Arlene G. Fink – författare

"Good coverage of target populations and samples, and statistics of sampling. Logical progression through the material with good use of examples."

--Carol J. Lancaster, Medical University of South Carolina

How much is enough in your sample? What is the difference between a research question and a survey question? By exploring the answers to these questions, this book shows readers how to specify inclusion and exclusion criteria in a sample, select the appropriate probability and non-probability sampling methods, understand the sources of error in sampling, and calculate the response rate. New to this edition is coverage of sample size and power so that the reader can better understand the logic in determining the sample size to detect a difference if one exists. Filled with checklists and guidelines, this book will enable readers to select and use the most appropriate sampling methods for their survey.

"Fink provides detailed descriptions of inclusion/exclusion criteria, the logic in estimating standard errors and sample size determination, and the sources of sampling errors."

--Gerald Albaum, book review in Journal of Marketing Research

"I am truly amazed at how complete this booklet is. What a wealth of material to help in developing questions!"

--Bonnie Rader, California State University, Long Beach

Aimed at helping readers prepare and use reliable and valid survey questions, How to Ask Survey Questions, 2nd shows readers how to do the following:

* Ask valid and reliable questions for the context

* Determine whether to use open or closed questions

* Choose the right type of measurement (categorical, nominal or ordinal) for responses to survey questions

* Ask questions that get at attitude, behavior, and knowledge

* Develop factorial, conjoint and Internet survey questions

New to this edition is coverage of focus group questions, the characteristics and uses of factorial questions and conjoint analysis questions, and the principles underlying Internet survey questions.

"This is a very basic overview of statistical terms and tests with which any persons conducting a survey should be familiar if a survey is to be appropriately designed and analyzed. The presentation is straightforward and uses numerous appropriate examples and exercises to illustrate ideas. These materials could be used with a wide range of audiences. I would be inclined to include this in my graduate methods class because many students take the methods course before thy have completed the series of statistics courses. For those students who have completed a statistic course, this book can serve as a very nice primer for guiding their decisions in survey design and analysis."

--Rhonda J. V. Montgomery, Department of Gerontology, University of Kansas

Clear and concise, How to Analyze Survey Data shows you how to do just that: analyze survey data. Beginning with a basic overview, this volume shows what statistics can do for surveys, describes measurement scales in detail, and demonstrates how to choose a method to analyze your results. It includes checklists and guidelines, and practice exercises to check your progress. The volume also discusses regression, hypothesis testing, and offers a cogent discussion on screening and transforming data.

Practicing Research: Discovering Evidence That Matters provides students, practitioners, and researchers with guidance on best practices. The book's eight chapters correspond to the skills that research consumers need to discover evidence that matters. Author Arlene Fink pays special attention to facilitating student learning by offeringing over a hundred examples, exercises, tables, figures, and checklists, as well as an extensive glossary. All the examples are taken from existing research and programs and grounded in the practitioner's reality.Key Features

Intended Audience

This text is intended to be the core text or one of the primary texts for applied research courses at the graduate level in Education, Social Work, Public Administration and Policy, Evaluation, Health, Nursing, and Criminal Justice. Readers should have a passing familiarity with the idea of research, but no special research expertise is necessary.

Practicing Research: Discovering Evidence That Matters provides students, practitioners, and researchers with guidance on best practices. The book's eight chapters correspond to the skills that research consumers need to discover evidence that matters. Author Arlene Fink pays special attention to facilitating student learning by offeringing over a hundred examples, exercises, tables, figures, and checklists, as well as an extensive glossary. All the examples are taken from existing research and programs and grounded in the practitioner's reality.Key Features

Intended Audience

This text is intended to be the core text or one of the primary texts for applied research courses at the graduate level in Education, Social Work, Public Administration and Policy, Evaluation, Health, Nursing, and Criminal Justice. Readers should have a passing familiarity with the idea of research, but no special research expertise is necessary.