Handbook of research methods : a guide for practitioners and students in the social sciences /
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| Author / Creator: | Sproull, Natalie L., 1928- |
|---|---|
| Edition: | 2nd ed. |
| Imprint: | Metuchen, N.J. : Scarecrow Press, 1995. |
| Description: | xiii, 430 p. : ill. ; 23 cm. |
| Language: | English |
| Subject: | |
| Format: | Print Book |
| URL for this record: | http://pi.lib.uchicago.edu/1001/cat/bib/1839185 |
Table of Contents:
- To the Reader
- 1. Preliminaries
- Steps to Take After Reading This Chapter
- How to Use This Book
- The Impact of Research
- Planning and Control
- The Research Process
- Research Ethics
- Ethical Practices
- The Research Proposal
- PERT/CPM
- Where You Are Now
- 2. Determine the Variables and Operational Definitions
- Steps to Take After Reading This Chapter
- How Research Problems Originate
- The Decision to Conduct Research
- Research Problems
- Identify and Label the Variables
- Types of Variables
- Determine and State the Operational Definitions
- Where You Are Now
- 3. Determine the Research Questions or Hypotheses
- Steps to Take After Reading This Chapter
- State the Expected Relationship Between Variables
- Decide Whether to Use Hypothesis Testing or Research Questions
- Hypothesis Testing
- If You Use a Population
- State the Preliminary Hypothesis or Research Question
- Where You Are Now
- 4. Hypothesis Testing
- Steps to Take After Reading This Chapter
- Research Hypotheses
- Null Hypotheses
- Directional and Nondirectional Hypotheses
- Decide Whether to State Directional or Nondirectional Hypotheses
- Select the Significance Level
- Statistical and Practical Significance
- Where You Are Now
- 5. Levels of Measurement, Validity and Reliability
- Steps to Take After Reading This Chapter
- Levels of Measurement
- Validity and Reliability
- Validity Estimates
- Reliability Estimates
- Where You Are Now
- 6. Review the Related Information
- Steps to Take After Reading This Chapter
- List the Variables, Population and Theories
- Determine Sources of Desired Information
- Determine the Location of the Information
- Determine How to Retrieve the Information
- Conduct the Review of Information Available
- Read the Literature
- Record the Information
- Synthesize the Information and Determine the Next Steps
- Where You Are Now
- 7. Determine the Sampling Method and Procedures
- Steps to Take After Reading This Chapter
- Define the Population
- Determine the Sampling Unit
- Determine the Sampling Frame
- Determine the Sampling Method
- Random Sampling Methods
- Nonrandom Sampling Methods
- Cluster Sampling
- Concepts Related to Sample Size
- Determine the Sample Size
- List the Sampling Procedures
- Where You Are Now
- 8. Select the Research Design
- Steps to Take After Reading This Chapter
- Selecting the Type of Research Design
- Experimental Design
- Control Mechanisms
- Internal and External Validity of Experimental Designs
- True Experimental Designs
- Extensions of the True Experimental Designs
- Quasi-Experimental Designs
- Nonexperimental Designs
- Historical Designs
- Where You Are Now
- 9. Determine the Data Collection Methods
- Steps to Take After Reading This Chapter
- The Interviewing Method
- Instrument Administration
- Observation
- Examination of Documents, Materials and Artifacts
- Unobtrusive Measures
- Where You Are Now
- 10. Determine the Instruments to Measure the Variables
- Steps to Take After Reading This Chapter
- Instruments
- Select or Design an Instrument
- Selecting an Existing Instrument
- Designing an Instrument
- General Categories of Instruments
- Performance Measures
- Measures of Attitudes, Opinions, Beliefs and Values
- Measures of Interests, Intelligence and Personality
- Demographic Measures
- Where You Are Now
- 11. Designing Questionnaires or Interview Schedules
- Steps to Take After Reading This Chapter
- Reminders
- List the Variables
- Consider Demographic Variables
- Specify the Characteristics of the Respondents
- Select Mail, Telephone or Personal Approach
- Increasing Response Rates of Mailed Questionnaires
- Determine the Amount of Structure
- Determine the Response Format
- Multiple-Choice Responses
- Dichotomous Response Format
- Open-Ended Response Format
- Write the Items
- Check the Items for Invalidating Factors
- Write the Introduction and Ending
- Determine Placement of the Items
- Complete the Questionnaire Preparation
- Train the Questionnaire Administrator or Interviewer
- Conduct a Pilot Test
- Where You Are Now
- 12. Other Types of Instruments
- Steps to Take After Reading This Chapter
- Independent and Nonindependent Responses
- Rating Scales
- Summated Rating (Likert-Type) Scales
- Thurstone Equal Appearing Interval Scale
- The Semantic Differential
- The Single Anchor Scale
- Multidimensional Scaling
- Guttman Scalogram Analysis
- Rank Order Methods
- The Constant Sum Method
- The Q Technique
- Paired Comparison Method
- Checklists
- The Delphi Method
- Projective Techniques
- Content Analysis
- Observation Instruments
- Instruments for Existing Documents, Materials and Artifacts
- Where You Are Now
- 13. Select the Statistical Test
- Steps to Take After Reading This Chapter
- Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
- Statistics and Parameters
- Parametric and Nonparametric Tests
- The Normal Distribution
- The Critical Value
- Degrees of Freedom
- Determine the Statistical Purpose
- Significance of Group Differences
- Degree of Association Among Variables
- Select the Statistical Procedure
- The Chi-square Test of Independence
- t-Test for Two Independent Groups
- Analysis of Variance
- The Scheffe Test after an ANOVA
- Bivariate Regression: The Pearson Product-moment Correlation
- Prediction: The Regression Coefficient
- Where You Are Now
- 14. Multivariate Techniques
- Steps to Take After Reading This Chapter
- Two-Way Analysis of Variance
- Multiple Regression
- Other Multivariate Techniques
- Where You Are Now
- 15. Data Handling and Reduction
- Steps to Take After Reading This Chapter
- Preparation for Data Handling
- Plan for Editing the Data
- Plan for Data Reduction and Summaries
- Frequency Distributions
- Measures of Central Tendency
- Measures of Variability
- Contingency Tables and Cross Tabulations
- Using a Computer
- Where You Are Now
- 16. Complete the Pilot Study, the Proposal, the Research and the Report
- Steps to Take After Reading This Chapter
- Conduct the Pilot Study
- How to Conduct a Pilot Study
- Complete the Proposal
- Submit the Proposal to the Sponsor
- Conduct the Research
- Write the Research Report
- Sections Which Are Included in Most Research Reports
- Suggestions for Writing the Report
- Graphs and Charts
- Personal Presentation of the Research Report
- Post Research Blues
- Where You Are Now
