A firm knowledge of factor analysis is key to understanding much published research in the social and behavioral sciences. This volume provides a solid foundation in exploratory factor analysis (EFA), which along with confirmatory factor analysis, represents one of the two major strands in this field. The book lays out the mathematical foundations of EFA; explores the range of methods for extracting the initial factor structure; explains factor rotation; and outlines the methods for determining the number of factors to retain in EFA. The concluding chapter addresses a number of other key issues in EFA, such as determining the appropriate sample size for a given research problem, and the handling of missing data. It also offers brief introductions to exploratory structural equation modeling, and multilevel models for EFA. Example computer code, and the annotated output for all of the examples included in the text are available on an accompanying website.
The cases in this book offer insights about the practice of needs assessment in dynamic, real-world organizations and communities. This book invites both novice and seasoned analysts to look over the shoulders of practitioners, to examine needs assessment practice in action, to grasp the real-world issues that arise, and to understand a variety of needs assessment strategies and challenges. Each case in this book examines the implementation of needs assessment in a specific situation, bridging needs assessment theories and actual practice. The book is organized around five major approaches: knowledge and skill assessment, job and task analysis, competency assessment, strategic needs assessment, and complex needs assessment. The last chapter summarizes lessons learned from all the case studies: it describes the insights and tricks of the trade that the book's editors gained from commissioning and reviewing these cases.
Authors Richard M. Hough and Kimberly D. McCorkle employ more than 30 years of academic and practitioner experience to help explain why and how people kill and how society reacts. This brief, yet comprehensive text takes a balanced approach, combining scholarly research and theory with compelling details about recent cases and coverage of current trends.
Success as a Psychology Major is an essential resource for any student interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology. Built from the ground up with input from hundreds of psychology students, this text answers every question a trepidatious undergraduate may have. The text opens with practical tools on how to be a successful student, walks readers through the psychology curriculum, highlights key skills to develop, and presents the various academic and career paths to take after graduation. Unique chapters on joining a research lab, professional organizations and clubs, documenting students' accomplishments, and practical tools for managing time and money provide students with resources they will use throughout their academic career. Presented in a modular format with a student-friendly narrative, this text is a step-by-step road map to a fulfilling and meaningful experience as a student of psychology.
Exploring the U.S. Census gives social science students and researchers alike the tools to understand, extract, process, and analyze data from the decennial census, the American Community Survey, and other data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. Donnelly's text provides a thorough background on the data collection methods, structures, and potential pitfalls of the census for unfamiliar researchers, collecting information previously available only in widely disparate sources into one handy guide. Hands-on, applied exercises at the end of the chapters help readers dive into the data. Along the way, the author shows how best to analyze census data with open-source software and tools. Readers can freely evaluate the data on their own computers, in keeping with the free and open data provided by the Census Bureau. By placing the census in the context of the open data movement, this text makes the history and practice of the census relevant so readers can understand what a crucial resource the census is for research and knowledge.
This book offers a straightforward, practical introduction to evaluation for beginners and practitioners. It shows how to identify appropriate forms and approaches, using an original framework. The authors examine the role of evaluation in program development, and offer techniques for involving stakeholders in the planning process and for ......
This book will provide students with additional opportunities for practice in a course with challenging material that requires practice and repetition for deeper understanding.
In this Sixth Edition of The Essentials of Political Science, bestselling authors Philip H. Pollock III and Barry C. Edwards build students' analytic abilities and develop their statistical reasoning with new data, fresh exercises, and accessible examples.
"Guide to Completing a Thesis, Dissertation, or Action Research Project"
Designed to be used during the research process, Conducting Educational Research: Guide for Completing a Major Project, Second Edition, walks readers through each step of a research project or thesis, including developing a research question, performing a literature search, developing a research plan, collecting and analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and sharing the conclusions with others. Throughout the book, Daniel J. Boudah covers all types of research (including experimental, descriptive, qualitative, group designs, and single subject designs) and helps readers link research questions to designs, designs to data sources and data sources to appropriate analyses. Each chapter includes activities and exercises to ensure the researcher is asking the right questions and producing a quality project.
