Encyclopedia of Research Design

Research design can be daunting for all types of researchers. At its heart it might be described as a formalized approach toward problem solving, thinking, and acquiring knowledge―the success of which depends upon clearly defined objectives and appropriate choice of statistical tools, tests, and analysis to meet a project′s objectives.

Comprising more than 500 entries, the Encyclopedia of Research Design explains how to make decisions about research design, undertake research projects in an ethical manner, interpret and draw valid inferences from data, and evaluate experiment design strategies and results. Two additional features carry this encyclopedia far above other works in the field: bibliographic entries devoted to significant articles in the history of research design and reviews of contemporary tools, such as software and statistical procedures, used to analyze results.

Key Features

• Covers the spectrum of research design strategies, from material presented in introductory classes to topics necessary in graduate research
• Addresses cross- and multidisciplinary research needs, with many examples drawn from the social and behavioral sciences, neurosciences, and biomedical and life sciences
• Provides summaries of advantages and disadvantages of often-used strategies
• Uses hundreds of sample tables, figures, and equations based on real-life cases

Key Themes

Descriptive Statistics

Distributions

Graphical Displays of Data

Hypothesis Testing

Important Publications

Inferential Statistics

Item Response Theory

Mathematical Concepts

Measurement Concepts

Organizations

Publishing

Qualitative Research

Reliability of Scores

Research Design Concepts

Research Designs

Research Ethics

Research Process

Research Validity Issues

Sampling

Scaling

Software Applications

Statistical Assumptions

Statistical Concepts

Statistical Procedures

Statistical Tests

Theories, Laws, and Principles

Types of Variables

Validity of Scores

The Encyclopedia of Research Design is the perfect instrument for new learners as well as experienced researchers to explore both the original and newest branches of the field.

Neil J. Salkind received his PhD in human development from the University of Maryland, and after teaching for 35 years at the University of Kansas, he was Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology and Research in Education, where he collaborated with colleagues and work with students. His early interests were in the area of children’s cognitive development, and after research in the areas of cognitive style and (what was then known as) hyperactivity, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of North Carolina’s Bush Center for Child and Family Policy. His work then changed direction to focus on child and family policy, specifically the impact of alternative forms of public support on various child and family outcomes. He delivered more than 150 professional papers and presentations; written more than 100 trade and textbooks; and is the author of Statistics for People Who (Think They) Hate Statistics (SAGE), Theories of Human Development (SAGE), and Exploring Research (Prentice Hall). He has edited several encyclopedias, including the Encyclopedia of Human Development, the Encyclopedia of Measurement and Statistics, and the Encyclopedia of Research Design. He was editor of Child Development Abstracts and Bibliography for 13 years. He lived in Lawrence, Kansas, where he liked to read, swim with the River City Sharks, work as the proprietor and sole employee of big boy press, bake brownies (see www.statisticsforpeople.com for the recipe), and poke around old Volvos and old houses.