Written for students taking research methods courses, this text provides a thorough overview of sampling principles. The author gives detailed, nontechnical descriptions and guidelines with limited presentation of formulas to help students reach basic research decisions, such as whether to choose a census or a sample, as well as how to select sample size and sample type. Intended for students and researchers in the social and behavioral sciences, public health research, marketing research, and related areas, the text provides nonstatisticians with the concepts and techniques they need to do quality work and make good sampling choices.
Written for students taking research methods courses, this text provides a thorough overview of sampling principles. The author gives detailed, nontechnical descriptions and guidelines with limited presentation of formulas to help students reach basic research decisions, such as whether to choose a census or a sample, as well as how to select sample size and sample type. Intended for students and researchers in the social and behavioral sciences, public health research, marketing research, and related areas, the text provides nonstatisticians with the concepts and techniques they need to do quality work and make good sampling choices.
Sampling is fundamental to nearly every study in the social and policy sciences, yet clear, concise guidance for practitioners and graduate students has been difficult to find. Practical Sampling provides guidance for researchers dealing with the everyday problems of sampling. Using the practical design approach Henry integrates sampling into the overall research design and explains the interrelationships between research design and sampling choices. He lays out alternatives and implications of the choices using four detailed examples to illustrate the alternatives selected and the trade-offs made by applied researchers. The author uses a narrative, conceptual approach throughout the book; mathematical presentations are limited to necessary formulas; and calculations are kept to the absolute minimum, making it an easily approachable book for any researcher, student or professional across the social sciences.
An integrated approach to understanding the principles of sampling, chemical analysis, and instrumentation This unique reference focuses on the overall framework and why various methodologies are used in environmental sampling and analysis. An understanding of the underlying theories and principles empowers environmental professionals to select and adapt the proper sampling and analytical protocols for specific contaminants as well as for specific project applications. Covering both field sampling and laboratory analysis, Fundamentals of Environmental Sampling and Analysis includes: A review of the basic analytical and organic chemistry, statistics, hydrogeology, and environmental regulations relevant to sampling and analysis An overview of the fundamentals of environmental sampling design, sampling techniques, and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) essential to acquire quality environmental data A detailed discussion of: the theories of absorption spectroscopy for qualitative and quantitative environmental analysis; metal analysis using various atomic absorption and emission spectrometric methods; and the instrumental principles of common chromatographic and electrochemical methods An introduction to advanced analytical techniques, including various hyphenated mass spectrometries and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy With real-life case studies that illustrate the principles plus problems and questions at the end of each chapter to solidify understanding, this is a practical, hands-on reference for practitioners and a great textbook for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students in environmental science and engineering.
Written for students and researchers who wish to understand the conceptual and practical aspects of sampling, this book is designed to be accessible without requiring advanced statistical training. It covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of sampling to special topics such as sampling rare populations, sampling organizational populations, and sampling visitors to a place. Using cases and examples to illustrate sampling principles and procedures, the book thoroughly covers the fundamentals of modern survey sampling, and addresses recent changes in the survey environment such as declining response rates, the rise of Internet surveys, the need to accommodate cell phones in telephone surveys, and emerging uses of social media and big data.
Essentials of Marketing Research takes an applied approach to the fundamentals of marketing research by providing examples from the business world of marketing research and showing students how to apply marketing research results. This text focuses on understanding and interpreting marketing research studies. Focusing on the 'how-to' and 'so what' of marketing research helps students understand the value of marketing research and how they can put marketing research into practice. There is a strong emphasis on how to use marketing research to make better management decisions. The unique feature set integrates data analysis, interpretation, application, and decision-making throughout the entire text. The text opens with a discussion of the role of marketing research, along with a breakdown of the marketing research process. The text then moves into a section discussing types of marketing research, including secondary resources, qualitative research, observation research, and survey research. Newer methods (e.g. using blogs or Twitter feeds as secondary resources and using online focus groups) are discussed as extensions of traditional methods such. The third section discusses sampling procedures, measurement methods, marketing scales, and questionnaires. Finally, a section on analyzing and reporting marketing research focuses on the fundamental data analysis skills that students will use in their marketing careers. Features of this text include: - Chapter Openers describe the results of a research study that apply to the topics being presented in that chapter. These are taken from a variety of industries, with a greater emphasis on social media and the Internet. - A Global Concerns section appears in each chapter, helping prepare students to conduct market research on an international scale.This text emphasizes the presentation of research results and uses graphs, tables, and figures extensively. - A Statistics Review section emphasizes the practical interpretation and application of statistical principles being reviewed in each chapter. - Dealing with Data sections in each chapter provide students with opportunities to practice interpreting data and applying results to marketing decisions. Multiple SPSS data sets and step-by-step instructions are available on the companion site to use with this feature. - Each Chapter Summary is tied to the chapter-opening Learning Objectives. - A Continuing Case Study follows a group of students through the research process. It shows potential trade-offs, difficulties and flaws that often occur during the implementation of research project. Accompanying case questions can be used for class discussion, in-class group work, or individual assignments. - End-of-Chapter Critical Thinking Exercises are applied in nature and emphasize key chapter concepts. These can be used as assignments to test students' understanding of marketing research results and how results can be applied to decision-making. - End-of-chapter Your Research Project provides more challenging opportunities for students to apply chapter knowledge on an in-depth basis, and thus olearn by doing.
This title is the first comprehensive book on sampling and modern sample preparation techniques and has several main objectives: to facilitate recognition of sample preparation as both an integral part of the analytical process; to present a fundamental basis and unified theoretical approach for the professional development of sample preparation; to emphasize new developments in sample preparation technology; and to highlight the future impact of sample preparation on new directions in analytical science, particularly automation, miniaturization and field implementation. Until recently, there has been relatively little scientific interest in sampling and sample preparation, however this situation is presently changing as sampling and sample preparation become integral parts of the analytical process with their own unique challenges and research opportunities. Sampling and Sample Preparation for Field and Laboratory is an essential resource for all analytical chemists, and in particular those involved in method development. Not only does it cover the fundamental aspects of extraction, it also covers applications in various matrices and includes sampling strategies and equipment and how these can be integrated into the analytical process for maximum efficiency.
Acceptance Sampling in Quality Control, Third Edition presents the state of the art in the methodology of sampling while integrating both theory and best practices. It discusses various standards, including those from the ISO, MIL-STD and ASTM and explores how to set quality levels. The book also includes problems at the end of each chapter with solutions. This edition improves upon the previous editions especially in the areas of software applications and compliance sampling plans. New to the Third Edition: Numerous Microsoft Excel templates to address sampling plans are used. Commercial software applications are discussed at the end of many chapters. Discussion of quick switching systems has been expanded to account for the considerable recent activity in this area. Added discussion of zero acceptance number chained quick switching systems.
In this book, the author considers such issues as how to identify situations most appropriate for a mail survey, how to reduce sampling bias and question response errors, and how to obtain good response rates from a mail survey.
