Political Science

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Research Methods for Public Administrators, 4/E
Elizabethann O'Sullivan, North Carolina State University
Gary R. Rassel, University of North Carolina - Charlotte
Maureen Berner, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

ISBN-10: 0321085582
ISBN-13: 9780321085580

Publisher: Longman
Copyright: 2003
Format: Cloth; 512 pp
Published: 05/03/2002

This practical, up-to-date text introduces students to the methodological tools public administrators and policy analysts use to conduct research.

This lucid text offers an abundance of examples to illustrate methods and step-by-step instructions focusing on common research techniques, providing a sound foundation in model building, research design, measurement, and sampling. The statistical section of the book focuses on correct use and interpretation of commonly used statistics, including linear regression.

The book's overall aim is to develop effective, efficient research skills among future public administrators so that they will be better policy makers and good administrators. It accomplishes this not only by providing a solid foundation in technique, but by developing an awareness of the ethical issues associated with conducting research and reporting findings.

This product accompanies:
O'Sullivan, Rassel & Berner, Research Methods for Public Administrators, 5/E

“Problems for Homework and Discussion” at the end of every chapter include computer problems using the data files on the disk in the back of the text to illustrate concepts and techniques discussed in the chapter.

“Disk Work” at the end of each chapter includes exercises using the data disk, filled with information about the data, and data saved in ASCII, spreadsheets, and SPSS formats.

NEW! Internet surveys have been interspersed throughout the text. For example, a Web survey of state employees about their level of trust in their supervisors and whether the employees feel empowered.

Chapter 3 has been substantially updated and a discussion on the theoretical linkage between variables to establish causality has been added.

Chapter 8 has been updated with recent examples of problems regarding the treatment of human subjects. The discussion about the protection of human subjects has been re-organized into sub-sections: informed consent, weighing costs and benefits, subject selection. The discussion of IRB has also been reorganized to improve clarity and to include current criticism of IRB process.

Chapter 9 has been thoroughly updated to include information from the 2000 Census.

At the end of each chapter: “Summary,” “Terms for Review,” “Questions for Review,” “Problems for Homework and Discussion,” “Disk Work.”

1.Beginning a Research Project: The Preliminary Steps.

2. Designs for Description.

3. Designs for Explanation.

4. Measuring Variables.

5. Sampling.

6. Contacting and Talking to Subjects.

7. Data Collection: Questions and Questionnaires.

8. Protection of Human Research Subjects and Other Ethical Issues.

9. Secondary Data Analysis: Finding and Analyzing Existing Data.

10. Combining Indicators: Index Construction.

11. Univariate Analysis.

12. Examining Relationships among Variables: Tests of Statistical Significance.

13. Examining Relationships among Variables: Contingency Tables with Measures of Association, Analysis of Variance.

14. Regression Analysis and Correlation.

15. Communicating Findings and Completing the Project.

Glossary.

Index.

Research Methods in Political Science (Introduction to Political Science/Theory/Methods)
Public Administration (Public Policy and Administration)

Research Methods for Public Administrators, 5/E
O'Sullivan, Rassel & Berner
©2008 | Longman | Paper; 512 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321431375 | ISBN-13: 9780321431370
Net price: $99.75 (What's this?)Brief Description

This practical, lucid text with bound-in CD introduces students to the methodological tools public administrators and policy analysts use to conduct research in today's world.

This accessible text and CD offers an abundance of engaging examples and provides step-by-step instructions to illustrate common research methods and techniques, providing students and future administrators with a sound foundation in model building, research design, measurement, and sampling. The book's statistical section focuses on correct use and interpretation of commonly used statistics, including linear regression.

The book's overall aim is to develop effective, efficient research skills among future public administrators so that they will be better policy makers. It accomplishes this not only by providing a comprehensive survey of research techniques, but also by developing students' awareness of the ethical issues associated with conducting research and reporting findings.

Course & Discipline Resources

For Research Methods in Political Science

Allyn & Bacon Social Research Website (Open access)
Allyn & Bacon
©2004 | Longman | Website; 0 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205405916 | ISBN-13: 9780205405916

MySearchLab (access code required)
Pearson
©2010 | Longman | Website | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205699391 | ISBN-13: 9780205699391
Online purchase price: $10.00

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