Using Focus Groups: Theory, Methodology, Practice
By Ivana Acocella and Silvia Cataldi
Published December 2020 by SAGE Publishing ($106.00 hardback; $40.00 paperback; e-book also available)
Experienced authors provide a step-by-step guide for conducting focus groups, drawing upon real world example and tying it to underlying theory. Chapters are dedicated to each part of the research process, and examples span many disciplines across the social sciences. There are chapter exercises to reinforce learning, and recommendations for further reading are provided for interested readers, especially novice researchers. Content covered includes planning and research design, conducting and facilitating focus groups, and analyzing, synthesizing, and presenting the results.
“Measurement Models for Psychological Attributes”
By Klaas Sijtsma and L. Andries van der Ark
Published October 2020 by CRC Press ($199.95 hardback; $79.95 paperback; e-books also available)
“Measurement Models for Psychological Attributesopens in new window” is a comprehensive and accessible guide to understanding measurement models in social, behavioral, and health sciences. It covers common and less common models alike, and it is suitable for advanced researchers and coursework in applied psychometrics. Measurement models in test construction are discussed, highlighting advantages and disadvantages, alongside controversial topics on the matter. Topics covered include classical test theory, factor analytic models, item response theory, latent class models, and cognitive diagnostic models. All chapters discuss psychometric theory, methods, and practical applications, and include realistic examples to illustrate the topic.
“Big Data and Social Science: Data Science Methods and Tools for Research and Practice”
Edited by Ian Foster, Rayid Ghani, Ron S. Jarmin, Frauke Kreute, and Julia Lane
Published November 2020 by CRC Press ($160.00 hardback; $64.95 paperback; e-books also available)
“Big Data and Social Science: Data Science Methods and Tools for Research and Practiceopens in new window” provides practical applications of data science to real-world problems, guiding readers through all phases of the project and research process. In the second edition of this book, new examples via hands-on Jupyter notebooks are added, along with a key chapter about bias and fairness as it relates to machine learning models. Thought-leaders author the chapters of this book, providing unique perspectives on research design, computational tools, and identifying errors and limitations in ones’ data. The text would serve professional and academic users alike, providing a framework for understanding increasingly ever-present and accessible big data.
“Modern Psychometrics: The Science of Psychological Assessment (4th Edition)”
By John Rust, Michal Kosinski, and David Stillwell
Published December 2020 by Routledge ($160.00 hardback; $54.95 paperback; e-books also available)
In the fourth edition of “Modern Psychometrics: The Science of Psychological Assessmentopens in new window,” readers will learn about the history, development, and latest techniques for psychometric assessments. Psychometric models are discussed, with examples from a wide variety of applications, including modern influences such as artificial intelligence. Emphasis is placed on controversies, privacy, and ethical issues related to the use of psychometric tools. Chapters cover item writing and construct operationalization, research design, reliability, validity, equivalence testing, item response theory, and computational psychometrics. Special attention is paid to personality theory and testing, especially in workplace settings, as well as the idea of a digital footprint.
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 “What’s new” 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 associate editor, Joanna Solomon.