In this first book of the series Survey Methods in Educational Research, we have brought together leading authors and scholars in the field to discuss key introductory concepts in the creation, implementation, evaluation and dissemination of survey instruments and their resultant findings. While there are other textbooks that might introduce these concepts adequately well, the authors here have focused on the pragmatic issues that inevitably arise in the development and administration process of survey instruments. Drawing from their rich experiences, the authors present these potential speed bumps or road blocks a survey researcher in education or the social sciences might encounter. Referencing their own work and practice, the authors provide valuable suggestions for dealing with these issues “your advisor never told you about.” And all of the recommendations are aligned with standard protocols and current research on best practices in the field of research methodology. This book is broken into four broad units on creating survey items and instruments, administering surveys, analyzing the data from surveys, and stories of successful administrations modeling the entire research cycle. Each chapter focuses on a different concept in the survey research process, and the authors share their approaches to addressing the issues. These topics include survey item construction, scale development, cognitive interviewing, measuring change with self-report data, translation issues with surveys administered in multiple languages, working with school and program administrators when implementing surveys, a review of current software used in survey research, the use of weights, response styles, assessing validity of results, and effectively communicating your results and findings … and much more. The intended audience of the volume will be practitioners, administrators, teachers as researchers, graduate students, social science and education researchers not experienced in survey research, and students learning program evaluation. In brief, if you are considering doing survey research, this book is meant for you.

Willis’s Elements of Quantity Surveying has become a standard text in the teaching of building measurement – a core part of the degree curriculum for quantity surveyors. The book will be fully updated to follow the guidance given by RICS NRM 1 & 2. As in previous editions the focus remains a logical approach the detailed measurement of building elements and copious use of examples to guide the student. The text has been fully revised in line with the NRM guidance and includes many new and revised examples illustrating the use of NRM. The hallmarks of previous editions – clarity and practicality – are maintained, while ensuring the book is fully up to date, providing the student of quantity surveying with a first class introduction to the measurement of building elements.

With the advent of GPS/GNSS satellite navigation systems and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) surveying profession is nowadays facing its transformative stage. Written by a team of surveying experts, Surveyor’s Instruments and Technology gives surveying students and practitioners profound understanding of how surveying instruments are designed and operating based on surveying instrument functionality. The book includes the required basic knowledge of accurate measurements of distances and angles from theoretical principles to advanced optical, mechanical, electronic and software components for comparative analysis. Readers are presented with basic elements of UAS systems, practical interpretation techniques, sensor components, and operating platforms. Appropriate for surveying courses at all levels, this guide helps students and practitioners alike to understand what is behind the buttons of surveying instruments of all kinds when considering practical project implementations.

Willis’s Elements of Quantity Surveying has become a standard text in the teaching of building measurement – a core part of the degree curriculum for quantity surveyors. The book will be fully updated to follow the guidance given by RICS NRM 1 & 2. As in previous editions the focus remains a logical approach the detailed measurement of building elements and copious use of examples to guide the student. The text has been fully revised in line with the NRM guidance and includes many new and revised examples illustrating the use of NRM. The hallmarks of previous editions – clarity and practicality – are maintained, while ensuring the book is fully up to date, providing the student of quantity surveying with a first class introduction to the measurement of building elements.