Product Description
Assuming no prior knowledge of statistics, these authors combine their varied backgrounds—one a statistician, the other a social scientist—to introduce statistical methods with a high degree of statistical accuracy and a wealth of examples that are interesting and relevant to social scientists. KEY TOPICS: The Third Edition has been both updated and improved to integrate real-world data into examples and exercises, and make coverage more accessible throughout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A good but demanding introduction to statistics
This is an informative book that could easily be adapted for use as the basic text in a two-course statistics sequence.It would be useful if chapter 16 were deleted from the text, however, because the topics covered, including path analysis, factor analysis, and structural equation modeling, are briefly introduced but not developed.If this resulted in a reduction in the price of this fairly expensive text that would be all to the good.

While the book is not an easy read, it is quite well written.The difficulty comes not from inadequacies in the authors' accounts of concepts and procedures, but from the level of difficulty of the material they present.Mathematically, Agresti and Finlay's book is no more difficult than Knoke, Bohrnstedt, and Potter's introductory text that I have used in basic statistics courses.Conceptually, however, Agresti and Finlay's introduction is sophisticated and rather demanding.They use numerous graphs, tables, and sample computer printouts to clarify their exposition, and they provide an unusually large number of instructive end-of-chapter questions.Still, the concepts are presented in a rigorous fashion with no effort to appeal to the indifferent reader.

I am still trying to decide if I will use this book as the foundation text in my basic statistics course for graduate students.Its quality certainly merits adoption, but it does cover a good deal more material than is suitable for a first course (meaning that I'll be picking and choosing material throughout the book), and it is a demanding read.

Furthermore, some of the material presented in later chapters is organized in a way that presumes use of SAS or SPSS statistical software.This can be worked around, but I don't like to introduce beginning statistics students to statistical problem-solving using computers.Experience has taught me that this is inconsistent with mastery of basic concepts, and often leaves students unable to chart an interpretable analytical course of their own using basic statistical methods.

Whatever the outcome, I'm glad I read the text.Anyone with an interest in statistics would benefit from working through this fine presentation of undeniably difficult material.

Pretty Standard
Standard textbook, but difficult if you're trying to build statistical knowledge outside of a class.

An Excellent Book
I am a chemist.Chemists,unfortunately know very little about statistics.I was placed on a project which required me to use multiple linear regression, ANOVA, and logistic regression.I purchased this book, hoping that it would help me to learn these methods. It did.This book does an excellent job of explaining a wide variety of statistical methods in a clear manner.It is easy to read and you will be amazed at how quickly you are able to read this entire book and develop a strong statistical knowledge.


I suggest you do the examples yourself as you move through the text using Excel.I think that this adds a great deal to the learning experience, and gives you confidence.

Statistics book that makes sense
I bought this book in graduate school for my statistics class, and it has continued to help me ever since in my professional career.Unlike many of the statistics books that use complex formulas to explain statistical methods, this book breaks each formula down in an easy to follow format.After explaining the concept, the authors use an example to illustrate the point, which makes things much easier to understand.Also, the Appendix which has SPSS and SAS coding for each of the statistical methods described in the book is a lifesaver!

As a student and a teacher, I've loved it!
I was subjected to an earlier edition when I took statistics as an undergraduate, and I've used the 2nd and 3rd editions as a lecturer and professor, and I believe there is no preferable alternative.

Agresti and Finlay are, above all, clear and accurate. Over the last decade, I've looked at several dozen alternatives, hoping to find one that's strong in the areas where this text is weak. I've been enticed by different layouts, writing styles, even overall motifs, but am always reminded of why I (and others) have relied on this text for so long.

Some alternatives are just sloppy - poor editing, excessive typographic errors, incorrect answers in the answer keys. Some others border on incompetent, confusing basic issues and not clarifying the disputes on border issues. And some, while achieving rapport through comics, comedy, or simply light humor, lose some of the subtle finesse that statistics entails.

Now, this one ain't perfect. The subtleties and disputes are side-stepped rather than highlighted. The text and layout are a bit wordy and eye-hard. And the examples are more practical than pedagogical. The data examples could be a bit sexier.

But the meat is all there, and correct, and clear. And that's what you want in a statistics textbook. You don't need something that pretends stats is inherently fun or exciting. The lecturer should convey the power of p, the coolness of coefficients, and the holy grail of "r-squared". The text book should cover the material accurately and in detail, and this one does. ... Read more

Product Description
Winner of the 2006 Giovanni Sartori Book Award, given by the American Political Science Association's Qualitative Methods Section.

The use of case studies to build and test theories in political science and the other social sciences has increased in recent years. Many scholars have argued that the social sciences rely too heavily on quantitative research and formal models and thus have attempted to develop and refine rigorous methods for using case studies. This text presents a comprehensive analysis of research methods using case studies and examines the place of case studies in social science methodology. It argues that case studies, statistical methods, and formal models are complementary rather than competitive.

The book explains how to design case study research that will produce results useful to policymakers and it emphasizes the importance of developing policy-relevant theories. It offers three major contributions to case study methodology: an emphasis on the importance of within-case analysis, a detailed discussion of process tracing, and development of the concept of typological theories. Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences will be particularly useful to graduate students and scholars in social science methodology and the philosophy of science, as well as to those designing new research projects, and will contribute greatly to the broader debate about scientific methods. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Study and conquer
The book is a slow read but helps trigger ideas as you go along. Needed it for my project course. Let's see how it goes :)

A comprehensive introduction to the subject
I learned a great deal from the authors' explicit comparison of their views with those of King, Keohane, and Verba (KKV). Indeed, to a great extent, this book reads like an extended dialogue with KKV. The authors follow the strategy of trying to show that KKV was actually not a unified statement, but rather that Keohane's actual view departs, in significant respects, from what the trio said in their book.

One of the strengths of this book is the excellent discussion of the philosophy of the social sciences and how case studies fit into the quest for knowledge about social phenomena.I found it balanced and informative.

One shortcoming of the book's discussion of "process tracing," which I think is an innovative way of thinking about dynamic analysis, is that the authors seem unaware of event history analysis.Much of their discussion reads as if they still think of social science research as a successive series of cross-sections on the one hand, or detailed narrative presentations of processes on the other.One of the great advantages of event history analysis, which is now widespread in sociology, is that it gives an investigator the ability to do micro level analyses of the timing, pacing, and rhythm of change which would simply not be possible if we were confined to verbal descriptions.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants an alternative to the KKV view of the world and who is also interested in an introduction to how political scientists do case analysis.

For Social Science studies.
Chaper 2 was somewhat helpful but nothing new. Maybe I need to read it again.

Excelente livro.
Livro permite compreender a metodologia "estudo de caso" para além da mera antinomia "quantitativa" versus "qualitativa".

Great Insight Into Conducting Case Studies
This book provides many wonderful insights into how to conduct case studies that can withstand methodoligical criticism from the quantoids. I have used many other texts to build case study strategies, but this one by far was the best. Concpets are made very clear and accessible, which allows for clear application of these ideas. ... Read more

Product Description
The authors build on their earlier social-scientific works and enhance the highly successful commentary model they developed in their social-scientific commentaries. This volume is a thoroughly revised edition of this popular commentary. They include an introduction that lays the foundation for their interpretation, followed by an examination of each unit in the Synoptics, employing methodologies of cultural anthropology, macro-sociology, and social psychology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Good in depth analysis
If you want to learn history of the middle east and the beginning of Christianity 2000 years ago, this is a good read.

how did they see it
To really read the Gospels it is necessary to understand the world of the Gospel writers.This book opens up the customs and culture of the Mediterranean world of that time.Each Gospel is annotated with longer articles and more in-depth information indexed.Very helpful.

Indespensible tool for reading the synoptic gospels
Bruce Malina and Richard Rohrbaugh are members of The Context Group: Project on the Bible in its Cultural Environment, and this commentary is one of the finest fruits of their labor. The authors shed light on subtle aspects of ancient Middle East culture which go completely over our heads when we read the bible.

For instance, in ancient Palestine compliments were enviously aggressive. They implicitly accused a person of rising above others at their expense. Thus, when a man challenges Jesus by calling him a "good teacher", Jesus must fend off the accusation with a counterquestion: "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone?" (Mk. 10:17-18/Mt. 19:16-17/Lk. 18:18-19). In Jesus' world, honorable men didn't defend themselves when challenged -- for that would only concede ground to their opponents -- instead, they counterattacked. In the gospels Jesus proves himself an honorable man time and time again. He never answers accusatory questions directly; he is always able to change the terms of a debate and shift its ground. In Mk. 11:27-33/Mt. 21:23-27/Lk. 20:1-8 a group of temple authorities confront Jesus and demand to know by what authority he made his prophetic demonstration in the temple. Jesus responds with a counterquestion and then ends up insulting them by refusing to reveal anything at all. Then, in Mk. 12:13-17/Mt. 22:15-22/Lk. 20:20-26, a group of Herodians and Pharisees try snaring Jesus by getting him to admit having revolutionary sentiments about paying taxes. Jesus deflects their question by having them produce a coin for him, and then, holding it up for all to see, he shames them with a nasty counterquestion and tricks them into identifying themselves as idolaters before concluding with his well-known cryptic saying, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's". All of these examples show how honorable first-century Jews debated in public.

The authors illumine the values of Galilean peasants as distinct from Judean Pharisees and other temple authorities. Consider the conflict related in Mk. 7:1-25, where a group of Pharisees demand that Jesus explain why his disciples eat with unwashed hands. Jesus, naturally, doesn't deign to explain this. Instead, he counterattacks with insults -- calling the Pharisees hypocrites -- and then escalates the conflict by showing them up with scripture citations, setting his own interpretation of the Torah against theirs. But the authors do provide an explanation: "Keeping purity laws was a near impossibility for peasant farmers, who did not have the required water for ritual baths, as well as for fishermen, who came in constant contact with dead fish, dead animals, and the like. It was also very difficult for people who traveled about, such as Jesus and his disciples. The religious tradition of the Galileans had adapted itself in significant measure to the realities of peasant life."

The commentary brings to life ancient Mediterranean values as contrasted with ours in the modern West. For instance, discovering identity was not a process of self-discovery like it is with us. Identity was provided by one's peers, not by oneself. When Jesus asks Peter, "Who do you say I am?", and Peter replies, "You are the messiah" (Mk. 8:29), most of us today think that Jesus knows who he is and is simply testing his disciples to see if they know. But the authors correctly refute this: "Since Jesus rejected his own honor by leaving his family and village and living as an itinerant exorcist-healer, he needs to find out what his status is both among the public and his followers." They provide him with his messianic identity. Only when public support has grown substantially will he finally be comfortable identifying himself as the messiah (as in Mk. 14:61-62). For now, he is terrified of the title, and he "sternly orders Peter not to tell anyone about it" (Mk. 8:30).

Malina and Rohrbaugh have described just about every behavioral cue and cultural script we could think of -- how ancient gossip networks functioned, why all rich people were considered thieves, the nature of patron-client relationships, etc. This book is a priceless tool, and it has already been used as a foundation for more comprehensive treatments of the historical Jesus. Be sure to buy it and the sequel, "Social Science Commentary on the Gospel of John".

This is an updated and improved version of the earlier '92 publication, with material re-arranged for easier reading, and new commentary as well.

Lots of Great Information; Not Well Organized
I found this book to be very helpful in providing a frame of reference for understanding the Synoptic Gospels.The authors correctly point out that viewing the actions, teachings and events of an agrarian society from 2,000 years ago with our modern, industrial, individualistic point of view leaves a great deal of room for misunderstanding.However, I rate this book as 3 stars because of the structure.It is not really designed to be read cover to cover, because material is repeated over and over again, as similar events occur in Matthew, Mark & Luke. I think this work could be improved considerably if the authors made more liberal use of the academic convention of "c.f."I feel that it is serious reader abuse to ask one to read through a two-page exposition toward the end of the book that is a 90% literal repeat of an earlier section, in hopes of finding the one sentence that is new.

A very useful book.
I enjoyed the book that, with its companion "on the gospel of John", form a source of "inside" information that otherwise I woudln't have access to.The book is structure according to a regular commentary with additional "notes" or "reading scenarious."Unfortunately, there are no footnotes; therefore, when they tell you abuot a particular custom of that time, there is no direct reference to a primary source. Therefore, you have to take their words for it. There is a bibliography, which can help a bit, but still you're left with no way to further a specific point. ... Read more

Product Description

The book presents an introduction to statistical methods for students majoring in social science disciplines.  No previous knowledge of statistics is assumed, and mathematical background is assumed to be minimal (lowest-level high-school algebra).

Customer Reviews (4)

review
Shipping was faster than i expected, the book also was issused just like the description stated.

Solid Text on Introductory Applied Statistics. A Keeper.
Well... the text is pretty straightforward. It markets itself particularly to the social sciences, but in reality it is nothing more than an introductory statistics text. Nonetheless, it is very clearly written and covers most of the basics you need to do any kind of research (multiple regressions, ANOVA, basic t,z, and F-tests, etc.). This is by no means a theoretical textbook: if you want to learn about distribution theory and the proofs behind the tests look elsewhere. If you want a quick introduction and reference to the different methods and tests with all the assumptions and potential pitfalls then this text is perfect.

Stats with a twist
I hate math, but this book makes it so much easier to understand all of these concepts. If your a Gator, its even better. One of the authors was def. from Gainesville, FL and references restaurants and attractions all over town. Very fun.

A good choice for learning Quantitative Research Methodologies
As a doctoral student with an interest in quantitative research and evaluation methodologies, I am currently using this book for a course in regression analyses. It is a fairly easy read for those who are familiar with statistics and I would recommend it to those wanting to learn more about quantitative analyses. The examples are up-to-date compared toprevious editions. There appear to be no substatial content differences between this edition and the previous editions (in my experience having read both). ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (7)

Satisfied Customer
The book was in the exact condition as noted by the seller. The book arrived in a timely manner (actually earlier than I expected). If given the opportunity I would continue to do business with this seller.

Not for a new student.
As usual I will keep my review brief. This book is not easy to read and frankly confuses the new student with its overly verbose definitions of the various concepts. Normally I like lengthy definitions because it NORMALLY adds depth, but not in this case. A previous reviewer suggested you may want to keep this for a reference, I respectfully disagree, I recommend taking it back to the campus bookstore and at least get SOMETHING back. For the record the only reason I did not give it 1 star was through out the chapters there are boxes that briefly encapsulates related definitions and rewords them, by this I mean they are much briefer and easier to understand.

research methods

I needed this book for a class and got a great price for it. It arrived on time and I am pleased!

Written clearly and comprehensive
I highly recommend this book to any social science researcher, not just the beginners intended as the primary audience.It helps remind everyone of the fundamentals that all good research should be based on.

Nachmias & Nachmias do an excellent job of clarifying sometimes difficult to understand concepts.They present basic statistical and mathematical ideas in a way designed not to scare off those of us not so good with numbers.At the same time, they cover a vast number of relevant topics.Comprehensive is the only word to use.

Only quibble: really expensive! Otherwise it's fantastic.

systematic
I used this book for methodology class, thou the official textbook was the more common book of Bailey. I did so for several reasons.
1. incidentally I had not Bailey's but this book because I used this book to prepare graduate entrance exam.
2. as u know, there are not much differences among textbooks on research methods for this field might be the only area in consensus on social sciences.
This book has some weak points just like other textbooks including Bailey's. this book concentrates on quantitative methods and not much deal with qualitative methods which occupy mere 20 pages.
But I have to mention 2 strong points
1. The author presents concepts in graphic way with vivid details of research examples and illustrating live logic of field. Thou good researcher could be only with practices, it will be good to have some touch of real logic of concept in real field
2. the author put the system over various methods like observation, survey, interview etc with the logic of causation. This is why this book begins research design part with experiment which is rarely used in social sciences except psychology. Experiment is not practical one in social sciences but it's the model of all other research methods for its design meets all the condition of causation. So when we design out research, we should bear the experiment in mind. This point is maintained throughout the book. And this made the content of the book systematic ... Read more

Product Description

For one-quarter/semester courses that focus on the basics in statistics or combine statistics with research methods.

The fifth edition of Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences builds off an already well-established approach - emphasizing the intuitive, deemphasizing the mathematical, and explaining everything in direct, simple language - but also goes beyond these principles to further student understanding. By using definitional formulas to emphasize the concepts of statistics, rather than rote memorization, students work problems in a way that keeps them constantly aware of the underlying logic of what they are doing. 

Customer Reviews (8)

Dissatisfied buyer
i was under the impression, from the 2 day shipping advertisement, that my order would be shipped expeditiously. it was all for show and to trap the customer, b/c its been 2weeks and i still dont have my book order which make me 2 weeks behind in studies. the book was less expensive than the book store, but now i know its not worth the wait.

Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (4th Edition)
I was very happy with my order of this particular book.Amazon provided the lowest cost out of all of the other websites I searched.The book was received in a matter of days; which was when I needed it.And the quality of the book was new; thus, the book was in excellent shape.I would definitely recommend other consumers to consider purchasing this and other books directly from Amazon.

Statistics
Book was exactly what I needed for class - fast response and turn-around time.Thank you.

as promised
This book can in in plenty of time for my online class.It was as promised...new condition, no markings.

Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (4th ed.)

Book arrived promptly and in stated condition. I would buy from this seller again. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Sharon Wynn's CSET 114-115 review guide
Imprecisely written, vaguely worded, and poorly edited--not to mention, set in what appears to be standard-issue 12-point Helvetica type--Sharon Wynn's XAM-series Teacher Certification Study Guide for CSET exams 114-115 is probably not what you should be reading to prepare for your CSETs.

Honestly, this guide reads as if its various entries were simply culled from student CSET exams.

Overall, a barely adequate effort.

Horrid filth
Don't waste your hard earned money on this garbage.It seems XAM doesn't care about their editorial reputation and are willing to print anything.Who needs editors?Typos, historical mistakes, absolute dribble.Even their "practice test" is horribly flawed, with several questions not matching to their solutions guide.Not to mention the setup of the book itself.Supposedly the sections are laid out to follow the CSET guidelines, however many of the texts of the Skill sections have nothing to do with the skills.Want an example? For skill 4.6b (Analyze teh issues that arise out of the divisions of jurisdiction among federal, state, local, and tribal governments at each level of government; consider their impacts on those different levels of government).What does XAM tell you?That people's concepts of government has changed, and gives a breif discussion of primitive peoples, "civilized" peoples, and then Plato and Aristotle.What does this have to do with jurisdiction?I have no idea. So, again.AVOID, AVOID, AVOID.

Solid Source for Foundational Refresh
I used this book as the primary arsenal in my refresher of history. It has been decades since I was in school, and the thought of knowing all recorded history--as is tested on the CSET exam--engendered a great deal fear in me. In fact, there are large gaps of required historical knowledge that were not part of the curriculum under which I studied decades ago. That meant I needed to learn much of the material for the first time.

To that end, this book provided a solid foundation for me. It refreshed what I learned and forgot, reminded me of what I learned and retained, and alerted me to areas where I needed additional study.

The best measure of a study book's effectiveness is its results. And results are what it achieved. In one sitting, I passed Social Science Subtests 114, 115, and 116. I highly recommend this book as a base for your study.

Many typos and errors!!! But I passed all 3 sections the first time!
UPDATE! UPDATE!

I just found out that I passed all three sections of the Social Sciences CSET! Yippie! And I studied this book hardcore and read it cover to cover! So despite all the errors and repetition....it most have done something right!

Old review:
There really aren't many options in terms of CSET Social Sciences study guides. I bought both this one and a study text made by Cliff Notes and read both cover to cover and completed all practice tests. I felt that the books prepared me for the test somewhat, but to rely solely on this text as your only means for studying is a mistake!

This study guide had countless typographic errors and some errors in information as well. The header read "Teacher Certfication Guide"...meaning they spelled "Certification" incorrect over 400 times! Much of the information is repeated over and over again. On the positive side, at least this study guide attempts to target the learning standards that are actually on the CSET. (The Cliff Notes one does not.) However, many times, I felt like the information provided was not complete enough or left important information out. Another problem is that there is only one practice test.

I understand that the CSET Social Science exam is very challenging, and that it is impossible for one study guide to teach you the many things that you should probably already know. However, there were so many errors that it came off as sloppy, lazy and unprofessional. In addition, they are charging so much! I think that most 6th graders can edit this book better than whoever did it.

I suggest if you are going to buy this, don't buy it full price and supplement your reading with actual history novels...especially US History novels, which I found to be the most challenging part of the CSET, with Economics second most challenging. This guide did not do enough to explain the fundamentals of Econ...so I would suggest a short novel for this as well.

Good luck studying!

Hahaha..
Wow, this book is wholly awful. I'll take Wikipedia over this any day. I'm on page 2 and I've seen two grammar errors and three typos. Why oh why didn't I read it a little before buying it.. ... Read more

Product Description
This text shows novice researchers how to design, collect, and analyze qualitative data and then present their results to the scientific community.  It also stresses the importance of ethics in research and taking the time to properly design and think through any research endeavor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Horrible experience
Well I tried to contact the seller to tell them that I never recieved the book. They told me to check with the post office because on their end they said it had been delivered. I never got the book. The book was expensive. I will never use this service ever again.

required reading
This book is required reading for the course in qualitative analysis that I took as part of the Doctor's degree in education.Excellent book.

Qualitative Research Methods
Chapters written in a way that clearly define each qualitative research method. Lots of information however not too wordy. Overall a succint overview of qualitative reserach methods.

Qualitative Manual
Prof used this book in a PhD Qualitative Research and Evaluation class.It is a nice refrence on the practical asspects of some of the more nebular qualitative methods rubric books. Ex, it gives some insight as to interview "feeling"... Having focused on Qualitative Methods in England... you should pair it with more 'hard core' works as well. Hope this helps.

Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences, Fifth
Great book, but necessary for class so I am biased. ... Read more

Product Description

Designed to be accessible, this book develops a thorough, functional understanding of calculus in preparation for its application in other areas. Concentrates on developing concepts and ideas followed immediately by developing computational skills and problem solving. 

Covers calculus with an emphasis on cross-discipline principles and practices.

For the professional who wants to acquire a knowledge of calculus for application in business, economics, and the life and social sciences.

Customer Reviews (6)

great service
Not only was the book in excellent shape and in better condition than stated, but Tim the seller made sure I received the book in time for my first day of class and that was wonderful of him. Great product and great service at a great price.Thanks again Tim.

M. Luke Allison's Review
A++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Seller and the book shipped REALLY FAST!

I definitely recommend buying from this seller!

HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE
I never received the book, even though I specifically requested expedited shipping (unless expedited means longer than usual).I gave it a couple of weeks and still no book.I finally ordered it through a more reliable source.However, I am still waiting for my refund LESS A RESTOCKING FEE for a book that was never unstocked, fancy that.Lets see how long it takes for that.If I could rate this experience from 1-10, it would easily be somewhere in the (-) negative range. If your considering purchasing from this seller I advise to look somewhere else, unless you want your book a couple of months from when you order it.

Good
The book came on time and was in the exact condition it was listed as.

Good Book
A good book and suggestable for classroom text.Only suggestions I can give is the use of the TI-84+ calculator is required for best effect and to avoid trying all the problems provided as it does take an enormous amount of time. ... Read more

Product Description

“You might think that dancing doesn’t have a lot to do with social research, and doing social research is probably why you picked this book up in the first place. But trust me.Salsa dancing is a practice as well as a metaphor for a kind of research that will make your life easier and better.”

Savvy, witty, and sensible, this unique book is both a handbook for defining and completing a research project, and an astute introduction to the neglected history and changeable philosophy of modern social science. In this volume, Kristin Luker guides novice researchers in:

• knowing the difference between an area of interest and a research topic
• defining the relevant parts of a potentially infinite research literature
• mastering sampling, operationalization, and generalization
• understanding which research methods best answer your questions
• beating writer’s block

Most important, she shows how friendships, nonacademic interests, and even salsa dancing can make for a better researcher.

“You know about setting the kitchen timer and writing for only an hour, or only 15 minutes if you are feeling particularly anxious. I wrote a fairly large part of this book feeling exactly like that. If I can write an entire book 15 minutes at a time, so can you.”

Customer Reviews (3)

Great book!!!!!!
This is a great book, well written and inspiring, that encourages you to go for your ideas and gives you plenty of good guidance and advice to realize them...

A different research methods book
This is an interesting and very different book about doing research. Let's start with some unequivocally positive points: it is beautifully written - not at all like a recipe book but rather a stroll with the author, in which she dispenses her wisdom, in the manner of craftsperson to apprentice. There's lots of anecdote and example and you get to feel that you know the author quite well by the end of the first chapter. She becomes a friend.

Or not, depending on your predilection in friends. In fact, I did like her, but I wouldn't want to spend more than a day in close company with her. (Rather like my parents in this respect.) She is assertive, has spent all her life in the academy, has a husband who went to Harvard, runs her doberman in the park - and she is pretty sure that she is right on most things, so there is a distinctly parental tone to the advice being given: a distict lack of diffidence - and JBS Haldane's 'duty of doubt' is nowhere in sight. This may be an unfair summary of what she is really like, but it's what comes over from the text. You may find the repeated use of the salsa dancing metaphor irritating and confusing. Confusing, because it is used in its literal sense (go out and salsa to get the neurons firing) and it is used as a proxy for interpretative research (a term that isn't used in the text at all, in fact). And paradoxically I felt that the book would be difficult for new doctoral researchers (to whom it is targetted). The thing about an apprentice is that you are standing next to the craftsperson, can watch and ask questions. By contrast, when things are presented in print in a loosely structured, narrative way it is difficult - unless you already have a lifetime of experience with which to contextualise the narrative - to know where on earth you are. I felt this at times with this book. I would recommend passages of brilliance to my doctoral students, but not the whole book.

And there is the question of whether one agrees in fact with what the author is saying about 'salsa dancing' (aka interpretative) research. This is pretty important. While she beautifully explains why the methods of what she calls 'canonical' social science are inadequate, she seems to fall for what Mouzelis has called a kind of 'crypto functionalism' in re-adopting its tenets in sampling and use of variables (for which the term 'elements' is substituted) and its goal in generalization. She can't explain the problem of generalization for case study, as she freely admits, suggesting that we have to substitute 'logical generalization' for 'statistical generalization' in the case study. I'm afraid I don't agree: you can't generalize at all from a case study and shouldn't expect to. What you can do is to explain one case with a freedom to look at it holistically, rather than in terms of variables or elements. In this sense, the author explains the debt we owe to Foucault near the beginning of the book, but then waves goodbye to him after the first couple of chapters. What case researchers have to do is immerse themselves in a subject or focus (the case) in such a way that they are able to explain it as a case of some kind of analytical frame (eg World War II as a case of a 'just war': WW2 is the case; the 'just war' is the analytical frame - this is what it is a case OF). I don't think readers would get this view of case study from this book. Rather, you will find an alternative way of doing what Luker calls 'canonical' social science. Maybe this is valid, but it's a very idiosyncratic way of viewing case research, and you won't find this acknowledged in the narrative, which is at times a little presumptive of its correctness as a way of doing non-'canonical' research. There are other ways of seeing issues holistically and doing the business of the research.

What is lovely in this book is the way that Luker, near the beginning of her book, discusses the framing of the research and the establishment of the research question, distinguishing it from the research interest. As she points out, this is something with which many students - no, the great majority of students - have difficulty. She comes up with some nice ideas such as the 'explandum' (the thing being explained) and the 'explanans' (the explaining thing) as essential elements to a study. I would recommend this book just for this insight, though there is much more to be admired here. But it is a book for tutors, I feel, rather than students. Perhaps only 4 stars is unfair, but this is because the book doesn't really do what I think it set out to do - to wit, to talk to students. You need to understand what she is talking about to understand what she is talking about.

Following the music
This is a great book, the advice is to work smarter not harder. Easy to read and very helpful, it really is like salsa lessons for social researchers: learn one or two basic steps, find the right partner, focus on the rhythm of your research, and then... enjoy it!!! ... Read more

Product Description
In 1959 C. P. Snow delivered his now-famous Rede Lecture, "The Two Cultures," a reflection on the academy based on the premise that intellectual life was divided into two cultures: the arts and humanities on one side and science on the other. Since then, a third culture, generally termed "social science" and comprised of fields such as sociology, political science, economics, psychology, and anthropology, has emerged. Jerome Kagan's book describes the assumptions, vocabulary, and contributions of each of these cultures and argues that the meanings of many of the concepts used by each culture are unique to it and do not apply to the others because the source of evidence for the term is special. The text summarizes the contributions of the social sciences and humanities to our understanding of human nature and questions the popular belief that biological processes are the main determinant of variation in human behavior. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Large General Intellectual Tool-Kit Also...
Recipe for a heckuva good book for scholars and serendipity. For an eagle-eye scrutiny of the intellectual landscape. In fact, a master recipe for us now. (BTW I do acknowledge a quite-negative review right herein, by a professional social scientist, and I surely nod to and attend to his specific technical expert-specialist objections to be considered. A useful critique, showing value of insider-expertise scrutiny.Still, I, as a teacher believing the or a goal of education is "how to think complexly in the real world," I feel that, to simmer up a nourishing dish of brainpower, Kagan followed this recipe, as I would describe it:)

(1) Show how a specific discipline can be generalized, for true "liberal arts or general education." Start with a generous portion of solid knowledge from your own specialty as a base.I never imagined how a technical field, such as "developmental psychology," could be underpinning background for so many general issues. Nor is it myopic monism, but expert's knowledge related to the whole--true general-education.

(2) Show enormous awareness of general "intellectual history," plus the know-how and workings of many fields--applied epistemology at work. This is true informed "philosophical," plus "interdisciplinary," perspective.

(3) Pour in a measure of "systems" theory, approach, perspective.Relate ideas to their context.Use this for better "cause-effect" analysis.Two fine examples: Kagan shows the oversimplifications of (A) evolutionary biology explaining everything by simple fitness to transmit genes, and of (B) economics' rational-choice theory--so many other variables complicate up that single mantra.

(4) Add a dose of that useful ingredient of "comparison-contrast." This shows how natural sciences, social sciences, humanities both are similar, but mainly differ in important, significant, but overlooked ways.End up recommending the meta-methods of biology, not of chemistry-physics, to better handle issues in the social sciences.This shows command of "complexity 101" (or even 499) plus a good dollop of "systems" thinking.

(5)Season with a tone, stance, attitude not of rampant relativism or non-judgment, but of awareness of ethical moral political issues (postmodernism, relativism, "steamroller egalitarianism," etc.)-- but in a disinterested balanced fashion.This demonstrates rare but refreshing "fair-minded" critical thinking.

(6)Mix and fold in a nice ration of "intellectual history" including "world-views." Specifically, demonstrate dozens of times, how ideas, ideologies, movements (etc.) have a cause-effect relationship with the field (time-place situation circumstances environment).Example:after the apparent determinism of Darwinian evolution, behaviorism and the work of Pavlov became popular, because it offeredapparently more choices in life, a key issue in views of the world. The book becomes a mini-textbook in "ideas and contexts 101."

(7) Before baking, sprinkle in here and there, deft "analogies" to get point across; this lightens the leavening.

And serve hot (though it will "keep" and re-heat!)...Result: Kaganseems to be one chef who has internedin every relevant intellectual kitchen("how could one thinker easily know all this?"). We could award three Michelin stars for richnesses controlled and perfected...A very useful volume, a nourishing "master recipe" for reconsidering the issue C. P. Snow discussed a half-century ago.

Academia's Theory of Everything
This is a great book that takes an integral view of the sciences, social sciences and humanities. Professor Kegan artfully shows how these three domains are similar to the "big three" of Greek philosophy (Art Morals and Science)and are best viewed as complementary rather than competing. I highly recommend this book for academics and students who want more than a parochial education. Kegan also writes eloquently of the politics of education and particularly the problematic nature of disparity in funded research across the "three cultures."

On the state of scholarship in the American academy, and on the state of humanity
"The Three Cultures" is on the ROROTOKO list of cutting-edge intellectual nonfiction. Professor Kagan's book interview ran here as cover feature on September 18, 2009.

Some Great Insights, but Forty Years Out of Date
In 1959, C. P. Snow, who was both a prominent chemist and novelist, published The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution. This influential book was a set of variations on the theme that the traditional unified intellectual life of antiquity and the Middle Ages was ruptured by the scientific revolution, so that mid-Twentieth century culture faced an unbridgeable gap between the traditional humanities and the upstart natural sciences. In this new world, novelists, poets, literary critics, and philosophers had little understanding of physics, chemistry, and biology, and considered such knowledge beneath them. Moreover, though there were many highly cultured scientists, most had little interest or understanding of the humanities, and considered the cultivation of literary knowledge an unaffordable affectation.

Kagan, who is an eminent developmental psychologist and Emeritus Professor at Harvard University, bills his new book "revisiting C. P. Snow." He aims not only in updating Snow, but in adding a new actor---the social sciences. Unlike Snow, however, this book is not about the relations among the three intellectual arenas in the minds of the participants, but rather about their relative social standing. This is a very interesting question, and Kagan has very important insights to offer.

In sum, in world of the early Enlightenment until the Eighteenth century, the Humanities reigned supreme. At this point, the sciences broke away, providing explanations of the natural world that were completely independent from the natural philosophy of Aristotle and the natural law of the Middle ages, not to mention the natural theology of the churches. Prior to the Twentieth century, the humanities were the major source of insight and understanding concerning human nature and society. This was especially true in philosophy, where Smith, Bentham, Mill, Kant, Locke, Hume, and Nietzsche expounded for the public on the nature of the human condition, and where the great novelists, the likes of Bronte, Austin, Tolstoy, Goethe, Balzac, Proust, and James informed the public of the basic structure and dynamics of social life. However, the rise of the social sciences in the Twentieth century, first in the preeminence of Freud and later in the widely accepted and highly professionalized fields of sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, and political science, drove the humanities from any role in explaining the world into the soft cocoon of social constructivism, post-modernism and highly subjective self-expression.

Kagan concludes that there is a clear status hierarchy, in which "physics is the sun and mathematics its core...Chemistry and biology are the near planets and in increasing distant orbits, lie economics, linguistics, psychology, anthropology, sociology and political science. Even though history and philosophy lie in appreciably more distant orbits, they are not completely free of this force field." (p. 245)

Kagan's insights in defending the above reasoning are often useful and refreshing. For instance, he gives four reasons for the relative decline of the humanities (which, you will note, do not even appear in the status hierarchy of the previous paragraph). He notes that not only did social scientists invade their turf, but the television and cinema displaced literature, art, and poetry as the source of entertainment. "Although Virginia Woolf denigrated films as an art form in 1926, " notes Kagan, "more Americans have seen the movie version of Mrs. Dalloway than have read the novel..." (p. 227)

For these insights and their elaboration, this book is worth reading. Nevertheless, it is a deeply flawed work. It is much too long, and the filler material is often not at all compelling. For instance, Kagan offers two more reasons for the decline of the humanities. The first is that "when women and minorities began to join White middle and upper-middle-class males in English and history departments...these disciplines began to lose some of the prestige they had enjoyed." (p. 226) This may be true, but I very much doubt it, and Kagan provides no evidence. Kagan's second reason is that "postmodern critics argued that anyone could write a history, biography, or novel...Natural scientists policed their members more effectively by maintain strict rules as to who could call themselves physicists, chemists, or biologists." (p. 227) The idea that John and Jane Q. Public became disenchanted with the humanities because of postmodern critiques is simply ludicrous, if only because no one outside academia ever even heard of such critiques, and no one outside the postmodernists themselves took such critiques seriously.

Kagan offers arguments for his position much like a lawyer: make all possible cases for your position, and let the jury decide which ones they like and which ones they do not. This makes for tedious going on the part of the reader, who must go over page after page of meandering trivia, with may arguments either obvious and not worth repeating, or outlandish and clearly tendentious.

Kagan's treatment of the natural sciences is pedestrian and uninsightful. Most important (a)he does not deal with the importance of geology and astronomy in affecting the public understanding of our species in the larger physical order of things; (b) he does not deal with the stagnation of physics after 1960 and the meteoric rise of biology from 1970 to the present; and (c) he does not deal with sociobiology, the fusion of biology and social theory, except in passing, and places biology squarely in the natural sciences, despite the fact that the biology of social behavior has become one of the strongest forces in the social sciences.

Indeed, if I were to venture a generalization, this book could have been written in 1970, with an update that adds more recent additions to the repertoire (e.g., postmodernism). Dealing with fields in which I work, which include biology, economics, anthropology, and sociology, Kagan shows only the most superficial understanding of developments over the past two decades. For this reason, he completely misses the reintegration of the natural sciences, social sciences, and even the humanities, which is currently in progress. I don't have the space to describe these forces here---see the final chapter of my book, The Bounds of Reason (Princeton 2009) for an extended analysis, or the paper on my web site, "Five Principles for the Unification of the Behavioral Sciences" (people.umass.edu/gintis)---but they are dramatic indeed.

Kagan's treatment of the social sciences is very poor and uninformed. He has deep prejudices, approving of his own field of psychology and deeply admiring anthropology. Has he not heard that for decades anthropology has been dominated by the know-nothing, insipid postmodernists, with their sniveling critique of objectivity? Evidently not. His treatment of economics is a caricature of the know-nothing arguments that abound in leftist circles. Economics uses too much mathematics, he argues, and it is full of right-wing prejudice. I will not go through his tedious and tendentious arguments, which I have dealt with elsewhere, but I do want to stress three points. First, the high point in economics as far as the general public is concerned was the two decades following World War II, in which the modern microeconomic theory of the interaction between market competition and government regulation was developed. Economic theory has been very productive in recent years as well, with the rise of behavioral economics, but there was a long hiatus between 1970 and 2000 during which economics really produced nothing new, and even now, economic theory is in deep need of developing dynamical models that complement the comparative static models where it is strongest.

Second, the smart critique of economics recognizes its strengths and successes, identifies its failures, and proposes how to move from failure to success. Kagan's tedious critique dismisses the successes because they are not complete. His critique of the rational actor model is worthy of a high school poetry major, and his treatment of game theory is just a warmed-over succession of anecdotes and quotes judiciously selected to make his case.
Third, economists are often tarred with being ideologically biased in favor of right-wing political philosophy. This is just wrong. The political views of economists are, if anything, biased to the left. Kagan provides quotes showing that economists don't care about the environment and are inhuman slobs who only know about the material side of life and ignore the higher human capacities. In fact, there are just as many quotes on the other side, and the economic journals today are full of papers on the emotions, love, altruism, honesty, and corruption.

If I had to guess, I would say that Kagan outlined this book forty years ago, but just got around to filling in the details. In fact, a lot more than mere details have occurred in the past forty years, and it remains for someone to write a more cogent analysis of the three cultures.
... Read more

Product Description

John Fox’s A Mathematical Primer for Social Statistics covers many often ignored yet important topics in mathematics and mathematical statistics. This text provides readers with the foundation on which an understanding of applied statistics rests.

Key Features

· Covers matrices, linear algebra, and vector geometry

· Discusses basic differential and integral calculus

· Focuses on probability and statistical estimation

· Develops by way of illustration the seminal statistical method of linear least-squares regression

Intended Audience

This book is ideal for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers in the social sciences who need to understand and use relatively advanced statistical methods but whose mathematical preparation for this work is insufficient.

Customer Reviews (1)

An Excellent Primer on Mathematical Concepts for Statistics
This gem of a book provides a concise and quite readable overview of important mathematical concepts that are important for understanding both basic and advanced statistical methods, not only for sociologists, but any practitioner of applied statistics. John Fox has successfully pulled together and integrated into a 166 page primer mathematical concepts that often appear scattered in more advanced mathematics courses, including advanced calculus courses that many users of applied statistical methods might not have taken. The book starts with an introduction and overview of matrices, linear algebra, and vector geometry. The material in this chapter is absolutely essential to anyone who wishes to use multivariate methods such as principle components analysis and should be mastered even if the reader chooses not to finish the book. The following chapter provides an astonishingly practical review of differential and intgeral calculus concepts important to statistics; after a brief review of planes, functions, and limits of functions, Dr. Fox quickly reviews differentiation of functions,optimization problems involving derivatives, multivariate and matrix differential calculus, Taylor's theorem, and finally an overview of integral calculus whose concepts are important in understanding probability distributions. Chapter 3 provides an excellent introduction to mathematical statistics to include properties of various distributions and estimators, maximum-likelihood estimation, and an introduction to Bayesian inference. Chapter 4 entitled "Putting the Math to Work: Linear Least Squares Regression" closes out this primer and shows how the method of least squares and the Gauss-Markov Theorem is used to estimate regression parameters and associated statistics. All in all, this is an excellent and highly readable overview of mathematics concepts that can function to fill the "math gap" that many users of statistical methods often have due to inadequate math preparation. At ~$16, the book is a smashing bargain. Very highly recommended! ... Read more

Product Description
As the new subtitle indicates, the book emphasizes the logic of methods to provide the student a solid basis for future methodology changes, enhancing the integrated approach of the previous edition. Among the author s many goals are for users to: understand research s contribution to knowledge building as a social process through which findings become accepted as knowledge; acquire the background to read, analyze, and understand research using a variety of approaches as well as the hallmarks necessary to evaluate each method; and realize that the responsibility for ethical research is fundamentally theirs and that value choices are involved, beginning with the choice of research problem. Updates to the new edition include an extensive example of the use of the computer in the literature search and a new chapter on the reflective researcher. The expanded treatment of qualitative research includes the pros and cons of using software in qualitative analysis. Conceptual analysis, an important concept missing from the second edition, has returned by request because of its widely employed logic in both qualitative and quantitative methods. The author has acknowledged the troublesome nature of the concepts internal validity and external validity and has more clearly defined these important foundational concepts as Internal Integrity and External Generality. Useful tools to facilitate learning include additional reading lists, important terms and concepts, tips on effective research methods and hallmarks of methods, application problems and exercises, a glossary, and an appendix on writing a research proposal. A Web site is available with auxiliary learning enhancements and updates. Not-for-sale instructor resource material available to college and university faculty only; contact publisher directly. ... Read more

Product Description
How might science education reflect the values of a socially just and democratic society? Using a combination of in-depth case studies and rigorous theory, this volume offers a series of teaching stories that describe inner city youth's practices of science. ... Read more

Product Description
Mentor teacher and reading expert, Laura Robb, shares 12 practical, research-based lessons that teachers can use to help kids navigate the special demands of the text they encounter in science and social studies classes. Strategy lessons include building background knowledge, asking questions, visualizing, building vocabulary, synthesizing information, and much more. Includes management tips and student samples. For use with Grades 5 & Up. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Teaching Reading in the Content Areas
This is an excellent resource guide for language art and reading teachers.It provides research based lessons and strategies for teaching reading in two pertinent content areas, i.e., science and social studies.The book makes it easy for teachers to apply the lessons to state standards and learning objectives.Each lesson includes the strategy, its purpose, materials needed, time frame for teaching, presentation guidelines, after reading strategies, and follow up exercises.Each lesson in the book is organized using a three-part learning framework, i.e., before reading, during reading, and after reading.It contains graphic organizers, semantic analysis matrixes, and other visual strategies.This book is for use with middle school and high school students.You will have to modify the lessons for remedial students, ELL students, and students with disabilities. ... Read more

Product Description

Spatial Regression Models illustrates the use of spatial analysis in the social sciences. The text includes sections that cover different modeling-related topics: mapping and making projections; doing exploratory spatial data analysis; working with models which have lagged endogenous right-handed side variables; using spatial error correction models; employing conditionally autoregressive models; and dealing with over-time panels exhibiting spatial structures. Each of the modeling-based discussions includes separate delineations of how to proceed when dealing with main variables that are quantitative as well as qualitative. In each section, the authors employ prominent and diverse examples, introducing readers to key literature in the field. The examples are presented along with relevant data and programs written in the R, which illustrate exactly how to undertake the analyses described. The book ends with a chapter that covers techniques for presenting spatial information.

Key Features

• Geared toward social science readers, unlike other volumes on this topic.
• Illustrates concepts using well-known international, comparative, and national examples of spatial regression analysis.
• Presents each example alongside relevant data and code, which is also available on a Web site maintained by the authors.

Intended Audience

This book is appropriate for graduate students taking any applied social research methods class.

Product Description
In Telling Stories, Mary Jo Maynes, Jennifer L. Pierce, and Barbara Laslett argue that personal narratives-autobiographies, oral histories, life history interviews, and memoirs-are an important research tool for understanding the relationship between people and their societies. Gathering examples from throughout the world and from premodern as well as contemporary cultures, they draw from labor history and class analysis, feminist sociology, race relations, and anthropology to demonstrate the value of personal narratives for scholars and students alike.

Telling Stories explores why and how personal narratives should be used as evidence, and the methods and pitfalls of their use. The authors stress the importance of recognizing that stories that people tell about their lives are never simply individual. Rather, they are told in historically specific times and settings and call on rules, models, and social experiences that govern how story elements link together in the process of self-narration. Stories show how individuals' motivations, emotions, and imaginations have been shaped by their cumulative life experiences. In turn, Telling Stories demonstrates how the knowledge produced by personal narrative analysis is not simply contained in the stories told; the understanding that takes place between narrator and analyst and between analyst and audience enriches the results immeasurably. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Make every day into a day where children learn something invaluable
The earlier years of a child's life make them a sponge for knowledge; being in child care centers is simply another educational experience, even when doing things that are not typically viewed as educational. "Social & Emotional Development: Connecting Science and Practice in Early Childhood Settings" is a guide for day care center educators to making every day into a day where children learn something invaluable. Valuable lessons include teaching children how to find security in trusted adults, how to form good friendships, and how to control their behavior. "Social & Emotional Development: Connecting Science and Practice in Early Childhood Settings" is a top pick for community library child psychology collections and highly recommended for child care professionals.

A Increasingly Ignored Topic Needing Re-emphasis
From now until we see a distinct paradigm shift, the overarching influence of the No Child Left Behind Act will continue to bully early childhood education away from fostering socio-emotional development and toward a nearly exclusive focus on academic development.From this point until forever, I will always oppose such a singular viewpoint on education.I think you can correctly foster both equally, and this book should give teachers clues on how to accomplish this goal.

In an unusual way, Riley and her co-authors aim to show us how to use science (a logical field closely related to math during these early years) to model social and emotional growth and maturity.I cannot remember seeing this before.It is a fascinating discourse.

Each chapter shows through scientific exploration how to gain perspective on ideas like attachment or friendship or self-regulation through constructivist type experiences.

Not only is this book research-based but also it is quite inexpensive. Even if you do not agree with the approach, I think this book is worth looking at especially if you want to keep academics in your classroom in an appropriate way.

... Read more

Product Description

This accessible text is designed to help readers help themselves to excel. The content is organized into two parts: (1) A Library of Elementary Functions (Chapters 1—2) and (2) Finite Mathematics (Chapters 3—11). The book’s overall approach, refined by the authors’ experience with large sections of college freshmen, addresses the challenges of teaching and learning when readers’ prerequisite knowledge varies greatly. Reader-friendly features such as Matched Problems, Explore & Discuss questions, and Conceptual Insights, together with the motivating and ample applications, make this text a popular choice for today’s students and instructors.

Customer Reviews (22)

Quality
I was satisfied with this purchase because it was the right book in pretty decent condition. I also appreciated the fact that I had the option of preferred shipping. All in all a good deal.

Book purchase
The book was in excellent condition!Shipment was very quick.A great transaction and definitely would buy from again.

Satisfied Customer
I had no shipment problems whatsoever. The book arrived in plenty of time with no damage. I am very satisfied with this seller!

Amazon employee asleep as a data entry person
The book I received was not the one I ordered.It was the wrong edition and had to be returned.The seller was good enough to refund my money but I did not have the book for the start of class and had to purchase it at the school book store for a much higher price because of the incompetence of a clerical person who entered the bar code incorrectly and sent me the wrong edition- NOT the one that was listed with the lovely light bulb and purple cover. Beware- even if the ISBN matches and the picture and edition number are the same as the book you want in the photo provided online that may not be the book you get.

The seller was great the problem was on Amazon's data entry end.

Wonderful!
It was better than some of the used books in school! :]
and it was way more cheap than the prices in the bookstore. ... Read more

Product Description
Your complete guide to a higher score on the CSET: Social Science.

Why CliffsTestPrep Guides?

• Go with the name you know and trust.
• Get the information you need--fast!
• Written by test-prep specialists

Contents include the format and content of the exam, proven test-taking strategies and tips, approaches for answering both multiple-choice and constructed-response questions.

Subject Area Review entails focused reviews of all subjects tested: world history, U.S. history, geography, civics, economics, and California history and practice questions to aid in subject review and test preparation.

Two Full-Length Practice Examinations

• Structured like the actual exam
• Complete with answers and explanations
• References for Additional Study

Test-Prep Essentials from the Experts at CliffsNotes ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Don't Buy This Book
Greetings Folks--I have been studying heartily for the CSET exam, and I have used several books from Cliff Test Prep, Princeton Review (AP), Barron (AP) and McGraw Hill, among other sources.

In preparing for this test, having so many test booklets to compare, I can say without doubt that Cliff Test Prep books are by far the worst books to use. Not only is the material covered so simplistic and general (you would get more information from Wikipedia), the questions are absurd and seem to have little to do with the CSET exam for social sciences. I do not recommend any of these books at all. It is as if they are written by high school graduates and not professors.

Buying books from Cliff Test Prep is a total waste of money.

Regards,

the friendlyskeptic

If there is a thing as too concise, this is it!
I bought this study guide to study for the CSET Social Sciences test and read the whole book. The information is extremely bare bones and is presented in outline form. It leaves so much important information out! It is hard to remember anything you read just based on the way the information is presented. On the positive side, this guide had to practice tests with explanations, which I found to be extremely helpful in pinpointing what I need to study more off. Do not rely solely on this study guide when studying because one you have the test in front of you for real you will be cursing it! Long story short, it doesn't do a good job of preparing you for the test. I actually preferred the XAM study guide to this one. At least when I read that one I felt like I was learning something! Good luck studying!

A waste of time and money
Well, I have now completed the Social Science tests this weekend and with this text and the all important test fresh in my memory, I must say that Cliffs Test Prep was a good way to distract me from what I needed to know.Much of the information in this book was a simple list of terms and names with little reference as to why they are important or why they are relevant to the test.Likewise, I found that many of the test questions came in a different format than found within this book'ssample exams.

What was far more valuable for my time and my study were the California State standards: those are free, and give some connection as to why a specific person or vocabulary term is relevant.Don't waste your money on this book!

worst test prep book I've ever read
This book is a complete embarrassment. I teach test prep and am therefore very familiar with many, many (high school) test prep books. Some are better, some are worse, but this book is not even in the same running with even the worst of them.
It's broken into three sections; the introduction to the test section has illuminating info. such as: "What score do I need to pass the test...? Each subject has it's own passing score..." Basically, the answer to every FAQs question is "Contact...[...]..." These questions can be answered in about two minutes on the CSET site, but I bought the book for a bit more insight into such things as the scaled scoring (they don't even mention it) and how long the test is. Any prep book worth anything would give these answers and more. If you need the test-taking tips they provide you shouldn't be let near a classroom.
The second section is a joke summary of the subject matter. If you're going to have such a section, take it seriously. This book is more expensive and thinner than any SAT etc. book and yet has this poorly written, pathetic and often inaccurate summary of all world history.
The worst offense is that the two practice tests are terrible. The questions don't reflect the test questions, are often almost incomprehensibly or woefully vaguely written, are often wrong, and regularly have hopeless explanations as mentioned in the above post. My favorite not only said that A, B, and C were obviously wrong as an explanation, but then marked the answer as...C!
Needless to say, my advice is, DON'T BUY THIS BOOK!

A good study companion
Some people seem to think that a study guide will give you the exact material that will be on the test.Well, they are wrong.I looked all over for a good social science cset study guide and could not find one.I bought this book because it provides a guide on how to take the test, rather than spending hundreds of pages recapping information available in the survey books that we all own already (hopefully).There is, however, some review, but the book is valuable for familiarizing you with each subtest.I read this book cover-to-cover and completed all of the practice sections (took two days) before taking the tests.I passed all three subtests on my first attempt.You should have learned all you need from school (considering you paid attention and made reasonable effort), but this book will show you the areas that you need to study as you assess your performance on the practice sections.There is no single book that will adequately prepare you for the cset.Using the practice guidelines from the cset website, reviewing your education, reading this book, and researching areas that you show weakness, in my opinion, will prepare you for the test.I recommend this book to supplement your studies.Good Luck!!! ... Read more