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Analyzing Social and Political Change
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Analyzing Social and Political Change
A Casebook of Methods

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240 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
"the editors provide a solid introduction to each chapter. . . . There is an excellent index--something which is not a feature of all article collections. . . . a good knowledge of statistical theory is generally assumed, but this book should be in every institute library." --John G. Taylor in Technology and Political Science Researchers across the social sciences often encounter the need to analyze and understand change over time. When confronted with this need, the question arises as to which methodological technique or method is best suited to a given research study. Analyzing Social and Political Change provides researchers with a clear and accessible guide on the potential and problems of relevant methods of analysis. Outlining the nature of such techniques, this book examines the variety of methods available for the analysis of change over time, the kinds of research objectives to which individual techniques are suited, the limitations and constraints of individual methods, the different philosophies that underlie particular approaches, and the respective value of cross-sectional and longitudinal data in the analysis of change. Making quantitative and statistical techniques accessible to a broad range of researchers, this volume is an essential tool for all those engaged in researching social change.
Richard B Davies and Angela Dale
Introduction
Richard B Davies
From Cross-Sectional to Longitudinal Analysis
Clive Payne, Joan Payne and Anthony Heath
Modelling Trends in Multi-Way Tables
John Micklewright
The Analysis of Pooled Cross-Sectional Data
John Bynner
Analyzing Change Over Time Using LISREL
Ian Plewis
Longitudinal Multilevel Models
Nancy Tuma
Event History Analysis
Rolf Langeheine and Frank van de Pol
Discrete-Time Mixed Markov Latent Class Models
David Sanders and Hugh Ward
Time-Series Techniques for Repeated Cross-Sectional Data

`[A] valuable sourcebook.... It starts with a lucid introductory chapter by the editors in which they review the main benefits of using longitudinal data and describe the different sorts of such data that are becoming increasingly available, identifying the research questions each may address and the statistical methods appropriate to each. Chapter 2 by Davies is an elegant demonstration of the benefits of longitudinal over cross-sectional analysis, particularly in separating ageing and cohort effects. In each of the subsequent seven chapters a specific method of statistical analysis is presented, giving a worked example of how it can be used to investigate changes over time. Some are technically complex but the reader is ably assisted by the editors, who introduce each chapter with a few pages explaining the key points in an accessible way. Looking through these editorial guides will quickly establish which method is the most appropriate to the reader's research question and data. The book is an excellent resource for anyone wanting an update on developments in statistical techniques that help to unravel the complexities of social and political change' - Political Studies

`The editors provide a solid introduction to each chapter. I found this useful particularly in those subjects where I am less familiar. There is an excellent index - something which is not a feature of all article collections.... a good knowledge of statistical theory is generally assumed, but this book should be in every institute library' - Participation

`This volume covers many types of longitudinal data and statistical techniques for analyzing them. Does it manage to "build a bridge" between the advanced statistical techniques and the needs felt by the social researcher in his/her everyday practice? Yes, I think it does. The book is readable and one learns a lot' - Acta Sociologica

'There is much to recommend this book, especially to those who are interested in studying change processes....Provides a useful introduction to the problems and benefits associated with analysing longitudinal data in the social sciences' - Structural Equations Modeling

Angela Dale

Angela Dale is Director of the Census Microdata Unit and Professor of Quantitative Social Research at the University of Manchester.    More About Author

Richard Davies

he Vice-Chancellor is the University's chief executive and principal academic and administrative officer.Professor Richard B Davies was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University in 2003. He studied Engineering at Cambridge, Transportation and Traffic Planning at Birmingham University, and obtained a PhD in Geography/Statistics at Bristol University.His first academic appointment was at Bristol University.  Subsequently, he was a lecturer and then senior lecturer in the department of City and Regional Planning at the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, now Cardiff University.He was appointed to a Chair in Applied... More About Author

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