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| Preface | |
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| Introduction | |
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| The Research Process | |
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| The Formulation of Theory | |
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| The Operationalization of Theory | |
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| The Selection of Appropriate Research Techniques | |
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| The Observation of Behavior | |
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| The Analysis of Data | |
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| Interpretation of the Results | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Preparing To Do Research | |
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| Theory Building: Concepts and Hypotheses in Political Research | |
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| The Nature of Social Science Theory | |
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| The Logic of Theory Building | |
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| Components of Social Science Theory | |
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| Relationships in Social Science Theory | |
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| Theory Testing and Elaboration | |
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| The Role of Hypotheses | |
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| Formulating Hypotheses | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Setting the Foundation: Techniques of Systematic Bibliographic Search | |
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| Using the Existing Literature | |
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| Developing a System | |
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| Conducting the Search | |
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| Political Science Journals | |
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| Bibliographic Sources | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercise | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| From Abstract to Concrete: Operationalization and Measurement | |
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| Operationalization: The Link Between Theory and Observation | |
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| Operational Definitions | |
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| Measurement | |
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| Levels of Measurement | |
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| Working Hypotheses | |
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| Measurement Error: The Enemy | |
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| Validity | |
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| Reliability | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Working From a Plan Considerations in Research Design | |
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| Research Purpose and Research Design | |
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| Coping with Alternative Rival Hypotheses Through Research Design | |
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| Experimental Research Designs | |
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| Assigning Cases to Groups | |
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| Field Experiments and Nonexperimental Designs | |
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| Quasi-Experimental Designs | |
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| Creating a Research Design | |
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| Factors That Threaten Validity | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Who, What, Where, When: The Problem of Sampling | |
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| Defining a Representative Sample | |
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| Procedures for Selecting a Representative Sample | |
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| Variations on Random Sampling | |
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| Determining Appropriate Sample Size | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Quantitative Methods | |
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| Survey Research | |
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| Stages of the Survey Process | |
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| Conceptualizing | |
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| Survey Design | |
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| Instrumentation | |
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| Planning and Sampling | |
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| Training and Briefing Personnel | |
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| Pretesting | |
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| Surveying | |
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| Monitoring | |
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| Verifying | |
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| Secondary Analysis of Survey Data | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Scaling Techniques | |
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| Scale Construction: Two Basic Concerns | |
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| Likert Scaling | |
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| Guttman Scaling | |
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| Thurstone Scaling | |
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| The Semantic Differential | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Content Analysis | |
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| Preparing to Use Content Analysis | |
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| Undertaking a Substantive Content Analysis | |
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| Undertaking a Structural Content Analysis | |
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| Special Problems in the Use of Content Analysis | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Sources and Applications of Aggregate Data | |
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| Types of Aggregate Data | |
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| Problems in the Use of Aggregate Data | |
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| Sources of Aggregate Data | |
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| Collecting Aggregate Data | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Crossing Borders: The Practice of Comparative Research | |
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| Finding Questions that "Travel" | |
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| Using Equivalent Measures | |
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| Choosing Cases to Study | |
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| Finding Independent Observations | |
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| Finding Data | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Analyzing Quantitative Data | |
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| Data Preparation and Data Processing | |
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| Coding: What Do All Those Numbers Mean? | |
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| The Codebook and the Coding Sheet | |
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| Data Entry and Data Processing | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Describing the Data: The Construction of Tables, Charts, and Diagrams | |
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| The Enumerative Table | |
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| The Line Diagram | |
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| The Pie Diagram and the Bar Chart | |
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| The Bilateral Bar Chart | |
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| The Contingency Table | |
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| Some Words of Caution | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Statistics I: Summarizing Distributions on One Variable | |
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| Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion | |
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| Measures for Nominal Variables | |
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| Measures for Ordinal Variables | |
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| Measures for Interval Variables | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Statistics II: Examining Relationships Between Two Variables | |
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| Measures of Association and Statistical Significance | |
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| Measures of Association and Significance for Nominal Variables | |
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| Measures of Association and Significance for Ordinal Variables | |
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| Measures of Association and Significance for Interval Variables | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Statistics III: Examining Relationships Among Several Variables | |
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| Tabular Analysis | |
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| Multiple Regression | |
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| Interpreting Multiple Regression Results | |
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| Path Analysis | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Mathematical Modeling | |
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| The Process of Modeling | |
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| Why Model? | |
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| Examples of Mathematical Models of Political Behavior | |
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| Other Types of Models | |
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| Problems with Modeling | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Qualitative Methods | |
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| Introduction to Qualitative Methods | |
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| Comparing Qualitative and Quantitative Methods | |
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| Irreconcilable Differences? | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Elite and Specialized Interviewing | |
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| Elite Interviewing | |
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| Techniques of Elite Interviewing | |
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| Specialized Interviewing | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Direct Observation | |
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| Scientific Method and Direct Observation | |
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| Approaches to Direct Observation | |
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| Techniques of Unstructured Observation | |
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| Techniques of Structured Observation | |
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| Sampling Procedures in Direct Observation | |
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| Coping with Method Effects in Direct Observation | |
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| The Ethics of Direct Observation | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Focus Group Methodologies | |
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| Why Use Focus Groups? | |
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| Limitations of Focus Groups | |
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| When Are Focus Groups Useful? | |
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| Planning and Conducting Focus Groups | |
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| Analyzing Focus Group Results | |
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| Reporting Focus Group Results | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Terms Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Writing (or Reading) the Research Report | |
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| The Plan | |
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| The Structure | |
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| The Style | |
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| The Title and Abstract | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| A Case in Point | |
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| Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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| Research Exercises | |
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| Term Introduced in This Chapter | |
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| Overview | |
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| Developing Hypotheses, Measures, and a Research Design | |
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| Data Collection and Analysis | |
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| A Checklist for Judging Research | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Statistical Tables | |
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| Ethical Considerations in Empirical Research | |
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| Glossary | |
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| Index | |