David de Vaus' widely used Surveys in Social Research provides clear advice on how to plan, conduct and analyse social surveys. It emphasises the links between theory and research, the logic and interpretation of statistics and the practices of social research. This fourth edition includes a new chapter on ethics and a detailed glossary. As well as showing how to conduct good surveys, De Vaus provides the tools to enable readers to become critical consumers of research. He stresses that the logic of surveys and statistics is simply an extension of the logic we use in everyday life, but that analysis is an art which requires creativity and imagination rather than the application of sterile mechanical procedures. In consequence, his presentation highlights the plain logic, selection and interpretation of statistics rather than formulae and computation. The aim is to help students understand the purpose of statistics. Surveys in Social Research is essential reading for all students in the social sciences and a useful reference for experienced researchers . It assumes no background in statistical analysis, and gives readers the tools they need to come to grips with this often confusing field of work.

Author Biography

David de Vaus is Associate Professor of Sociology at La Trobe University, and Head of Research and Senior Principal Research Fellow at the Australian Institute of Family Studies, Melbourne.