Students and beginning researchers often discover that their introductory statistics and methods courses have not fully equipped them to plan and... execute their own behavioral research studies. This indispensable book bridges the gap between coursework and conducting independent research. With clarity and wit, the author helps the reader build needed skills to formulate a precise, meaningful research question; understand the pros and cons of widely used research designs and analysis options; correctly interpret the outcomes of statistical tests; make informed measurement choices for a particular study; manage the practical aspects of data screening and preparation; and craft effective journal articles, oral presentations, and posters. Including annotated examples and recommended readings, most chapters feature theoretical and computer-based exercises; an answer appendix at the back of the book allows readers to check their work.

This is a brief book that explores eight, worthwhile, research-based classroom innovations that foster student-centered classroom environments worth... implementing into today's school settings. Each of the eight innovations—essential questions, curriculum integration, standards-based curriculum and assessment design, authentic assessment, scoring rubrics, portfolios reflection, and action research— is justified through detailed explanation, ways to implement it into the classroom, and how to adapt the strategy to meet the needs of diverse classroom environments. Readers will find balanced examples from every grade level, in addition to curriculum design modules, and easy-to-use templates for applying the innovations and strategies into the classroom immediately. For educators, instructors, counselors, and academic evaluators.

Becoming a Better Teacher provides KB12 educators with key information about some of the most effective teaching and learning tools available today--in... one convenient publication. Each of the innovations has a long history of use and has been researched and evaluated in a variety of settings. Giselle Martin-Kniep chose these specific innovations because, as a whole, they foster a student-centered classroom environment that is both equitable and rigorous. In separate chapters for each topic, she addresses (1) essential questions, (2) curriculum integration, (3) standards-based curriculum and assessment design, (4) authentic assessment, (5) scoring rubrics, (6) portfolios, (7) reflection, and (8) action research. Annotated lists of recommended resources provide suggestions for further exploration of each topic. Readers new to these topics will gain a basic understanding of each and learn how to use them to create a student-centered classroom. More experienced educators can also benefit from reexamining these innovations and considering them as parts of a comprehensive whole. Numerous examples from different grade levels--along with design modules, templates, and checklists--make this an invaluable guide for teachers and administrators.

"Compelling and gorgeously written, this is a coming-of-age novella like no other. Chris Abani explores the depths of loss and exploitation with what... can only be described as a knowing tenderness. An extraordinary, necessary book."—Cristina Garcia, author of Dreaming in Cuban"Abani's voice brings perspective to every moment, turning pain into a beautiful painterly meditation on loss and aloneness."—Aimee Bender, author of The Girl in the Flammable Skirt“Abani's empathy for Abigail's torn life is matched only by his honesty in portraying it. Nothing at all is held back. A harrowing piece of work.”—Peter Orner, author of The Esther StoriesTough, spirited, and fiercely independent Abigail is brought as a teenager to London from Nigeria by relatives who attempt to force her into prostitution. She flees, struggling to find herself in the shadow of a strong but dead mother. In spare yet haunting and lyrical prose reminiscent of Marguerite Duras, Abani brings to life a young woman who lives with a strength and inner light that will enlighten and uplift the reader.Chris Abani is a poet and novelist and the author, most recently, of GraceLand, which won the 2005 PEN/Hemingway Prize, a Silver Medal in the California Book Awards, and was a finalist for several other prizes including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His other prizes include a PEN Freedom-to-Write Award, a Prince Claus Award, and a Lannan Literary Fellowship. He lives and teaches in California.

Pastor and author N. Graham Standish describes how a church that is open to God’s purpose, presence, and power can claim God’s blessing. Standish... shares the story of Calvin Presbyterian Church in Zelienople, Pennsylvania, and its journey to become a spiritually deep congregation, one that is inwardly and outwardly healthy: spiritually, psychologically, physically, and relationally. Becoming a Blessed Church will help you discern God’s purpose and the path God is calling your congregation to walk. This book will help you find Christ in your midst and become aware of the many ways the blessings of God’s Spirit flow through your congregation.

Becoming a Candidate: Political Ambition and the Decision to Run for Office explores the factors that drive political ambition at the earliest stages.... Using data from a comprehensive survey of thousands of eligible candidates, Jennifer L. Lawless systematically investigates what compels certain citizens to pursue elective positions and others to recoil at the notion. Lawless assesses personal factors, such as race, gender, and family dynamics, that affect an eligible candidate's likelihood of considering a run for office. She also focuses on eligible candidates' professional lives and attitudes toward the political system.

"An extraordinary book...There's never been a book like this before." --David Rosengarten, FOOD NETWORK (1995)   The book that first kicked off... the boom and established the category of contemporary writing on food, BECOMING A CHEF  -- written by Manhattan restaurant chef Andrew Dornenburg and his Harvard MBA wife Karen Page -- was published during the summer of 1995 with extremely modest expectations:  Its initial printing was a mere 2500 copies.  Yet its first-time authors were interviewed by Matt Lauer on the "Today" Show, and BECOMING A CHEF went on to be hailed for launching "a new dimension in food writing, creating a standard for a whole new genre" (The Record).    "When Julia Child sends a congratulatory note on your recently published book and says she keeps her copy by the bed, you've done a good job...[BECOMING A CHEF] is a comprehensive primer on the culinary profession...a combination of brass tacks and philosophy." --Mary O'Neill, THE DETROIT NEWS (1995)   By December 1995, BECOMING A CHEF "proved a surprisingly popular gift item" (Forbes), and the book was soon recommended or required reading at schools ranging from The Culinary Institute of America to Wesleyan University.  The following spring, the book won the 1996 James Beard Book Award for Best Writing on Food -- and this cult classic (Restaurants & Institutions) was on its way to sales of more than 100,000 copies.    Many culinarians have cited BECOMING A CHEF as a life-changing book that first confirmed their interest in a culinary career.  Others were inspired by its future-focused final chapter on food safety and purity, and the book's contention that "chefs cannot remain unmoved by these changes."  BECOMING A CHEF's place in culinary history has been marked in timelines published by the National Culinary Review, which noted its 1995 publication as a key milestone for providing "the first compendium of answers to some of the most common questions an aspiring chef can ask."

This textbook prepares Music Education and Choral Conducting majors to be effective middle school and high school choral music teachers. It fully... integrates the choral field experience for hands-on learning and reflection and allows the student to observe and teach the book’s principles. It covers the essentials of vocal development, auditions, literature, rehearsals, classroom management, and practical matters.

How can societies that welcome immigrants from around the world create civic cohesion and political community out of ethnic and racial diversity? This... thought-provoking book is the first to provide a comparative perspective on how the United States and Canada encourage foreigners to become citizens. Based on vivid in-depth interviews with Portuguese immigrants and Vietnamese refugees in Boston and Toronto and on statistical analysis and documentary data, Becoming a Citizen shows that greater state support for settlement and an official government policy of multiculturalism in Canada increase citizenship acquisition and political participation among the foreign born. The United States, long a successful example of immigrant integration, today has greater problems incorporating newcomers into the polity. While many previous accounts suggest that differences in naturalization and political involvement stem from differences in immigrants' political skills and interests, Irene Bloemraad argues that foreigners' political incorporation is not just a question of the type of people countries receive, but also fundamentally of the reception given to them. She discusses the implications of her findings for other countries, including Australia and immigrant nations in Europe.

Designed as a first course for graduate students on a community counseling track, this text provides a practical introduction to the field and covers... all the core competencies required by CACREP. Students learn about the challenges a counselor may face, including ethical dilemmas and the struggle to meet an increasing demand for mental health services for a diverse populationm, through personal accounts, structured activities, and practical hints from experienced counselors.A special feature, the Defining Moment, in each chapter provides an account of the struggles and triumphs of a practicing counselor. These insights, from counselors with a range of experience, help students realize the personal strengths and challenges they bring to the role of community counselor.

The must-have guide for anyone considering a career in construction managementBecoming a Construction Manager explains everything a person needs to know... to become a Construction Manager—from formal education to getting their first job. This practical guide is packed with useful information for anyone considering or beginning a career in construction management, as well as professional construction managers seeking to work in a specific area. From schedule and cost management to sustainability and technology implementation, all of the important career choices are explained by successful construction managers at top international firms.The only guide available on careers in this fast-growing fieldOffers practical guidance in a concise, easy-to-use format, illustrated throughoutIn-depth profiles with construction managers of varying specialties give students and new architects an inside view of the real-world, day-to-day experiences of a working builderIncludes interviewing tips and up to date information on where the jobs are in the field, along with an extensive resource section on professional organizations and educational opportunitiesIntroduction by Bruce D'Agostino, President and CEO of the Construction Management Association of AmericaProviding an overview of the profession, educational requirements, specialties, and the job search, this is a one-stop resource that supplies the inside track on this rapidly growing profession.

Evangelism doesn't have to be frustrating or intimidating. Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg believe that effectively communicating our faith in Christ... should be the most natural thing in the world. We just need encouragement and direction. In Becoming a Contagious Christian, Hybels and Mittelberg articulate the central principles that have helped the believers at Willow Creek Community Church become a church known around the world for its outstanding outreach to unchurched people. Based on the words of Jesus and flowing from the firsthand experiences of the authors, Becoming a Contagious Christian is a groundbreaking, personalized approach to relational evangelism. You will discover your own natural evangelism style, how to develop a contagious Christian character, to build spiritually strategic relationships, to direct conversations toward matters of faith, and to share biblical truths in everyday language. This landmark book presents a blueprint for starting a spiritual epidemic of hope and enthusiasm for spreading the Gospel.