Surveys in Social Research

ISBN-13: 9780415530187 / Angielski / Miękka / 2013 / 382 str.

David de Vaus

Opis

David de Vaus' classic text "Surveys in Social Research" provides clear advice on how to plan, conduct and analyse social surveys. It emphasises the links between theory and research, the logic and interpretation of statistics and the practices of social research. This sixth edition has been completely revised and updated, and contains new examples, data and extensive lists of web resources.

As well as explaining how to conduct good surveys, de Vaus shows how to become a critical consumer of research. He argues that the logic of surveys and statistics is simply an extension of the logic we use in everyday life; analysis, however, requires creativity and imagination rather than the application of sterile mechanical procedures. The prime goal of research should be to gain accurate understanding and, as a researcher, use methods and techniques which enhance understanding. De Vaus advocates researchers use the method, rather than letting the method use you.

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Surveys in Social Research" is essential reading for students and researchers working with surveys. It assumes no background in statistical analysis, and gives you the tools you need to come to grips with this often challenging field of work.

Spis treści

Part I: The Scope of Survey Research  1. The Nature of Surveys  2. Theory and Social Research  3. Formulating and Clarifying Research Questions  Part II: Collecting Survey Data  4. Developing Indicators for Concepts  5. Ethics and Data Collection  6. Finding a Sample  7. Constructing Questionnaires  8. Administering Questionnaires  Part III: Setting Up the Data for Analysis  9. Coding  10. Preparing Variables for Analysis  11. Building Scales  Part IV: Analysing Survey Data  12. Overview of Analysis  13. Univariate Analysis  14. Bivariate Analysis: Nominal and Ordinal Variables  15. Bivariate Analysis for Interval-Level Variables  16. Elaborate Bivariate Relationships  17. Multivariate Analysis  18. Putting It into Practice: A Research Example.  Glossary.  Bibliography

O autorze

David de Vaus is Emeritus Professor in Sociology, University of Queensland.