This Family Report was developed for use in conjunction with the AEPS (R) for children 3 to 6 years to obtain information from parents and other caregivers about their childrens skills and abilities across major areas of development.
Unlike other types of qualitative research, the clinical perspective in field research does not aim to be impartial and uninvolved. The clinician is usually a consultant brought in specifically to effect change in an organization, and therefore works under a very different set of technical and ethical restraints. Edgar Schein succinctly outlines the clinical perspective in field research, how it differs from other types of qualitative research and its inherent rewards and difficulties.
While much has been written on alternative paradigm research, there is little concrete advice on how to effectively use the theoretical notions of naturalistic inquiry in practice. Doing Naturalistic Inquiry is the practical guide designed to help beginning researchers apply the constructivist paradigm. Based upon the theoretical work of Lincoln and Guba in developing the naturalistic-or constructivist--paradigm, Erlandson and his colleagues show readers how these ideas shape the practice of conducting alternative paradigm research. The book covers the research process from design through data collection analysis and presentation and examines important issues generally minimized in positivist research texts ethics, trustworthiness, and authenticity. Cases from a wide variety of disciplines demonstrate the efficacy of the methods described. Doing Naturalistic Inquiry is a highly useful teaching tool for anyone using a constructivist lens on research.
Meta-Analysis shows concisely, yet comprehensively, how to apply statistical methods to achieve a literature review of a common research domain. It demonstrates the use of combined tests and measures of effect size to synthesize quantitatively the results of independent studies for both group differences and correlations. Strengths and weaknesses of alternative approaches, as well as of meta-analysis in general, are presented.
This monograph is not statistical. It looks instead at pre-statistical assumptions about dependent variables and causal order. Professor Davis spells out the logical principles that underlie our ideas of causality and explains how to discover causal direction, irrespective of the statistical technique used. He stresses throughout that knowledge of the `real world' is important and repeatedly challenges the myth that causal problems can be solved by statistical calculations alone.
Ordinary regression analysis is not appropriate for investigating dichotomous or otherwise `limited' dependent variables, but this volume examines three techniques -- linear probability, probit, and logit models -- which are well-suited for such data. It reviews the linear probability model and discusses alternative specifications of non-linear models. Using detailed examples, Aldrich and Nelson point out the differences among linear, logit, and probit models, and explain the assumptions associated with each.
A substantially revised and updated edition of an earlier volume in the series. Asher presents a number of techniques of causal modelling, beginning with the work of Simon and Blalock, and moving on to recursive and non-recursive path estimation. Special attention is given to a number of problems in the causal analysis of data, with illustrations from studies in political socialization and voting behaviour.
Explains how social scientists can evaluate the reliability and validity of empirical measurements, discussing the three basic types of validity: criterion related, content, and construct. In addition, the paper shows how reliability is assessed by the retest method, alternative-forms procedure, split-halves approach, and internal consistency method.