Herrmann - Böcker

Ancient DNA refers to DNA which can be recovered and analyzed from clinical, museum, archaeological and paleontological specimens. Ancient DNA ranges in age from less than 100 years to tens of millions of years. The study of ancient DNA is a young field, but it has been revolutionized by the application of polymerase chain reaction technology, and interest is growing very rapidly. Fields as diverse as evolution, anthropology, medicine, agriculture, and even law enforcement have quickly found applications in the recovery of ancient DNA. This book contains contributions from many of the "first generation" researchers who pioneered the development and application of ancient DNA methods. Their chapters present the protocols and precautions which have resulted in the remarkable results obtained in recent years. The range of subjects reflects the wide diversity of applications that are emerging in research on ancient DNA, including the study of DNA to analyze kinship, recovery of DNA from organisms trapped in amber, ancient DNA from human remains preserved in a variety of locations and conditions, DNA recovered from herbarium and museum specimens, and DNA isolated from ancient plant seeds or compression fossils. Ancient DNA will serve as a valuable source of information, ideas, and protocols for anyone interested in this extraordinary field.

Survey methods research--an interdisciplinary approach. Introducing the theory and tools of cognitive aspects of survey methodology (CASM)--a movement that has greatly contributed to the evolving field of survey methods research--this collection of monographs explores advances in the use of cognitive psychology and other sciences to improve the quality of data collected in surveys. In 22 articles commissioned specifically for this volume, leading survey researchers, social scientists, and statisticians from around the globe evaluate the advantages of interdisciplinary survey techniques, focusing on the many contributions of the CASM movement and drawing on such disciplines as statistics, cognitive psychology, sociology, behavioral sciences, anthropology, linguistics, and computer sciences. The authors explain basic concepts and methodologies and demonstrate the application of cognitive theory to all phases of survey research, including data processing, analysis, presentation, and administration. They provide a critical review of the history and findings of CASM-oriented research and describe useful cognitive models used in survey testing and design. Also, the authors discuss the expanding role of computer technologies and statistical advances in the interdisciplinary aspects of survey methods and draw a roadmap for interdisciplinary survey research into the twenty-first century. Clearly written and supplemented with extensive references and more than 80 figures and charts, Cognition and Survey Research is an indispensable guide for statisticians and professionals who would like to be at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary survey methods research involving the social, cognitive, computer, or statistical sciences.