What's new in books

“Mixture Model-Based Classification”

By Paul D. McNicholas
Published in August 2016 by CRC Press ($89.95 hardback)

This work addresses classification using mixture models broadly. Unlike traditional treatments of the subject that heavily focus on unsupervised approaches, this book gives attention to unsupervised, semi-supervised, and supervised classification paradigms. Case studies illustrate both non-Gaussian and Gaussian approaches to model selection. This book highlights several research directions for the next decade and beyond.

“Data Visualisation: A Handbook for Data Driven Design”

By Andy Kirk
Published in July 2016 by Sage Publications Ltd. ($48 paperback; $120 hardback; e-books also available)

This book is the starting point in learning the process and skills of data visualization, teaching the concepts and skills of how to present data and inspiring effective visual design. This book includes a step-by-step procedure to achieving great data visualization, with examples on every page. Illustrations of good and bad practice show how to critically evaluate and improve work are provided. A plethora of online practical help, checklists, case studies and exercises are included in this comprehensive text.

“Analyzing Qualitative Data: Systematic Approaches (2nd Ed.)”

By H. Russell Bernard, Amber Wutich, and Gery W. Ryan
Published in July 2016 by Sage Publications Ltd. ($72 paperback)

The fully updated Second Edition presents systematic methods for analyzing qualitative data with clear and easy-to-understand steps. The first half is an overview of the basics, from choosing a topic to collecting data, and coding to finding themes, while the second half covers different methods of analysis, including grounded theory, content analysis, analytic induction, semantic network analysis, ethnographic decision modeling, and more. Real examples drawn from social science and health literature along with carefully crafted, hands-on exercises at the end of each chapter allow readers to master key techniques and apply them to their own disciplines. 

“Regression and Mediation Analysis Using Mplus”

By Bengt O. Muthén, Linda K. Muthén, Tihomir Asparouhov
Published in June 2016 by Muthén & Muthén ($85)

The authors' inspiration to write this book came from many years of teaching about Mplus where it became clear to them that once people leave school, it can be difficult to keep up with the newest methodology. The purpose of this book is to provide researchers with important information that is not readily available. Many topics such as linear regression analysis; mediation analysis; causal inference; regression analysis with categorical, count, and censored outcomes; Bayesian analysis; and missing data analysis have entire books devoted to them. This book does not replace these books but gives useful and manageable summaries of these topics and shows how the analyses are implemented in Mplus.

“Doing Interview-based Qualitative Research: A Learner's Guide”

By Eva Magnusson and Jeanne Marecek
Published by Cambridge University Press ($39.99 paperback; $99.99 hardback)

A step-by-step guide to conducting interview-based research projects. Intended for novices, the book discusses both the “hows” and the “whys” of qualitative methods, with abundant examples. Topics include formulating questions suitable for qualitative inquiry; selecting and recruiting participants; composing and carrying out semi-structured interviews; and detailed descriptions of a number of systematic analytic strategies. The book closes with a guide for writing and publishing qualitative research reports.

Guidelines for the “What's New?” Column

Have you published a new psychological test or testing product; a book on advanced statistics, measurement or evaluation; an interesting website or other internet group related to measurement, statistics or evaluation; or a computer program useful to Div. 5 membership? If so, we would like to include an announcement of about 100 words in the column. We would also appreciate any suggestions, or feedback, on how this section of the newsletter can better serve the Div. 5 membership. Please take the opportunity to share information with colleagues through your contributions to this column. Please send announcements and/or product literature to The Score editor, Sara Rzepa.