Guides students in selecting and developing research topics and preparing for the writing process. -- Introduction.

Proposing Empirical Research: A Guide to the Fundamentals provides step-by-step instructions for students who will be writing their first research proposal in the social and behavioral sciences and using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The structure of the book enables students to work independently with confidence while writing the first drafts of their proposals. Each major section is divided into short topics and for each topic, students are asked to complete an exercise that leads them toward the goal of preparing a proposal. Numerous illustrative examples throughout the book make the recommendations for proposal writing come alive. In addition, the 10 model proposals provided at the end of the book illustrate proposal writing and provide material for classroom discussions. New to the Sixth Edition: Updates throughout to reflect research and learning in the digital/online environment, e.g., online surveys, digital organization tools, digital recruitment methods for research, and digital databases, records, and archives. Discussion of qualitative methods. Updated references, model proposals, end of chapter exercises etc. Proposing Empirical Research is ideal for use in research methods classes where students write a proposal as a term project, thesis/dissertation preparation classes, senior research seminars where proposing and conducting research is a culminating undergraduate activity, and any graduate-level seminar in which the instructor wants to incorporate a project that will engage students in critical thinking about the content area.

• Provides step-by-step instructions for students who will be writing their first research proposal in the social and behavioral sciences. • Each major section is divided into short topics. For each topic, students complete an exercise that leads them toward the goal of preparing a proposal. • Numerous examples throughout the book make the recommendations for proposal writing come alive. • The model proposals at the end of the book illustrate proposal writing and provide material for classroom discussions. • Provides concrete guidance for students who will be writing proposals for both quantitative and qualitative research. • The structure of this book enables students to work independently with confidence while writing the first drafts of their proposals. • All steps in proposal writing are clearly described and illustrated. • Ideal for use in: · research methods classes where students write a proposal as a term project, · thesis/dissertation preparation classes, · senior research seminars where proposing and conducting research is a culminating undergraduate activity, and · any graduate-level seminar in which the instructor wants to incorporate a project that will engage students in critical thinking about the content area. • Written by our best-selling author, Mildred L. Patten. Your students will appreciate her clear and informative style.

• Provides step-by-step instructions for students who will be writing their first research proposal in the social and behavioral sciences. • Each major section is divided into short topics. For each topic, students complete an exercise that leads them toward the goal of preparing a proposal. • Numerous examples throughout the book make the recommendations for proposal writing come alive. • The model proposals at the end of the book illustrate proposal writing and provide material for classroom discussions. • Provides concrete guidance for students who will be writing proposals for both quantitative and qualitative research. • The structure of this book enables students to work independently with confidence while writing the first drafts of their proposals. • All steps in proposal writing are clearly described and illustrated. • Ideal for use in: · research methods classes where students write a proposal as a term project, · thesis/dissertation preparation classes, · senior research seminars where proposing and conducting research is a culminating undergraduate activity, and · any graduate-level seminar in which the instructor wants to incorporate a project that will engage students in critical thinking about the content area. • Written by our best-selling author, Mildred L. Patten. Your students will appreciate her clear and informative style.

Model Proposal 4: Single-Subject Research -- Model Proposal 5: Quasi-Experimental Research -- Model Proposal 6: True Experiment -- Model Proposal 7: Qualitative Research with Focus Groups -- Model Proposal 8: Qualitative Research with Interviews -- Model Proposal 9: Combined Qualitative and Quantitative Research -- Table 1: Table of Recommended Sample Sizes -- Appendix A: Locating Literature Electronically -- Appendix B: Electronic Sources of Statistical Information

Policymakers and public managers around the world have become preoccupied with the question of how their goals can be achieved in a way that rebuilds public confidence in government. Yet because public policies and programs increasingly are being administered through a complicated web of jurisdictions, agencies, and public-private partnerships, evaluating their effectiveness is more difficult than in the past. Though social scientists possess insightful theories and powerful methods for conducting empirical research on governance and public management, their work is too often fragmented and irrelevant to the specific tasks faced by legislators, administrators, and managers. Proposing a framework for research based on the premise that any particular governance arrangement is embedded in a wider social, fiscal, and political context, Laurence E. Lynn Jr., Carolyn J. Heinrich, and Carolyn J. Hill argue that theory-based empirical research, when well conceived and executed, can be a primary source of fundamental, durable knowledge about governance and policy management. Focusing on complex human services such as public assistance, child protection, and public education, they construct an integrative, multilevel "logic of governance," that can help researchers increase the sophistication, power, and relevance of their work.

• Provides step-by-step guidance for students who will be conducting their first surveys to collect factual information, measure attitudes, and evaluate products, services, and programs using questionnaires. • Each chapter is structured around easy-to-follow guidelines. • Numerous examples illustrate the guidelines. The examples are on timely topics of interest to students. • This short book is an ideal supplement for guiding students through a class project. At the end of Chapter 1, they write the objectives for their questionnaires. They then follow the guidelines in subsequent chapters to complete their project. • Exercises at the end of each chapter allow students to practice their newly acquired skills. • Students learn that using questionnaires in research is both an art and a science—with principles that need to be followed for efficient, effective data collection. • Thoroughly field-tested for student interest and comprehension, this book is sure to please both you and your students. • We’ve had highly positive feedback from the numerous professors who have adopted this book to guide students in conducting term projects.