biological and sociocultural influences on life-span development. Additionally, MindTap digital resources offer anywhere, anytime learning solutions.