An insightful guide to understanding and visualizing multivariate statistics using SAS®, STATA®, and SPSS® Multivariate Analysis for the Biobehavioral and Social Sciences: A Graphical Approach outlines the essential multivariate methods for understanding data in the social and biobehavioral sciences. Using real-world data and the latest software applications, the book addresses the topic in a comprehensible and hands-on manner, making complex mathematical concepts accessible to readers. The authors promote the importance of clear, well-designed graphics in the scientific process, with visual representations accompanying the presented classical multivariate statistical methods . The book begins with a preparatory review of univariate statistical methods recast in matrix notation, followed by an accessible introduction to matrix algebra. Subsequent chapters explore fundamental multivariate methods and related key concepts, including: Factor analysis and related methods Multivariate graphics Canonical correlation Hotelling's T-squared Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) Multiple regression and the general linear model (GLM) Each topic is introduced with a research-publication case study that demonstrates its real-world value. Next, the question "how do you do that?" is addressed with a complete, yet simplified, demonstration of the mathematics and concepts of the method. Finally, the authors show how the analysis of the data is performed using Stata®, SAS®, and SPSS®. The discussed approaches are also applicable to a wide variety of modern extensions of multivariate methods as well as modern univariate regression methods. Chapters conclude with conceptual questions about the meaning of each method; computational questions that test the reader's ability to carry out the procedures on simple datasets; and data analysis questions for the use of the discussed software packages. Multivariate Analysis for the Biobehavioral and Social Sciences is an excellent book for behavioral, health, and social science courses on multivariate statistics at the graduate level. The book also serves as a valuable reference for professionals and researchers in the social, behavioral, and health sciences who would like to learn more about multivariate analysis and its relevant applications.

Since most datasets contain a number of variables, multivariate methods are helpful in answering a variety of research questions. Accessible to students and researchers without a substantial background in statistics or mathematics, Essentials of Multivariate Data Analysis explains the usefulness of multivariate methods in applied research. Unlike m

This book explores topics in multivariate statistical analysis, relevant in the real and complex domains. It utilizes simplified and unified notations to render the complex subject matter both accessible and enjoyable, drawing from clear exposition and numerous illustrative examples. The book features an in-depth treatment of theory with a fair balance of applied coverage, and a classroom lecture style so that the learning process feels organic. It also contains original results, with the goal of driving research conversations forward. This will be particularly useful for researchers working in machine learning, biomedical signal processing, and other fields that increasingly rely on complex random variables to model complex-valued data. It can also be used in advanced courses on multivariate analysis. Numerous exercises are included throughout.

This text presents methods that are robust to the assumption of a multivariate normal distribution or methods that are robust to certain types of outliers. Instead of using exact theory based on the multivariate normal distribution, the simpler and more applicable large sample theory is given. The text develops among the first practical robust regression and robust multivariate location and dispersion estimators backed by theory. The robust techniques are illustrated for methods such as principal component analysis, canonical correlation analysis, and factor analysis. A simple way to bootstrap confidence regions is also provided. Much of the research on robust multivariate analysis in this book is being published for the first time. The text is suitable for a first course in Multivariate Statistical Analysis or a first course in Robust Statistics. This graduate text is also useful for people who are familiar with the traditional multivariate topics, but want to know more about handling data sets with outliers. Many R programs and R data sets are available on the author’s website.

Communication research is evolving and changing in a world of online journals, open-access, and new ways of obtaining data and conducting experiments via the Internet. Although there are generic encyclopedias describing basic social science research methodologies in general, until now there has been no comprehensive A-to-Z reference work exploring methods specific to communication and media studies. Our entries, authored by key figures in the field, focus on special considerations when applied specifically to communication research, accompanied by engaging examples from the literature of communication, journalism, and media studies. Entries cover every step of the research process, from the creative development of research topics and questions to literature reviews, selection of best methods (whether quantitative, qualitative, or mixed) for analyzing research results and publishing research findings, whether in traditional media or via new media outlets. In addition to expected entries covering the basics of theories and methods traditionally used in communication research, other entries discuss important trends influencing the future of that research, including contemporary practical issues students will face in communication professions, the influences of globalization on research, use of new recording technologies in fieldwork, and the challenges and opportunities related to studying online multi-media environments. Email, texting, cellphone video, and blogging are shown not only as topics of research but also as means of collecting and analyzing data. Still other entries delve into considerations of accountability, copyright, confidentiality, data ownership and security, privacy, and other aspects of conducting an ethical research program. Features: 652 signed entries are contained in an authoritative work spanning four volumes available in choice of electronic or print formats. Although organized A-to-Z, front matter includes a Reader’s Guide grouping entries thematically to help students interested in a specific aspect of communication research to more easily locate directly related entries. Back matter includes a Chronology of the development of the field of communication research; a Resource Guide to classic books, journals, and associations; a Glossary introducing the terminology of the field; and a detailed Index. Entries conclude with References/Further Readings and Cross-References to related entries to guide students further in their research journeys. The Index, Reader’s Guide themes, and Cross-References combine to provide robust search-and-browse in the e-version.

To request a free 30-day online trial to this product, visit www.sagepub.com/freetrial Research design can be daunting for all types of researchers. At its heart it might be described as a formalized approach toward problem solving, thinking, and acquiring knowledge—the success of which depends upon clearly defined objectives and appropriate choice of statistical tools, tests, and analysis to meet a project′s objectives. Comprising more than 500 entries, the Encyclopedia of Research Design explains how to make decisions about research design, undertake research projects in an ethical manner, interpret and draw valid inferences from data, and evaluate experiment design strategies and results. Two additional features carry this encyclopedia far above other works in the field: bibliographic entries devoted to significant articles in the history of research design and reviews of contemporary tools, such as software and statistical procedures, used to analyze results. Key Features Covers the spectrum of research design strategies, from material presented in introductory classes to topics necessary in graduate research Addresses cross- and multidisciplinary research needs, with many examples drawn from the social and behavioral sciences, neurosciences, and biomedical and life sciences Provides summaries of advantages and disadvantages of often-used strategies Uses hundreds of sample tables, figures, and equations based on real-life cases Key Themes Descriptive Statistics Distributions Graphical Displays of Data Hypothesis Testing Important Publications Inferential Statistics Item Response Theory Mathematical Concepts Measurement Concepts Organizations Publishing Qualitative Research Reliability of Scores Research Design Concepts Research Designs Research Ethics Research Process Research Validity Issues Sampling Scaling Software Applications Statistical Assumptions Statistical Concepts Statistical Procedures Statistical Tests Theories, Laws, and Principles Types of Variables Validity of Scores The Encyclopedia of Research Design is the perfect instrument for new learners as well as experienced researchers to explore both the original and newest branches of the field.

This self-contained book, written by active researchers, presents up-to-date information on smart maintenance strategies for human–robot interaction (HRI) and the associated applications of novel search algorithms in a single volume, eliminating the need to consult scattered resources. Unlike other books, it addresses maintaining a smart HRI from three dimensions, namely, hardware, cyberware, and hybrid-asset management, covering problems encountered in each through a wide variety of representative examples and elaborated illustrations. Further, the diverse mathematical models and intelligent systems constructions make the book highly practical. It enables readers interested in maintenance, robotics, and intelligent systems but perplexed by myriads of interrelated issues to grasp basic methodologies. At the same time, the referenced literature can be used as a roadmap for conducting deeper researches.

The SAGE Encyclopedia of Research Design maps out how one makes decisions about research design, interprets data, and draws valid inferences, undertakes research projects in an ethical manner, and evaluates experimental design strategies and results. From A-to-Z, this four-volume work covers the spectrum of research design strategies and topics including, among other things: fundamental research design principles, ethics in the research process, quantitative versus qualitative and mixed-method designs, completely randomized designs, multiple comparison tests, diagnosing agreement between data and models, fundamental assumptions in analysis of variance, factorial treatment designs, complete and incomplete block designs, Latin square and related designs, hierarchical designs, response surface designs, split-plot designs, repeated measures designs, crossover designs, analysis of covariance, statistical software packages, and much more. Research design, with its statistical underpinnings, can be especially daunting for students and novice researchers. At its heart, research design might be described simply as a formalized approach toward problem solving, thinking, and acquiring knowledge, the success of which depends upon clearly defined objectives and appropriate choice of statistical design and analysis to meet those objectives. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Research Design will assist students and researchers with their work while providing vital information on research strategies.

This book is the collection of my own studies in logistics, targeted to a broad readership. Although it is not intended for beginners in logistics, they might find the whole book interesting and beneficial.The book consists of 4 parts and 5 chapters. The first part deals with the logistics services in developed and developing countries, while the second part covers global competitiveness and logistics performance. The third part is about the relationship between the logistics performance and education and, finally, the fourth part examines the relationship between the choices of transport mode and fuel type.All the chapters in this book are independent of each other, with each one reflecting my own experience, analyses and results. I hope you will find this book useful, informative and appropriate for your needs.