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Science and technology, as rational approaches to problem solving, are driving forces in the promotion of democracy at home and abroad. Science based decision-making is increasingly global as countries share technology, research results, and engage in joint studies on common problems. The widening rift between global wealth and poverty diminishes for many the opportunity for exposure to science, technology and social science based decision-making on issues that directly affect them. This paper outlines a model for democratizing science by utilizing the interactive tools of the social sciences in a process that enables information-marginalized people to engage with the language, methods and results of social science for purposes of community empowerment and voice in science policy. The paper offers examples of approaches to implementation, citing various forms of research partnerships with communities, and discusses challenges including ethical considerations, the conflict between "local" and science-based knowledges and power differentials in practice.

"Research Methods in Social Sciences" brings together author Lee Ellis's practical experience from his years as a government researcher. The book contains many examples of resources using worldwide data from all social sciences including anthropology, criminal justice, economics, geography, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, social work and sociology. Coverage of statistical concepts at a non-mathematical level establishes a foundation for students to understand statistics. A specifically designed glossary is included which clearly defines every term used throughout the text.

This article is a review of issues associated with measuring ethnicity and using ethnicity measures in social science research. The review is oriented towards researchers who undertake secondary analyses of large-scale multipurpose social science datasets. The article begins with an outline of two main approaches used in social surveys to measure ethnicity, the 'mutually exclusive category' approach and the 'multiple characteristics' approach. We also describe approaches to the use of ethnicity measures in cross-national comparative research. We emphasise the value of sensitivity analyses. We also encourage researchers to carefully consider the possible relationships between ethnicity and other important variables in order to avoid spurious interpretations of the effects of ethnicity.

Contents -- Introduction -- Survey Design and Analysis in Sociology / Charles Y. Glock -- Survey Research in Political Science / Herbert McClosky -- The Practice and Potential of Survey Methods in Psychological Research / Daniel Katz -- Contributions of Survey Research to Economics / James N. Morgan -- Sociocultural Anthropology and Survey Research / John W. Bennett and Gustav Thaiss -- Education and Survey Research / Martin Trow -- The Survey Method in Social Work: Past, Present, and Potential / Fred Massarik -- The Survey Method Applied to Public Health and Medicine / Edward A. Suchman

PAPER OUTLINES FOUR ROLES - SUBSTANTIVE EXPERT, INFORMATION PROCESSOR, CHANGE AGENT, AND SCHOLAR - WHICH HAVE HELPED TO INCREASE THE USEFULNESS OF SOCIAL POLICY RESEARCH, AT THE SAME TIME MAINTAINING THE RESEARCHER'S LINKAGES TO THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY. THE PAPER SHOWS THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE ROLES AND SUGGESTS SPECIFIC IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES WHICH MAY BE PURSUED.

"This book presents various recently developed and traditional statistical techniques, which are increasingly being applied in social science research. The social sciences cover diverse phenomena arising in society, the economy and the environment, some of which are too complex to allow concrete statements; some cannot be defined by direct observations or measurements; some are culture- (or region- ) specific, while others are generic and common. Statistics, being a scientific method - as distinct from a 'science' related to any one type of phenomena - is used to make inductive inferences regarding various phenomena. The book addresses both qualitative and quantitative research (a combination of which is essential in social science research) and offers valuable supplementary reading at an advanced level for researchers."--