The Second Edition of Research Methods in Practice: Strategies for Description and Causation, authored by Dahlia K. Remler and Gregg G. Van Ryzin, sets an entirely new standard for presenting and learning research methods. Published by SAGE Publications, Inc on April 14, 2014, with ISBN-10: 9781452276403 and ISBN-13: 978-1452276403, this edition is a truly necessary tool for such applied disciplines as public affairs and administration, public policy, psychology, urban affairs, education, sociology, social work, business, public health, political science, economics, communications, and criminal justice.

Imbued with a deep commitment to make social and policy research methods accessible and meaningful, this edition compels and inspires students to truly grasp the logic—and limits—of the latest research appearing in academic journals, government reports, and the media. Authors Remler and Van Ryzin cover the most pertinent issues and methods, emphasizing the critical interpretation and practical application of research findings. Both causation and description—and the distinction between them—are emphasized and maintained thematically throughout. Concepts are taught through in-depth examples, such as “Fighting Malaria in Kenya,” “The U.S. Poverty Measure,” “The Fallout from Hurricane Katrina,” “Family Dinners and Teenage Substance Abuse,” and “The Effect of Poverty on Mental Health.” The realistic trade-offs, uncertainties, habits, and excitement of the research experience come through on every page. (A new third edition of Research Methods in Practice is also available.)