A Concise Guide to Observational Studies in Healthcare

An in-depth look at current issues, new research findings, and interdisciplinary exchange in survey methodology and processing Survey Measurement and Process Quality extends the marriage of traditional survey issues and continuous quality improvement further than any other contemporary volume. It documents the current state of the field, reports new research findings, and promotes interdisciplinary exchange in questionnaire design, data collection, data processing, quality assessment, and effects of errors on estimation and analysis. The book's five sections discuss a broad range of issues and topics in each of five major areas, including * Questionnaire design–conceptualization, design of rating scales for effective measurement, self-administered questionnaires, and more * Data collection–new technology, interviewer effects, interview mode, children as respondents * Post-survey processing and operations–modeling of classification operations, coding based on such systems, editing, integrating processes * Quality assessment and control–total quality management, developing current best methods, service quality, quality efforts across organizations * Effects of misclassification on estimation, analysis, and interpretation–misclassification and other measurement errors, new variance estimators that account for measurement error, estimators of nonsampling error components in interview surveys Survey Measurement and Process Quality is an indispensable resource for survey practitioners and managers as well as an excellent supplemental text for undergraduate and graduate courses and special seminars.

Sense and Sensitivity advances a novel research proposal in the nascent field of formal pragmatics, exploring in detail the semantics and pragmatics of focus in natural language discourse. The authors develop a new account of focus sensitivity, and show that what has hitherto been regarded as a uniform phenomenon in fact results from three different mechanisms. The book Makes a major contribution to ongoing research in the area of focus sensitivity – a field exploring interactions between sound and meaning, specifically the dependency some words have on the effects of focus, such as «she only LIKES me» (i.e. nothing deeper) compared to «she only likes ME» (i.e. nobody else) Discusses the features of the QFC theory (Quasi association, Free association, and Conventional association), a new account of focus implying a tripartite typology of focus-sensitive expressions Presents novel cross-linguistic data on focus and focus sensitivity that will be relevant across a range of linguistic sub-fields: semantics and pragmatics, syntax, and intonational phonology Concludes with a case study of exclusives (like “only”), arguing that the entire existing literature has missed crucial generalizations, and for the first time explaining the focus sensitivity of these expressions in terms of their meaning and discourse function

Untangle the web of fundraising regulations, with the latest updates for 2018 The Law of Fundraising is the definitive reference by the field's most respected authority, and the only book to tackle the increasingly complex maze of federal and state fundraising regulations. Updated to cover the latest changes to fundraising law for 2018, this book includes new coverage of donor-advised funds, international fundraising, and the IRS's charitable spending initiative alongside updates on Form 990, political fundraising, and more. Both state and federal regulations are covered with an emphasis on administrative, tax, and constitutional law, alongside expert discussion on compliance issues, trends, and upcoming legislation. Accessible language aids in conceptual understanding, while extensive tables of cases, IRS rulings and pronouncements, checklists, and sample forms facilitate correct application. The companion website features additional tables, appendices, IRS guidelines, and other useful documents, providing attorneys, accountants, and nonprofit professionals with a rich toolkit for ensuring compliance. With all topics pertaining to finance under increasing federal scrutiny, laws surrounding fundraising are becoming increasingly difficult to parse. Mistakes can impact the nonprofit's bottom line, so keeping up-to-date is crucial; this book provides a comprehensive reference to the latest developments, along with expert forecasting of what is to come. Understand the latest state and federal laws surrounding fundraising activities Learn how the law governs Internet fundraising and other emerging issues Get up to date on the new rules surrounding donor-advised funds and international fundraising Examine prospective laws, regulatory trends, and how new rules impact fundraising professionals Fundraising is critical to the nonprofit's ability to carry out their mission, yet the regulatory tangle at both the state and federal level can be a nightmare to navigate. The Law of Fundraising streamlines compliance with the latest legal developments and invaluable tools for application.

Science is built on trust. The assumption is that scientists will conduct their work with integrity, honesty, and a strict adherence to scientific protocols. Written by geoscientists for geoscientists, Scientific Integrity and Ethics in the Geosciences acquaints readers with the fundamental principles of scientific ethics and shows how they apply to everyday work in the classroom, laboratory, and field. Resources are provided throughout to help discuss and implement principles of scientific integrity and ethics. Volume highlights include: Examples of international and national codes and policies Exploration of the role of professional societies in scientific integrity and ethics References to scientific integrity and ethics in publications and research data Discussion of science integrity, ethics, and geoethics in education Extensive coverage of data applications Scientific Integrity and Ethics in the Geosciences is a valuable resource for students, faculty, instructors, and scientists in the geosciences and beyond. It is also useful for geoscientists working in industry, government, and policymaking. Read an interview with the editors to find out more: https://eos.org/editors-vox/ethics-crucial-for-the-future-of-the-geosciences