Encyclopedia of Social Measurement - Tapa dura

"Written by experienced methodologists in various fields of the social sciences, the 356 alphabetically arranged, signed entries in this encyclopedia describe the "research questions social scientists ask, the sources and methods they use to collect information, and the techniques they use to analyze these data and provide answers to the important questions." The work covers both quantitative and qualitative approaches to the social sciences and social measurement. To aid the reader, an alphabetical list of entries and a table of contents organized by subject precede the text. Articles on such topics as sample design and Web-based surveys consist of a glossary, a defining statement, the main body of the article, a list of cross-references, and a bibliography. An extensive subject index completes the work. The present work and The Sage Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods," Ed. by M.S. Lewis-Beck et al. (CH, Sep '04, 42-0062), complement one another; Sage covers about 1,000 topics at varying length and ESM provides analysis in greater depth on a smaller number of subjects. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and professionals." --CHOICE

"Most social science disciplines - Sociology, Psychology, Population, etc. - have seen the publication of a multi-volume encyclopedia in recent years. The Encyclopedia of Social Measurement cuts across these disciplines with a creative and comprehensive organizing structure. Its authoritative entries range from big picture topics such as research design and experimental vs. non-experimental methods, to specific methods of data collection and analysis such as focus groups, structural equation models, and spatial statistics, to important but often overlooked issues such as the proper use of weights. There are fascinating applications to archeology, criminology, and many other substantive specializations, and biographies of leading figures in the history of these methods. Each entry has a table of contents, glossary and bibliography. This encyclopedia will be a very helpful resource for virtually any social scientist, but it is also a fascinating read and hard to put down!" --Thomas Pullum, University of Texas at Austin

"With entries on research applications in fields from anthropology to urban studies, on key figures in the history of social measurement, and on major data sources, the Encyclopedia of Social Measurement will be highly valued by general readers, beginning social science researchers, and experienced practitioners alike. Authors offer expert yet accessible coverage of contemporary practices in key phases of social research starting with research design and ranging through measurement and data collection to both basic and sophisticated data analysis. With broad interdisciplinary appeal, the Encyclopedia is an essential compendium on twenty-first century social science inquiry." --Peter Marsden, Harvard University

"A huge effort to present social measurement in all its depth and width. Highly recommended for every researcher in the social and behavioral sciences. A must for libraries. The editors and authors have done an outstanding job to make technical matters accessible to the substantive researcher." --Ingwer Borg, Scientific Director ZUMA (Center for Surveys, Methodology, and Analyses), Mannheim, Germany and Professor of Applied Psychological Methods, University of Giessen, Germany

"The Encyclopedia of Social Measurement is a highly valuable resource. It covers a wide range of related topics in depth. If you have any question about social measurement, you should consult it first." --Yu Xie, The University of Michigan

"This is an encyclopedia for methodologists by methodologists. The articles are clearly written and get you right into the key literature. The breadth of coverage is impressive, with articles from colleagues in all the social and behavioral sciences." --H. Russell Bernard, University of Florida

"In too many areas of the social sciences, measurement issues are neglected. Instead the emphasis is on relating readily available variables to each other while pretending that these variables are essentially infallible measures of our concepts. This illusion holds back scientific progress. The Encyclopedia of Social Measurement is a welcomed publication that brings renewed emphasis to the critical issues of measurement. It provides different disciplinary perspectives on measurement and modeling with entries that are informative and accessible. Social scientists of diverse backgrounds should find this a useful reference." --Kenneth A. Bollen, University of North Carolina

"The Encyclopedia of Social Measurement is a magnificent and much needed resource for social and behavioral scientists as well as for scientists in the health care fields. It addresses a broad range of measurement topics which are relevant across several disciplines in a substantive yet understandable way. This will be a valued and well-used reference book in my bookcase." --Ora Strickland, Emory University

"The Encyclopedia of Social Measurement promises to fill the long-felt need for a new up-to-date and ready-to-apply reference text in the rapidly developing area of measurement methodology in the social and behavioral sciences. The well-designed chapter structure and the impressive ensemble of internationally renowned expert contributors will establish a new standard in the social and behavioral science measurement domain." --Kurt Pawlik, University of Hamburg

"If you are a social scientist, you'll want to keep the Encyclopedia of Social Measurement close at hand. Whether you're trying to recall the relative merits of different approaches to determining inter-rater reliability, or looking for pointers to foundational work you should cite on the philosophy underlying causal inference, it's all in here (along with a lot more)." --Robert Austin, Harvard Business School

"This encyclopedia provides a very useful introduction to modern methods of data analysis. The articles on statistical methodology are written in a clear and concise manner, with emphasis on substantive and practical applications. This encyclopedia is strongly recommended to students interested in sociology, demography, and epidemiology as a useful and practical guide to their research." --Leonid Gavrilov, University of Chicago

"In the social sciences, reflective use of measurement is essential. The Encyclopedia of Social Measurement provides an impressive and comprehensive guide to this field." --Gerd Gigerenzer, Max Planck Institute for Human Development

"The enyclopedia avoids the usual short articles with definitions and references, and provides fully developed chapters -- by recognized authorities -- that easily replace a substantial library of sociological methodology books." --Karl van Meter, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

The Encyclopedia of Social Measurement captures the data, techniques, theories, designs, applications, histories, and implications of assigning numerical values to social phenomena. Responding to growing demands for transdisciplinary descriptions of quantitative and qualitative techniques, measurement, sampling, and statistical methods, it will increase the proficiency of everyone who gathers and analyzes data.

Covering all core social science disciplines, the 300+ articles of the Encyclopedia of Social Measurement not only present a comprehensive summary of observational frameworks and mathematical models, but also offer tools, background information, qualitative methods, and guidelines for structuring the research process. Articles include examples and applications of research strategies and techniques, highlighting multidisciplinary options for observing social phenomena. The alphabetical arrangement of the articles, their glossaries and cross-references, and the volumes' detailed index will encourage exploration across the social sciences. Descriptions of important data sets and case studies will help readers understand resources they can often instantly access.

Also available online via ScienceDirect - featuring extensive browsing, searching, and internal cross-referencing between articles in the work, plus dynamic linking to journal articles and abstract databases, making navigation flexible and easy. For more information, pricing options and availability visit www.info.sciencedirect.com.

• Introduces readers to the advantages and potential of specific techniques and suggests additional sources that readers can then consult to learn more
• Conveys a range of basic to complex research issues in sufficient detail to explain even the most complicated statistical technique. Readers are provided with references for further information
• Eleven substantive sections delineate social sciences and the research processes they follow to measure and provide new knowledge on a wide range of topics
• Authors are prominent scholars and methodologists from all social science fields
• Within each of the sections important components of quantitative and qualitative research methods are dissected and illustrated with examples from diverse fields of study
• Actual research experiences provide useful examples