Peter H. Rossi – författare

In 1978, the Social and Demographic Research Institute of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, received a grant from the National Institute of Justice to undertake a comprehensive review of the literature on weapons, crime, and violence in the United States. The purpose of the project is best described as a "sifting and winnowing" of the claims and counterclaims from both sides of the Great American Gun War - the perennial struggle in Ameri­can political life over what to do, if anything, about guns, about violence, and about crime. The review and analysis of the available studies consumed the better part of three years; the results of this work are contained in this volume.The intention of any review is to take stock of the available fund of knowledge in some topical area. Under the Gun is no different: our goal has been to glean from the volumes of previous studies those facts that, in our view, seem firmly and certainly established; those hypotheses that seem adequately supported by, or at least approximately consistent with, the best available research evidence; and those areas or topics about which, it seems, we need to know a lot more than we do. One of our major conclusions can be stated in advance: despite the large number of studies that have been done, many critically important questions have not been adequately researched, and some of them have not been examined at all.Much of the available research in the area of weapons and crime has been done by advocates for one or another policy position. As a consequence, the manifest intent of many "studies" is to persuade rather than to inform. We have tried to approach the topic from a purely agnostic point of view, treating as an open question what policies should be enacted with regard to gun, or crime, control. Thus, we have tried to judge each study on its own merits, on the basis of the routine standards normally applied to social-scientific research, and not on the basis of how effectively it argues for a particular policy direction. It would, of course, be presumptuous to claim that we have set aside all our own biases in conducting this study. Whether or not our treatment is fair and objective is clearly something for the reader, and not us, to decide.

The most accurate and comprehensive picture of homelessness to date, this study offers a powerful explanation of its causes, proposes short- and long-term solutions, and documents the striking contrasts between the homeless of the 1950s and 1960s and the contemporary homeless population, which is younger and contains more women, children, and blacks.

From the first edition . . .

"There are a number of outstanding features to this book. First, introducing the key concepts in an easy-to-understand fashion. Second, using specific examples as concrete illustrations of the methods being utilized. Another positive feature is the in-depth appendix, which provides many additional sources of information on the subject of program evaluation. . . . This comprehensive resource presents a realistic look at the potential and the pitfalls of program evaluation. The authors' examination of the issues from various angles produces a document that can be a useful guide to program evaluation."

--The Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling

"Extremely interesting and well written. . . . Key terms are clearly introduced and the reader is given an excellent introduction to the role program evaluation might play in programs at different stages of development. A wide variety of interesting examples drawn from disparate fields of practice are used to illustrate key points. An appendix is provided to guide the reader toward the literature on program evaluation, professional associations, and organizations engaged in evaluation research."

--Canadian Public Administration

"The book has all the potential of becoming to program evaluation what Strunk and White's (1976) Elements of Style became for writing. Read frequently and faithfully, it could help evaluators do a better job."

--James W. Trent in Adult Residential Care Journal

Have you been looking for an overview of evaluation that will provide you with the big picture rather than so many details that you lose sight of what evaluation research is? Through the use of specific examples to illustrate evaluation research goals and methods, this book provides readers with an overview of the science and politics of evaluation research with comprehensive topics but selective details.

New to this edition is coverage of meta-analysis, selection models, and instrumental variables. In addition, the authors have expanded the coverage of analysis of data, evaluation when the units of analysis are entire organizations of political jurisdictions, and comparisons between evaluation research and other related fields. The rich mix of examples has been expanded to include more illustrations from environmental evaluation, and the most recent studies on welfare reform, managed mental health care, and law enforcement.

From the first edition . . .

"There are a number of outstanding features to this book. First, introducing the key concepts in an easy-to-understand fashion. Second, using specific examples as concrete illustrations of the methods being utilized. Another positive feature is the in-depth appendix, which provides many additional sources of information on the subject of program evaluation. . . . This comprehensive resource presents a realistic look at the potential and the pitfalls of program evaluation. The authors' examination of the issues from various angles produces a document that can be a useful guide to program evaluation."

--The Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling

"Extremely interesting and well written. . . . Key terms are clearly introduced and the reader is given an excellent introduction to the role program evaluation might play in programs at different stages of development. A wide variety of interesting examples drawn from disparate fields of practice are used to illustrate key points. An appendix is provided to guide the reader toward the literature on program evaluation, professional associations, and organizations engaged in evaluation research."

--Canadian Public Administration

"The book has all the potential of becoming to program evaluation what Strunk and White's (1976) Elements of Style became for writing. Read frequently and faithfully, it could help evaluators do a better job."

--James W. Trent in Adult Residential Care Journal

Have you been looking for an overview of evaluation that will provide you with the big picture rather than so many details that you lose sight of what evaluation research is? Through the use of specific examples to illustrate evaluation research goals and methods, this book provides readers with an overview of the science and politics of evaluation research with comprehensive topics but selective details.

New to this edition is coverage of meta-analysis, selection models, and instrumental variables. In addition, the authors have expanded the coverage of analysis of data, evaluation when the units of analysis are entire organizations of political jurisdictions, and comparisons between evaluation research and other related fields. The rich mix of examples has been expanded to include more illustrations from environmental evaluation, and the most recent studies on welfare reform, managed mental health care, and law enforcement.

For the past decade, transaction, and now Society, has dedicated itself to the task of reporting the strains and conflicts within the American system. The work done in the magazine has crossed disciplinary boundaries. This represents much more than simple cross-disciplinary "team efforts." It embodies rather a recognition that the social world cannot be easily carved into neat academic disciplines; that, indeed, the study of the experience of blacks in American ghettos, or the manifold uses and abuses of agencies of law enforcement, or the sorts of overseas policies that lead to the celebration of some dictatorships and the condemnation of others, can best be examined from many viewpoints and from the vantage points of many disciplines. The editors of Society magazine are now making available in permanent form the most important work done in the magazine, supplemented in some cases by additional materials edited to reflect the tone and style developed over the years by transaction.

For the past decade, transaction, and now Society, has dedicated itself to the task of reporting the strains and conflicts within the American system. The work done in the magazine has crossed disciplinary boundaries. This represents much more than simple cross-disciplinary team efforts. It embodies rather a recognition that the social world cannot be easily carved into neat academic disciplines; that, indeed, the study of the experience of blacks in American ghettos, or the manifold uses and abuses of agencies of law enforcement, or the sorts of overseas policies that lead to the celebration of some dictatorships and the condemnation of others, can best be examined from many viewpoints and from the vantage points of many disciplines. The editors of Society magazine are now making available in permanent form the most important work done in the magazine, supplemented in some cases by additional materials edited to reflect the tone and style developed over the years by transaction.

In 1978, the Social and Demographic Research Institute of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, received a grant from the National Institute of Justice to undertake a comprehensive review of the literature on weapons, crime, and violence in the United States. The purpose of the project is best described as a "sifting and winnowing" of the claims and counterclaims from both sides of the Great American Gun War - the perennial struggle in Ameri­can political life over what to do, if anything, about guns, about violence, and about crime. The review and analysis of the available studies consumed the better part of three years; the results of this work are contained in this volume.The intention of any review is to take stock of the available fund of knowledge in some topical area. Under the Gun is no different: our goal has been to glean from the volumes of previous studies those facts that, in our view, seem firmly and certainly established; those hypotheses that seem adequately supported by, or at least approximately consistent with, the best available research evidence; and those areas or topics about which, it seems, we need to know a lot more than we do. One of our major conclusions can be stated in advance: despite the large number of studies that have been done, many critically important questions have not been adequately researched, and some of them have not been examined at all.Much of the available research in the area of weapons and crime has been done by advocates for one or another policy position. As a consequence, the manifest intent of many "studies" is to persuade rather than to inform. We have tried to approach the topic from a purely agnostic point of view, treating as an open question what policies should be enacted with regard to gun, or crime, control. Thus, we have tried to judge each study on its own merits, on the basis of the routine standards normally applied to social-scientific research, and not on the basis of how effectively it argues for a particular policy direction. It would, of course, be presumptuous to claim that we have set aside all our own biases in conducting this study. Whether or not our treatment is fair and objective is clearly something for the reader, and not us, to decide.

First Published in 2017. The Education of Catholic Americans was a famous, comprehensive study of the effects of Catholic education in America by two very wellknown, heavily published sociologists, Fr. Andrew M. Greeley and Peter H. Rossi. The book was one of many seminal studies of different aspects of life and groups within American society sponsored by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. This edition has a new introduction by Stephen M. Krason.

The research reported in this volume was designed to provide estimates of the extent of damages and injuries from certain natu­ ral hazards inflicted on households in the United States. In addi­ tion, it reports on sources of aid proffered to households and the extent to which there are differences among households in the receipt of help. This volume represents the latest installment in a series of monographs stemming from the Social and Demographic Re­ search Institute's (SADRI) program of research on the effects of natural hazard events in the United States. The first volume in our series (Wright, Rossi, Wright, & Weber-Burdin, 1979) reported on the long-range effects of natural hazards on the population and housing stocks of neighborhoods and communities. The second volume (Rossi et aI. , 1982) assessed the support for hazard mitiga­ tion policies existing among local and state political elites in a sample of states and local communities in the United States. The main findings of these two monographs can be summarized as follows. First, long-range effects (up to 10 years postevent) of nat­ ural hazard events are minimal: Local communities and neighbor­ hoods that have been impacted by floods, tornadoes, or hurricanes appear to be no different in their population and housing growth patterns over the period 1960 to 1970 than comparable commu­ nities that went unscathed. Apparently, household and communi­ ty resources plus outside aid were sufficient ordinarily to restore impacted areas to normal growth patterns.