Understanding Research Methods: A Guide for the Public and Nonprofit Manager (Hardcover)

Introduction to Research
Research
Overview of Book

The Research Process
The Purpose of Research
Development of Research Focus

Variable Construction
Characteristics of Measurements
The Development of Variables
Reliability
Validity

Research Ethics
Ethics in the Research Process
Protection of Human Subjects

Research Designs
Validity
Research Designs
Threats to Validity

Data Collection
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources

Sampling
Some Definitions
Sample Selection
Sample Size
Error
Reaching Respondents and Improving Response Rates
Appendices

Questionnaire Construction
Question Wording
Question Structure
Response Formats for Closed Questions
Questionnaire Layout
Cover Letters
Final Stages

Coding and Managing Data
The Codebook
Coding
Database Management
Descriptive Data Analysis
Central Tendency: Finding the Most, Middle, or Average
Measures of Dispersion
Graphics
Calculating Descriptive Statistics and Creating the Graphics

Bivariate Statistics
Testing for Relationships
Cross Tabulations
Difference of Means
Analysis of Variance
Correlation

Communicating Research Results
The Components of a Research Paper
Presenting Tables and Graphics