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| Illustrations | |
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| Preface | |
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| Concepts Fundamental to Proposal Writing | |
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| What Is a Proposal? | |
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| Definition of a Proposal | |
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| Typical Dissertation Proposal Sections | |
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| Overview of the Dissertation Proposal Process | |
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| Preparing Yourself | |
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| Preparing the Proposal | |
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| Self-Assessment | |
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| Environmental Assessment | |
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| The Functions of a Dissertation Proposal | |
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| The Functions of the Proposal in the Dissertation Process | |
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| The Proposal as Justification for the Study | |
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| The Proposal as Work Plan | |
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| The Proposal as Evidence of Ability | |
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| The Proposal as Request for Committment | |
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| The Proposal as Contract | |
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| The Proposal as Evaluative Criterion | |
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| The Proposal as Partial Dissertation Draft | |
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| Summary | |
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| How Functions Differ with Different Kinds of Inquiry | |
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| Prespecified vs. Emergent Studies | |
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| General vs. Local Findings | |
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| Proposal Function Review | |
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| The Proposal as a Chain of Reasoning | |
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| The Proposal as a Chain of Reasoning | |
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| The Chain of Reasoning in Studies with Generalizable Findings | |
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| The Links in the Chain | |
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| Details of the Links from Procedure to Data | |
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| Four Useful Characteristics of the Chain Analogy | |
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| Relation of the Chain Analogy to the Proposal | |
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| The Chain of Reasoning in Development and Problem-Solving Studies | |
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| Chain of Reasoning Analysis | |
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| Advice Common to Most Proposals | |
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| The Description of the Problem | |
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| The Problem of the Problem | |
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| Problem Statement | |
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| Related Research | |
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| What to Include | |
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| Search Strategies and Information Sources | |
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| Use of the Internet and World Wide Web | |
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| Research Strategies Before the Internet | |
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| Relevant Information Sources Appropriate to Successively Specific Stages of Problem Definition | |
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| Save Steps and Time with Your Computer-An Example | |
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| Quantitative Literature Summaries | |
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| Questions, Hypotheses, or Models? | |
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| Descriptions of Where to Look and Questions | |
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| Hypotheses | |
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| Models | |
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| Characteristics of a Good Dissertation Topic | |
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| What to Look for in Reviewing Literature for a Dissertation | |
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| Characteristics of a Good Proposal Statement | |
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| The Method Section | |
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| General Considerations | |
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| Adapt the Material on Method to Your Study | |
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| The Method Section Flows from the "Questions, Hypotheses, or Models" Section | |
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| Operationalizing Terms May Result in New Conceptualizations | |
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| Restrain the Design to Realistic Limits | |
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| Eliminate Plausible Alternative Explanations | |
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| Design Efficiency | |
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| Give Special Care to Those Sections Critical to Your Research Method | |
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| Developing the Subsections of Method | |
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| Participants-Population and Sample | |
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| Situation | |
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| Focus of Action-Treatment(s), Independent and Dependent Variable(s) | |
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| Records-Instrumentation and Observations | |
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| Comparison and Contrast-The Basis for Sensing Attributes or Changes | |
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| Time Schedule-The Specification of the Procedure | |
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| Problems in Data Collection | |
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| Analysis | |
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| Expected End Product | |
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| An Alternative Dissertation Format: Articles Ready for Publication | |
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| Study Methods Review | |
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| Ensuring Feasibility and Other Proposal Parts | |
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| Time Schedule or Work Plan | |
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| Graphic Depictions of the Work Plan | |
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| Assurance of Competence | |
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| Assurance of Access | |
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| Assurance of Observance of Ethical Considerations | |
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| Budget and/or Sources of Financial Support | |
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| Other Parts of the Proposal | |
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| Appendix | |
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| Abstract | |
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| Title | |
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| Last Steps Before Submitting for Approval | |
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| A Final Check and Review | |
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| Preparing the Final Copy | |
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| Funding | |
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| Writing the Proposal after You Are Well into the Study | |
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| Assurances Review | |
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| Advice Specific to Particular Kinds of Studies | |
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| The Special Requirements of Proposals Using Qualitative Approaches: Emergent, Qualitative, Philosophical, Historical | |
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| Qualitative Method Studies | |
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| The Special Problems of Emergent Study Proposals | |
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| A Checklist for Qualitative Method Study Proposals | |
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| The Focus or Question and Its Rationale | |
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| Sample of Persons, Sites, and Situations | |
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| Qualitative Orientation | |
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| Researcher's Qualifications | |
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| Data Collection | |
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| Data Analysis | |
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| Ensuring Ethical Procedure | |
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| Review of Proposals Using Emergent Qualitative Approaches | |
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| Philosophical and Historical Study Proposals | |
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| The Nature of the Proposal | |
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| The Conceptual Roots of the Study | |
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| Your Conceptual Contribution | |
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| The Assumptions on Which Your Study Proceeds | |
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| The Criteria by Which Your Study Is to Be Judged | |
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| In Any Kind of Study, How Much Is Enough? | |
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| Review of Proposals Using Philosophical and Historical Approaches | |
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| The Special Requirements of Proposals Using Quantitative Approaches: Experimental, Causal Modeling, Meta-Analysis | |
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| Experiments | |
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| Rationale | |
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| Hypotheses | |
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| Design or Procedure | |
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| Analysis of the Data | |
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| Causal Modeling | |
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| Review of Proposals Using Experimental and Causal Modeling Approaches | |
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| Meta-Analysis | |
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| Special Requirements of a Meta-Analysis Proposal | |
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| Review of Proposals Using Meta-Analysis Approaches | |
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| The Special Requirements of Proposals Using Qualitative and/or Quantitative Approaches: Survey, Evaluation, Development, Demonstration | |
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| Sample Surveys | |
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| Problem | |
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| Review of Previous Research | |
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| Design | |
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| Data Analysis | |
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| Review of Proposals Using Sample Survey Methods | |
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| Evaluation Studies | |
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| Audiences | |
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| Who Defines Program Goals or Standards? | |
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| What Evaluation Orientation Do You Bring to the Study? | |
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| Formative or Summative? | |
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| Describe the Research Method | |
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| Review of Proposals for Evaluation Studies | |
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| Development Studies (e.g., Curriculum, Equipment, Instrument, Software, and Methodology) | |
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| Special Emphases in the Problem Statement | |
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| Who Will be Involved? | |
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| Describe the Development Process | |
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| Work Plan | |
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| Whether and How Thoroughly to Evaluate the Product | |
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| Protection of Your End Product | |
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| Review of Proposals for Development Studies | |
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| Demonstration and Action Research Studies | |
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| Demonstration Projects | |
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| Review of Proposals for Demonstration Studies | |
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| Action Research Projects | |
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| Review of Proposals for Action Research Studies | |
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| Additional Considerations | |
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| Other Things to Consider | |
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| What If This Book's Advice and That of My Committee Differ? | |
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| Literature Review | |
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| Statement of Hypotheses | |
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| I'm Having Trouble Getting Started, What Do I Do? | |
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| Is There Enough Detail? | |
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| Is the Hasty Reader Signaled to Critically Important Proposal Parts? | |
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| How Shall I Show My Competence? | |
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| When Shall I Get My Chairperson's Reaction to a Draft? | |
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| A Final Review | |
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| Checklist of Sections of a Dissertation Proposal | |
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| Annotated Proposals | |
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| An Annotated Dissertation Proposal Using Qualitative Methods | |
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| The Change Process in Men Who Batter Women | |
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| An Annotated Dissertation Proposal Using Quantitative Methods | |
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| A Study of the Effectiveness of Concept Mapping in Improving Problem Solving | |
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| A Quantitative Dissertation Proposal with Student Annotations | |
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| Self-Directed Learning's Impact on MBA Students and Their Attitudes Toward Personal Development | |
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| Funded Proposals | |
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| Finding Funding | |
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| Search Current Grants | |
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| Federal | |
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| Foundations | |
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| Use Professional Associations | |
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| Examine Successful Proposals | |
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| Use Your Institution's Grants Support Office | |
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| Additional Readings | |
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| References | |
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| Index | |
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| About the Authors | |