4 stars (Important but not compelling) - I understand that the rigors of academia require exhaustive research and documentation, however, that is no excuse for writing which is too dense, difficult to read, or not engaging to the reader. If more "academics" would learn how to write like real people instead of researchers, perhaps their messages would be communicated more effectively... and maybe people would LEARN more. Isn't that the point? There is no excuse for bad writing -- even if you are a genius! 3 stars (It's really tough but you will need it!) - I tried for a long time to deny using this book, even though I bought it off a course list and had it on my shelf. After being told several times by professors that my documents needed to be in APA style, with no quick description offered, I have been forced to go in and learn the format. It's a bit like learning a foreign language but since I've learned to use it, it's come up again, and again, and again, so I'm glad I finally did it. Check out "The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book" as well. It's a fun read, based on sound research, that let me test my EQ online. Boy, did I need my EQ skills while learning APA style! 4 stars (More User-Friendly Than Widely Acknowledged) - It's difficult to understand why so many reviewers find the APA style so difficult. Perhaps this is due to having weaned my teeth on APA during my Ph.D. Rather than finding the style convoluted, confusing, or inconsistent, I find it as clear as the equally valuable "Chicago Manual of Style." In particular, the APA's method of in-text notes makes it easy for the writer and reader to document and locate source materials. Once you grasp the basic premise of footnoting and endnoting, the overall style is coherent. Besides, if you are going to write in the social science field, like it or not, APA style is here to stay--so you may as well learn it and use it. Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends... American Psychological Association (APA) :: Social sciences :: Reference :: Publishing :: Psychology :: Psychological literature :: History :: Handbooks :: manuals :: etc :: Composition & Creative Writing - Acade :: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association- Fifth Edition
4 stars (Textbook) - I use this for my text for an upper division Soc class - is a good book - easy to read - wish I had the CD! 5 stars (Fast, Accurate and Great Condition) - I was skeptical when the description said they ship same day but took the chance because I had waited till the last minute to order my books. I placed the order Monday morning and received the book Wednesday just in time for class!!! Thank you for the fast delivery with no extra charge to me!!! And of course as promised the book was in excellent condition and everyone in class was jealous because I paid less and got better service then most of them!!!! 2 stars (Babbie is a textbook machine, not a researcher) - I have taught a survey research course for 3 semesters and used this book because it was recommended. If you want to teach a course in overall research methods, this may be your book. If you want to teach survey research, use something else. Too much of the book focuses on qualitative methods. In addition, some of his information is simply off-base. His discussion of the reasons for using stratified sampling is particularly erroneous. In addition, the research he uses as examples (research he has conducted) was done 20 years ago and is neither interesting nor enlightening. In addition to the problems with the text book, the publishing company is not terribly helpful. I had to hound them to get desk copies and a test bank. They never did send me a copy of the study guide. It seems as though Earl Babbie writes text books to make money, not because he is a researcher with an abundance of information to share with the world. If you want an introductory level book on survey research, use Czaja and Blair (Pine Forge Press), Fowler (Sage) or another book written by people who actually do survey research. The one positive thing I can say is that his workbooks on how to use SPSS are pretty good. ... Wadsworth Publishing :: Social Science & Sociology & Marriage & Family :: Sociology :: Social sciences :: Social Science :: Research :: Methodology :: Earl R Babbie :: :: The Practice of Social Research (with CD-ROM and InfoTrac) (Practice of Social Research)
4 stars (Good) - I have taken many Psychology classes. This book is clear and well illustrated. There is room for improvement but this is a great textbook. 5 stars (An Excellent Review of Relevant Research and Theories) - This is an excellent text for adolescent development. It is an easy read for undergraduate students and it provides summaries of a variety of current research projects. I have used Steinberg's text for two years to teach a course in adolescent development and I have yet to find a better undergraduate text on adolescence. 5 stars (Excellent resource) - Steinberg is an incredible writer and a top researcher. This textbook is the best of its type. ... McGraw-Hill Humanities-Social Sciences-Languages :: Education & Educational Psychology :: Psychology :: Neuropsychology :: Educational Psychology :: Developmental - Adolescent :: Laurence Steinberg :: Laurence Ste :: Adolescence with PowerWeb
4 stars (No problem being used as a finite math text) - This book is not nearly as bad as the other reviews indicate. I teach a course in finite mathematics at the college level and I examined it for possible adoption as a textbook. While it is not the best text I have seen, so I will not be using it, the quality is just below that of the book I use. Therefore, I would have no trouble using this book in my class. The coverage in college courses in finite mathematics is standard and this book adheres to those standards. Topics are introduced via worked examples; there are exercises at the ends of the sections and review questions at the end of the chapters. The writing is clear, and the explanations are thorough. Solutions to the odd numbered exercises and all of the review exercises are included. While I hesitate to strongly recommend this book as a text, there is no delay in saying that it is one of the better options available. 1 stars (Finite Mathematics=Infinite Frustrations) - I would give this thing -10 stars or more if it were an option from the pull-down menu. The text is little more than a workbook; it has little explanation to go along with the problems you will get assigned as homework. I attend a large university so compounding this problem is the level of math this text is for, freshmen. Freshman classes are taught by "lecturers", or graduate students who, while very knowledgeable of their field, have little or no teaching experience so prove to not be able to effectively fill in the numerous blanks this book leaves. Also, these size of these classes tend to be in the hundreds and with the lecturer himself/herself being a student as well, can not devote the time needed to teach this subject because of the strains their own course loads put on them. Also this book claims that it "aims to provide students with the quantitative skills needed for their chosen fields and to lay the foundation for more advanced courses in mathematics."(qtd. by Amazo... Brooks Cole :: Mathematics & Applied :: Science&Mathematics :: Mathematics :: Applied :: Soo T Tan :: :: Finite Mathematics for the Managerial- Life- and Social Sciences (with CD-ROM and 1Pass for iLrn and
5 stars (A compendium of qualitative research: Absolute gold!) - I bumped on to this book accidentally in a library while seeking for a book on qualitative research. Being a novice in qualitative research I spend the next week reading it everyday to get my first glimps into what qualitative research is. It is absolute gold for two reasons: - It content is topical and up todate. Even for a beginner it is absolutely readable. The content is not lost in academic jargons but simple everyday English. - The detailed bibliography speaks for itself and what is more it is given after every section. It allows the researcher to find more information elsewhere. I have decided that it is a book one should own in his or her private library. Thank you. Odwora Jaki Johannesburg. 5 stars (It never leaves my desk) - While it seems like a large chunk of change, this book is worth every penny. Ever since I've purchased it, many of my colleagues (I'm a social scientist at KU) ask to borrow it, but I never let it go. Just about any question I have about qualitative research can be answered, to some degree, with this book. What's more, even in some of the more controversial areas of qualitative research the book points to other readings that may shed light on alternate perspectives. Just buy the book. I did, and I don't regret it for a moment. It's also nice in that it covers a wide variety of disciplines and contexts -- journalists, sociologists, communicologits, psychologists, and political scientists can all use the book with equal ease. One area, though, that I've heard the book is not as strong toward is anthropology. If you're an anthropologist, you may want to check out Holstein's interviewing methods book. 5 stars (Research Reviews Research Handbook) - These knowledgeable and experienced authors have assembled cutting eduge chapters on the new dimensions researchers have available for doing quantitative research. Of special interest to this reader is the chapter ... SAGE Publications :: Social Science & Research :: Sociology :: Social sciences :: Social Science :: Research & Methodology :: Research :: Yvonna S Lincoln :: Norman K Denzin :: :: The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research
2 stars (My Review) - Some peopel may find this book useful. I am just begining to learn the APA format and I did not find this book to be user friendly. I have had better information given to me from handouts from other books. 5 stars (Critical Information for Writing for the APA Publications) - The first question you'd have to ask about this book is Why would the American Psychological Association have a style guide. The answer is that the APA Style is the definitive guide to the style that the APA wants to see in their publications and this style is also used by a number of other publications that have adopted the APA Style. Among the critical points of the APA Style is how to construct an error-free reference list crediting all sources properly and avoiding all charges of plagiarism. This has become extremely critical in today's world where any research seems subject to actively looking for any way they can discredit someone else rather than do their own work. In addition the style book is an authoritative guide to how best to present the ideas and data that is so hard to gather. Being able to present data in a way that is understandable to the reader is perhaps the most difficult yet the most important part of writing a paper. This book is the concise version. It is a small format book designed to be convenient, portable and yet complete. ... American Psychological Association (APA) :: Writing Skills :: Social sciences :: Reference :: Publishing :: Psychology :: Professional - General :: Handbooks :: manuals :: etc :: Composition & Creative Writing - :: Concise Rules Of Apa Style (Concise Rules of the American Psychological Association (APA) Style)
3 stars (A LONG WAIT FOR PRODUCT) - I ordered this product on the 3rd of August via expedited (2 day)shipping and it did not get here until the 13th of August!! Class started here on the 15th. The product itself was as it stated, so I can not complain about that. I would not use this shipper unless you have plenty of time to wait. 1 stars (Unhappy) - I was looking for a student workbook for practice in spanish. I ordered this book because it was listed as "like new",it took me almost three weeks to get it and when I did I found the worksheets for the first five chapters were cut out. I am now approaching my first term exam for those same chapters and have no book to review. 5 stars (The Best Spanish Resource I've ever Come Across) - I think that "Dos Mundos" is an excellent resource for both teachers AND students. I disagree that study of the book needs to be accompanied by teacher instruction and supervision. The beauty of the text, in my opinion, is that it makes self-teaching very easy. The grammar section at the back of each chapter is clearly explained in English, and there is a complete vocabulary list at the end of each chapter. The other beauty of the book is that it creates the closest thing to language immerson that you can get out of a book. There are many articles from Spanish-speakers, written in very natural Spanish. As for the person upset about the Mexican Spanish, I can't say that I agree with you. I was pleasantly surprised because the book actually has samplings of the language from all over the Spanish world. But in order to avoid confusion (which would make sense), they stuck to one main form of Spanish - Spain Spanish. I recommend this book for ANYONE - teacher and students (from beginner level write up to the advanced learner) ... McGraw-Hill Humanities-Social Sciences-Languages :: Foreign Language Study & Spanish :: Spanish :: Language :: Foreign Language - Dictionaries & Phrase Books :: Miguel Munoz :: Jeanne Egasse :: Magdalena Andrade :: M :: Dos mundos (Student edition w- Listening Comprehension CD)
5 stars (Wow! Clear, Concise, Excellent Book) - Having seriously struggled for the last two years with the statistics side of my Psychology studies, this book has really made things so much clearer. An excellent book for anyone struggling to grasp the basic statistical concepts required in behavioral sciences. 5 stars (One of the Best Intro to Stats Texts) - Having taken statistics before, I know a good book when I see one. This is hands down, one of the best intro to stats book. Unlike other stats textbooks, Essentials gives you the information in a concise manner accompanied by varied step-by-step examples towards understanding all the statistical tests. Psychology students have it lucky to have a book like this. 5 stars (Understandable Statistics at Last!) - This is the first statistics textbook that I have actually understood and enjoyed, and I have read many of them. The authors take students through the material step by step and do not make assumptions about prior knowledge. The charts and examples are very helpful and clearly presented. As textbooks go, this is the best! ... Wadsworth Publishing :: Psychology & Psychiatry & General :: Statistical methods :: Social sciences :: Psychology :: Probability & Statistics - General :: Movements - Behaviorism :: Gene :: Essentials of Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
5 stars (muy excelente para todos quien quieren aprender el idioma!) - (translation of title: Very excellent for everyone who wants to learn the language!) I cannot emphasize enough how beneficial the Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish series is for those who want to learn Spanish, or become more familiar with the language. This was used in a course I took at college, and it felt like we were all travelling along with the main character, Raquel, a lawyer who travels from her home in Los Angeles, to Mexico, Spain, Argentina and Puerto Rico, as part of her work with her clients, a family living in an estate in Mexico City. The format of this program is styled after the Latin American "novelas" (soap operas). In other words, you will need to carefully watch each episode, to keep up with plot details. But, not to worry, because Raquel reviews what happened with you, at the end of every episode. Each episode is entirely in Spanish, and it gets you thinking in the language, comprehending what is going on very quickly, as well as picking up interesting information specific to the cultures she is immersed in, during her travels. We learn about art, music, dance, food and slang. (Slang is also a very valuable thing to know about, when travelling in Spanish-speaking countries. Words that are acceptable in one country could get you shot in another country---this isn't addressed in the episodes, but that is really important to be aware of) I am pleased to say that the series is entertaining, educational and very beneficial to students. It makes you WANT to learn, and also, in spite of the melodrama, you will want to stick it out to the last episode to see how things turn out. Muy excelente! 4 stars (??Destinos es muy fantastico!) - I'm using Destinos in a telecourse, and am having lots of fun with it, and even learning some Spanish. My listening skills have improved dramatically, since the video is the main learning tool, which forces one to sharpen up and really ... McGraw-Hill Humanities-Social Sciences-Languages :: Foreign Language Study & Spanish :: Textbooks for foreign speakers :: Spanish- Adult Nonfiction :: Spanish language :: Spanish :: Foreign Language Study :: Foreig :: Destinos- An Introduction to Spanish (Student Edition)
2 stars (Very Sketchy) - I couldn't agree more that this text is, to put it kindly, sketchy. I don't know what level it is meant for, but I'm using it in graduate school, and frankly, it isn't telling me anything I didn't learn back in Intro to Psych 101. It also appears very choppy within sections and you can tell where updates were stuck in and not well-integrated. (I always love the shoehorned-in references to women or minorities, not just a crime of this book, however.) It's also poorly written in spots, as I'm reading about something I already know and the explanation is about as clear as mud. I feel sorry for people who haven't learned some of the material elsewhere. As I will be facing this material on a licensing exam, I am in the market for another book - one that might teach me something I didn't learn in high school/freshman year in college. 5 stars (Well organized, highly informative) - There is no better book to be used for Developmental Psychology than this one. It not only provides the foundation of introductory psychology, but goes well into detail with all aspects of lifespan development. The material is extremely organized and chronological, making it very simple to use for reference and in the classroom. Highly recommended for all psychology students and instructors. 5 stars (Wonderful Educational Resource) - This book describes the very essence of life in a definite and distinctive way. There are no underlying factors or confusing verbage. The reader can simply investigate a topic of interest while receiving the information in its complete totality. The format of this book is simply wonderful. Santrock does an excellent job in allowing the reader to not only expand upon early life-span development . . . But he also introduces the reader to the various theories that helped shaped life-span development. In this book you learn of Vygotsky, Erickson, and Piaget and many, many others. I personally found this book to be of great help during m... McGraw-Hill Humanities-Social Sciences-Languages :: Psychology :: Developmental - Lifespan Development :: John W Santrock :: :: Life-Span Development with LifeMAP CD-ROM and PowerWeb
5 stars (FINALLY, Someone who can teach public speaking!) - As a college instructor of oral communication for ten years, I complained bitterly about the poor selection of books for beginning students--until now. This is the single best book of its kind on the market, bar none. In all my years, I've never had students brag on a book like this one: easy to read, well-organized, thoughtful, practical, visually attractive, and substantive. My best compliment is that I can teach three times the material in half the time just by using this text--and people understand it! I can't brag enough on the author's work. This is phenomenal. ANYONE who wants to master the basics of public speaking should read this cover to cover. The principles and techniques Mr. Gregory describes are effective, powerful, and described in a simple way. BRAVO! I'll recommend this to everyone. 5 stars (VERY GOOD!) - I'm a student at a local college here in Jersey City. I found this book very easy to read but doesn't defeat the purpose to inform. I really wish I can have him as my teacher. THANKS HAMILTON! ... McGraw-Hill Humanities-Social Sciences-Languages :: Language Arts & Disciplines & Public Speaking :: Public Speaking :: Language Arts & Linguistics & Literacy :: Language Arts & Disciplines :: Language :: Hamilto :: Public Speaking for College and Career with SpeechMate CD-ROM 3 0
