Principles of Data Management and Presentation (eBook)

Preface
Acknowledgments

1 Why Research?

Why Research
What Is Research?
Classifying Research
Impediments to Conducting Sound Research
How Can We Make Research Interesting and Persuasive?
The Research Process
Final Words

2 Developing Research Questions

Selecting a Topic
From Topic to Research Question
Refining Research Questions
An Example
Final Words

3 Data

What Are Data?
Sources of Data
From Concepts to Variables
Forms of Data
Final Words

4 Principles of Data Management

Codebooks
Documentation
Coding
Data Cleaning and Screening
Naming Conventions
Principles of File Management
Final Words

5 Finding and Using Secondary Data

Types of Secondary Data
Why Use Secondary Data?
Sources of Secondary Data
Examples of Searching for, Downloading, and Importing Data
A Simple Test of the Conceptual Model
The Pew Research Center Data
Final Words

6 Primary and Administrative Data

Principles for Primary Data
Administrative Data and Linking Datasets
Final Words

7 Working with Missing Data

Why Are Missing Data a Problem?
Reasons for Missing Data
Types of Missing Data
Forms and Patterns of Missing Data
Addressing Missing Data in the Analysis Stage
Finals Words

8 Principles of Data Presentation

Presenting Data
Visual Images
First Principles: Clarity, Precision, and Efficiency
Why Words Are Not Enough
Types of Tables and Graphics
Principles of Data Presentation
Final Words

9 Designing Tables for Data Presentations

Table or Graphic?
Tables
Examples of Tables
Final Words

10 Designing Graphics for Data Presentations

Graphics
Examples of Graphics
Where to Next?
Final Words

Appendix: Introduction to Statistical Software

Stata
SPSS
SAS
R
Final Words

References
Index