Real World Research Skills: An Introduction to Factual, International, Judicial, Legislative, and Regulatory Research (Research Skills Series) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Real World Research Skills: An Introduction to Factual, International, Judicial, Legislative, and Regulatory Research (Research Skills Series)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Real World Research Skills: An Introduction to Factual, International, Judicial, Legislative, and Regulatory Research (Research Skills Series). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Real World Research Skills: An Introduction to Factual, International, Judicial, Legislative, and Regulatory Research (Research Skills Series) ReviewJuly, 2009: The Second Edition (expanded and new lower price) is available on Amazon.
Real World Research Skills, Second Edition: An Introduction to Factual, International, Judicial, Legislative, and Regulatory Research (softcover)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Peggy Garvin is the 'go-to' Washington expert on how to effectively locate, evaluate and leverage information from federal and state government websites. If you buy one book this year to assist you in researching on the web, make it this one!"
-- Sabrina I. Pacifici, Founder, Editor, Publisher, [...] and Author of the blog on law and technology news, [...], Washington, DC"Real World Research Skills helps web searchers target their research to some of the most reliable information sources -- government statistics, reports and analysis. It's a great pathfinder through the thickets of federal and state government resources, written in a format that makes it an essential desk book for the serious researcher."
-- Mary Ellen Bates, Bates Information Services Inc."This is an excellent basic resource for anyone in need of government information. It's very well-organized, with a good Scope note that clearly lays out the book's objectives. It includes important basics - how to think before you begin your research; how to work on unfamiliar topics; what to search and how to evaluate the results - which are not always included in books of this type. There's good advice on using advanced search options, understanding Boolean logic, and making a FOIA request, as well as a reminder that not everything is available online and print sources are still important. The layout is clear; charts and boxes make the information easy to find and use. The sections on state and international information are brief, but contain all the essentials.
Though this book is aimed at those needing 'basic advice and techniques,' even experienced researchers can find a new resource or a bit of helpful advice. It will prove useful for information professionals, librarians, and anyone who needs to access government information."
-- Kee Malesky, NPR Reference Library

"Ms. Garvin's Real World Research Skills is a real find. As a professional researcher and professor, I found her book to be clear, concise, and supremely easy to use. Her examples of how to use the Internet to scour for accurate information on governmental sources are true gems. This handy little book will enhance the research skills of even old pros."
-- Alphonse Vinh, Adjunct Professor, School of Library & Information Science, The Catholic University of America"This gem will prove its worth in gold for those researching government topics."
-- Deborah Liptak, [...]"While Real World Research Skills is a treasure trove of specific repositories and sites for information, of particular interest to me are the descriptions of the thought processes needed to obtain the information necessary for a research project. Also valuable is the discussion of the mindset needed when talking to an individual source, e.g., qualifying them as being a legitimate source, and making sure the researcher has a working knowledge of the issues so the source doesn't have to give a basic education. A valuable tool for high school and college students."
-- Davis Scott, Chicago, ILReal World Research Skills: An Introduction to Factual, International, Judicial, Legislative, and Regulatory Research (Research Skills Series) Overview

Want to learn more information about Real World Research Skills: An Introduction to Factual, International, Judicial, Legislative, and Regulatory Research (Research Skills Series)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Doing Qualitative Research Using Your Computer: A Practical Guide Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Doing Qualitative Research Using Your Computer: A Practical Guide? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Doing Qualitative Research Using Your Computer: A Practical Guide. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Doing Qualitative Research Using Your Computer: A Practical Guide ReviewI am an experienced qualitative researcher, but still found this book very informative and helpful, full of insights and practical tips!Doing Qualitative Research Using Your Computer: A Practical Guide Overview

Want to learn more information about Doing Qualitative Research Using Your Computer: A Practical Guide?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Google Hacks: Tips & Tools for Finding and Using the World's Information Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Google Hacks: Tips & Tools for Finding and Using the World's Information? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Google Hacks: Tips & Tools for Finding and Using the World's Information. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Google Hacks: Tips & Tools for Finding and Using the World's Information ReviewFew of today's web-savvy would contest Google's superiority among search engines. Behind the austere and simple interface lies a wealth of information just waiting to be tapped. Until now however, tapping all that information and power would likely require scanning dozens of websites hunting down tips for making the most out of Google. Fortunately, Tara Calishain, Rael Dornfest and their colleagues have done most of the legwork for us in O'Reilly's Google Hacks.
Google Hacks is another in O'Reilly's Hacks series, "Industrial Strength Tips and Tools". In this case, 100 recipes for just about every imaginable use for Google. O'Reilly uses the term 'hack' in a positive way, meaning a clever technical feat or trick, as opposed to the negative connotation associated with those blackhats who break into computer systems for fun and for profit. Each "hack" is a stand-alone recipe demonstrating some aspect of using Google to find just what you're looking for. Most hacks also contain cross-references to other relevant hacks in the book, so you really don't have to read it from cover to cover. You could start with whatever interests you, and go from there.
The book is divided into several chapters, each of which contains several hacks. The first few chapters are targeted at the general end-user, describing in detail all of the various syntaxes you can use when searching with Google, as well as introducing the various topical collections (U.S. government, Linux, Mac, etc.), and other tools (Google Groups, Google News, etc.,) available. The authors are careful to point out where the various syntax pieces are incompatible, and which syntax features are available with which services. Also covered are various tools you can use to (legally) 'scrape' Google search results for further analysis. These chapters will be useful for just about anyone who uses Google. Some of the material (such as directly manipulating URLS to tweak search results and custom HTML forms) may be beyond the reach of some newbies. A general understanding of URLs, HTML and CGI scripting will be helpful in making use of most of the book.
The next few chapters are targeted more to developers and propeller-heads, describing the Google Web Service API, as well as providing dozens of scripts (mostly in Perl) for manipulating Google's index via its XML interface. Newbies and the casual user might find all this a bit overwhelming, but anyone with a Perl interpreter could potentially use these scripts to their advantage. One chapter also provides examples of using the API in various other languages including PHP, Java, Python, C#/.NET, and VB.NET. There are enough examples here of using the API in various fashions to get anyone with a sense of programming plenty of starting off points for whatever project they may imagine with Google's wealth of information.
The next to last chapter involves a handful of pranks, games, other oddities you can do with Google. Fool your friends with 0-result searches, let Google write poetry or a recipe for you. Draw pictures with Google Groups, or see just how good you are at Google-Whacking. This is the chapter for all of you who have way too much time on your hands ;-).
The last chapter in the book is targeted towards webmasters and offers several tips not only on getting your website well-placed in Google's search rankings, but also general help on getting traffic to your site in the first place. The authors also discuss strategies for using Google's AdWords system to the advantage of your business.
Overall, the book is very readable, and easy to move through (well, for a geek anyways). Each hack is self-contained, and can be read in a few minutes. Read it near your computer, as you'll likely be wanting to try some of these hacks out as you read them. As for its usefulness, I'm already using things I learned in the book on a regular basis to my daily advantage. However, if you're not more than a casual user of Google, all the scripts and API-speak might be overkill for your needs. The first few and last chapters probably justify the Amazon price for most users, however.
The book isn't perfect, though. I did find a few typographical errors scattered through the text, but they weren't prevalent enough to be too distracting. Also, with coverage of such a moving target as a major Internet property like Google, there will likely be links and even certain hacks that may not work, and features that change with time. Finally, the idea of narrowing down your search results to a manageable number surfaces often. In my opinion, what's important is not so much how many search results are found, but rather, whether or not Google can get me what I'm looking for within the first page or two of results, which it usually does, and which is why I use Google in the first place. The real value of the book shows itself on those occasions where Google doesn't necessarily get you where you want to be on the first shot.
In summary, true to its cover graphic, Google Hacks will provide you with a large number of tools to get the most out of Google, whether for serious research, casual browsing, procrastination activities, or just plain old fun.Google Hacks: Tips & Tools for Finding and Using the World's Information Overview

Want to learn more information about Google Hacks: Tips & Tools for Finding and Using the World's Information?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (Pocket Guides to Social Work Research Methods) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (Pocket Guides to Social Work Research Methods)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (Pocket Guides to Social Work Research Methods). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (Pocket Guides to Social Work Research Methods) ReviewI highly recommend this text for those interested in learning more about systematic reviews and meta-analysis. The book is clearly written and includes many helpful strategies and tools. Notably included are several appendices with sample instruments (e.g., data extraction) for use in conducting a review and meta-analysis. I read the book prior to attending a training provided by Dr. Littell. This text provides an excellent introduction to systematic review and meta-analysis.Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (Pocket Guides to Social Work Research Methods) Overview

Want to learn more information about Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (Pocket Guides to Social Work Research Methods)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...