Sage Beginner's Guide


Book Description

Annotation Your work demands results, and you don't have time for tedious, repetitive mathematical tasks. Sage is a free, open-source software package that automates symbolic and numerical calculations with the power of the Python programming language, so you can focus on the analytical and creative aspects of your work or studies. Sage Beginner's Guide shows you how to do calculations with Sage. Each concept is illustrated with a complete example that you can use as a starting point for your own work. You will learn how to use many of the functions that are built in to Sage, and how to use Python to write sophisticated programs that utilize the power of Sage. This book starts by showing you how to download and install Sage, and introduces the command-line interface and the graphical notebook interface. It also includes an introduction to Python so you can start programming in Sage. Every major concept is illustrated with a practical example. After learning the fundamentals of variables and functions in Sage, you will learn how to symbolically simplify expressions, solve equations, perform integrals and derivatives, and manipulate vectors and matrices. You will learn how Sage can produce numerous kinds of plots and graphics. The book will demonstrate numerical methods in Sage, and explain how to use object-oriented programming to improve your code. Sage Beginner's Guide will give you the tools you need to unlock the full potential of Sage for simplifying and automating mathematical computing. Effectively use Sage to eliminate tedious algebra, speed up numerical calculations, implement algorithms and data structures, and illustrate your work with publication-quality plots and graphics.




A Beginner's Guide to Social Theory


Book Description

Best offers a comprehensive overview of social theory from classical sociology to the present day. The reader is guided through the work of Durkheim, Marx and Weber and contemporary thinkers like Anthony Giddens, Michel Foucault, Jurgen Habermas, Judith Butler, Gilles Deluze, Manuel Castells, Luce Irigary, Naomi Woolf and Camille Paglia.




Using SPSS Syntax


Book Description

SPSS syntax is the command language used by SPSS to carry out all of its commands and functions. In this book, Jacqueline Collier introduces the use of syntax to those who have not used it before, or who are taking their first steps in using syntax. Without requiring any knowledge of programming, the text outlines: - how to become familiar with the syntax commands; - how to create and manage the SPSS journal and syntax files; - and how to use them throughout the data entry, management and analysis process. Collier covers all aspects of data management from data entry through to data analysis, including managing the errors and the error messages created by SPSS. Syntax commands are clearly explained and the value of syntax is demonstrated through examples. This book also supports the use of SPSS syntax alongside the usual button and menu-driven graphical interface (GIF) using the two methods together, in a complementary way. The book is written in such a way as to enable you to pick and choose how much you rely on one method over the other, encouraging you to use them side-by-side, with a gradual increase in use of syntax as your knowledge, skills and confidence develop. This book is ideal for all those carrying out quantitative research in the health and social sciences who can benefit from SPSS syntax's capacity to save time, reduce errors and allow a data audit trail.




The Beginner′s Guide to Counselling & Psychotherapy


Book Description

Are you interested in the field of counselling and psychotherapy or just starting out in your training? Trying to get to grips with the many different approaches and decide which are right for you? This book can help! An ideal introductory text that assumes no prior knowledge, leading authors in the field provide overviews of 26 counselling and psychotherapy approaches in accessible, jargon-free terms. Each approach is discussed using the same framework to enable easy comparison and evaluation, covering: · Development of the Therapy · Theory and Basic Concepts · Practice · Which Clients Benefit Most? · Case study Four further chapters offer an insight into the therapeutic relationship, working with diversity, professional issues, and research, while resources such as suggested reading, discussion issues, appendices of further information and a comprehensive glossary help you consolidate your learning. So look no further if you want to know the differences between counselling and psychotherapy, compare psychodynamic and psychoanalytic theories, discover how constructivist approaches can be applied in practice, learn about third wave CBT therapies, or just get an general overview of the field; this second edition of a bestseller gives you a whirlwind tour of the breadth, complexity, fascination and problems of the field of counselling and psychotherapy.




A Beginner′s Guide to Doing Your Education Research Project


Book Description

′Mike Lambert′s book is a useful source of information, helping to create and shape your research methods project. The book contains detailed chapters with easy to follow guidelines, tips and suggestions ensuring help at every step of the way from start to finish′ Alexander Miesen, student, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences In this basic guide, step-by-step advice is presented in a clear way and chapters take the reader through the entire process, from planning and doing research, to writing it up. Each stage is covered, with detailed help on choosing a topic, drawing up research questions, doing the literature review, choosing and designing research methods, the ethics of doing research, analyzing data, and collating and presenting findings. Features in the text include: - explanations of key research terms - activities (with answers) - progress sheets - case studies This is an ideal text for undergraduate students undertaking their first ever research project, postgraduates pursuing Masters awards and teachers carrying out action research.




Introducing Research Methodology


Book Description

Lecturers/instructors - request a free digital inspection copy here In the Second Edition of this textbook designed for new researchers, Uwe Flick takes readers through the process of producing a research project. The book gives readers the fundamental data collection and analysis skills that they need for their first project, as well as a good understanding of the research process as a whole. It covers both quantitative and qualitative methods, and contains plenty of real-life examples from the author's own research. The book will help readers to answer questions such as: why do social research in the first place? how do I develop a researchable question? what is a literature review and how do I conduct one? how could I collect and analyze data? what if I want to do my research online? Available with Perusall—an eBook that makes it easier to prepare for class Perusall is an award-winning eBook platform featuring social annotation tools that allow students and instructors to collaboratively mark up and discuss their SAGE textbook. Backed by research and supported by technological innovations developed at Harvard University, this process of learning through collaborative annotation keeps your students engaged and makes teaching easier and more effective. Learn more.




Textual Analysis


Book Description

Textual analysis is a methodology - a way of gathering data - for researchers who are interested in the ways in which people make sense of the world.




Research Methodology


Book Description

Written specifically for students with no previous experience of research and research methodology, the Third Edition of Research Methodology breaks the process of designing and doing a research project into eight manageable steps and provides plenty of examples throughout to link theory to the practice of doing research. The book contains straightforward, practical guidance on: - Formulating a research question - Ethical considerations - Carrying out a literature review - Choosing a research design - Selecting a sample - Collecting and analysing qualitative and quantitative data - Writing a research report The third edition has been revised and updated to include extended coverage of qualitative research methods in addition to the existing comprehensive coverage of quantitative methods. There are also brand new learning features such as reflective questions throughout the text to help students consolidate their knowledge. The book is essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students in the social sciences embarking on qualitative or quantitative research projects.




Sage for Undergraduates


Book Description

As the open-source and free competitor to expensive software like MapleTM, Mathematica®, Magma, and MATLAB®, Sage offers anyone with access to a web browser the ability to use cutting-edge mathematical software and display his or her results for others, often with stunning graphics. This book is a gentle introduction to Sage for undergraduate students toward the end of Calculus II (single-variable integral calculus) or higher-level course work such as Multivariate Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, or Math Modeling. The book assumes no background in computer science, but the reader who finishes the book will have learned about half of a first semester Computer Science I course, including large parts of the Python programming language. The audience of the book is not only math majors, but also physics, engineering, finance, statistics, chemistry, and computer science majors.




Successful Qualitative Research


Book Description

*Shortlisted for the BPS Book Award 2014 in the Textbook Category* *Winner of the 2014 Distinguished Publication Award (DPA) from the Association for Women in Psychology (AWP)* Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners is an accessible, practical textbook. It sidesteps detailed theoretical discussion in favor of providing a comprehensive overview of strategic tips and skills for starting and completing successful qualitative research. Uniquely, the authors provide a "patterns framework" to qualitative data analysis in this book, also known as "thematic analysis." The authors walk students through a basic thematic approach, and compare and contrast this with other approaches. This discussion of commonalities, explaining why and when each method should be used, and in the context of looking at patterns, will provide students with complete confidence for their qualitative research journey. This textbook will be an essential textbook for undergraduates and postgraduates taking a course in qualitative research or using qualitative approaches in a research project.