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Books in Social sciences

The Social Sciences collection forms a definitive resource for those entering, researching, or teaching in any of the many disciplines making up this interdisciplinary area of study. Written by experts and researchers from both Academic and Commercial domains, titles offer global scope and perspectives.

Key subject areas include: Library and Information Science; Transportation; Urban Studies; Geography, Planning, and Development; Security; Emergency Management.

BooksJournals

    • Spatial Database Transfer Standards 2: Characteristics for Assessing Standards and Full Descriptions of the National and International Standards in the World

      • 1st Edition
      • July 3, 1997
      • H. Moellering + 1 more
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 4 2 4 6 5
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 5 4 1 5 2 5
      This book represents five and a half years of work by the ICA Commission on Standards for the Transfer of Spatial Data during the 1991- 95 ICA cycle. The effort began with the Commission working to develop a set of scientific characteristics by which every kind of spatial data transfer standard could be understood and assessed. This implies that every facet of the transfer process must be understood so that the scientific characteristics could be most efficiently specified. The members of the Commission spent hours looking at their own standard and many others, to ascertain how to specify most effectively the characteristic or subcharacteristic in question. The result is a set of internationally agreed scientific characteristics with 13 broad primary level classes of characteristics, 85 secondary characteristics, and about 220 tertiary characteristics that recognizes almost every possible capability that a spatial data transfer standard might have. It is recognized that no one standard possesses all of these characteristics, but contains a subset of these characteristics. However, these characteristics have been specified in such a way to facilitate understanding of individual standards, and use by interested parties of making comparisons for their own purposes. Although individual applications of a standard may be for different purposes, this set of characteristics provides a uniform measure by which the various standards may be assessed. The book presents an Introduction and four general chapters that describe the spatial data transfer standards activities happening in Europe, North America, Asia/Pacific, and the ISO community. This provides the context so the reader can more easily understand the scientific and technical framework from which a particular standard has come. The third section is a complete listing of all of the three levels of characteristics and their meaning by the inclusion of a set of definitions for terms used in the book. The fourth section, and by far the largest, contains 22 chapters that assess each of the major national and international spatial data transfer standards in the world in terms of all three levels of characteristics. Each assessment has been done by a Commission member who has been an active participant in the development of the standard being assessed in the native language of that standard. A cross-table chart is also provided.

    • Home Security

      • 2nd Edition
      • June 19, 1997
      • Vivian Capel
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 7 5 0 6 3 5 4 6 2
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 5 0 8 1 8 4
      As crime rates soar every householder looks at ways to protect their home and its contents. This practical guide, in straightforward language, spells out the simple steps you can take to guard your home. It shows how burglars work, and how to thwart them. The selection and installation of alarm systems are described simply. This handy volume may provide the information you need to avoid costly and upsetting break-ins. As well as describing the bewildering range of security devices on offer, more technical readers may consider their own solutions using descriptions and circuits for two simple tested designs are given, one for the home and one for a foolproof public hall system. There is a plethora of security devices now on offer. Large sums can be spent on elaborate systems, yet weak links can be left unrecognised - except by the housebreaker! Good independent advice is scarce, as most security firms favour their own products. This book explains the pros and cons of alarm systems, including how to avoid faults, and find them if they occur. `Friendly security' is particularly featured, and other security devices are given a critical scrutiny.

    • Elsevier's Dictionary of Drug Traffic Terms

      • 1st Edition
      • May 9, 1997
      • N. Illanes
      • English
      • Hardback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 8 1 9 3 7 6
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 5 7 0 1 5 0
      This dictionary provides fast and easy access to terms in areas such as: legal, judicial and court proceedings; law enforcement, police and military training; chemical essentials and chemical precursors; natural, synthetic and designer drugs; banking and money laundering. It also presents some related terminology for environmental, medical, psychological, social and economic matters. The dictionary includes a large number of jargon terms, and explanations of these have been provided in some cases, in order to ensure better understanding. This work is an indispensable tool for conference interpreters, court interpreters, translators and social workers.

    • Techniques of Scientific Computing (Part 2)

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 5
      • April 25, 1997
      • P.G. Ciarlet
      • English
      • Hardback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 8 2 2 7 8 9
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 9 5 3 5 5 7
      This series of volumes aims to cover the major aspects of Numerical Analysis, serving as the basic reference work on the subject. Each volume concentrates on one, two, or three, particular topics. Each article, is an in-depth survey, reflecting the most recent trends in the field, and is essentially self-contained. The handbook covers the basic methods of numerical analysis, under the following general headings: solution of equations in R n; finite difference methods; finite element methods; techniques of scientific computing; and optimization theory and systems science. It also covers the numerical solution of actual problems of contemporary interest in Applied Mathematics.

    • Disaster Recovery for Archives, Libraries and Records Management Systems in Australia and New Zealand

      • 1st Edition
      • February 28, 1997
      • Judith Doig
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 9 4 9 0 6 0 3 5 8
      • eBook
        9 7 8 1 7 8 0 6 3 4 2 4 1
      Floods, fires or earthquakes can cause critical damage to books and to records. A recovery effort which is well-intentioned but ill-informed or hasty may make the damage far worse. What should be done? What should not be done? This is the first book on disaster recovery specifically tailored for the Australasian market. The book discusses factors which should be considered by managers before setting up a disaster recovery plan, including prevention and insurance. It covers, in detail, the content and development of a disaster plan and considers training programs for those staff who are involved. There is an account of the history of disaster recovery with special attention given to disasters occurring in Australia and New Zealand and to the recovery efforts which have been mounted.

    • Concise Encyclopedia of Syntactic Theories

      • 1st Edition
      • December 17, 1996
      • K. Brown + 1 more
      • English
      • Other
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 8 8 5 6 9 8
      • Hardback
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 4 2 7 1 1 9
      Syntactic description and theoretical syntax are central concerns in linguistics. For thirty years, the search for a single formal model of syntax has been the central task in the field; many theories have been proposed, some discarded, none universally adopted, and the problem continues to challenge linguists.The award-winning Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics included many excellent articles on all major syntactic theories, current or past, written either by their originators or by eminent practitioners. These articles are now collected here in a single volume. All have been thoroughly updated; several entirely new articles have been added, while others have been significantly revised or extended.This collection gives a full and fascinating picture of the evolution of linguists' attempts to wrestle with syntax. The comprehensive inclusion of less popular theories alongside more current ones provides the researcher with the context and perspectives necessary to appreciate why some avenues have been pursued, while others have not. This is valuable for the development both of the more generally accepted approaches, and of others now being revived or introduced.The editors' extensive introduction gives an excellent overview of the theories covered and of the issues involved, and places each article in its historical and theoretical context. The reader is supported by the inclusion of a substantial Glossary and name and subject indexes. The Concise Encyclopedia of Syntactic Theories will be an invaluable reference work, not only for those studying specific theories, but also for those with a wider interest in matters of linguistic theory.

    • Handbook of Classroom Assessment

      • 1st Edition
      • November 19, 1996
      • Gary D. Phye
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 3 8 8 7 2 4 5
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 5 3 3 0 2 5
      The Handbook of Classroom Assessment takes a multi-dimensional approach to classroom assessment. A successful combination of theory and practice, the book emphasizes the assessment of classroom learning within content areas and the development of standards for evaluation. Most chapters are devoted to the assessment of learning and achievement and discuss current theories. The book also features assessment of academic self-concept and subjective well-being in children and adolescents. The Handbook provides successfully field-tested examples of assessment techniques and strategies within the content areas of mathematics, social studies, foreign languages, and the visual arts. Contributing chapter authors share the unique distinction of having backgrounds that include both the development of assessment theory and first hand experience translating theory into practice at the classroom, school site, state, or national level. The book is divided into four sections. Section I discusses the top five theories with respect to what learning is, how it's related to achievement, and how we assess both in the classroom setting. Section II on standardized assessment briefly covers all major standardized achievement tests used in preschool, K-6, and 7-12. Assessment of classroom learning, Section III, presents test instruments and techniques specific to the measurement of math skills, social science skills, and artistic talent across ages and grades. Section IV on classroom practices includes an assessment of general reasoning skills and performance and how to develop a grading philosophy.

    • Handbook of Emotion, Adult Development, and Aging

      • 1st Edition
      • October 24, 1996
      • Carol Magai + 1 more
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 3 8 8 6 7 9 8
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 5 3 2 7 7 6
      The field of emotions research has recently seen an unexpected period of growth and expansion, both in traditional psychological literature and in gerontology. The Handbook of Emotion, Adult Development, and Aging provides a broad overview and summary of where this field stands today, specifically with reference to life course issues and aging. Written by a distinguished group of contributing authors, the text is grounded in a life span developmental framework, while advancing a multidimensional view of emotion and its development and incorporating quantitative and qualitative research findings.The book is divided into five parts. Part One discusses five major theoretical perspectives including biological, discrete emotions, ethological, humanistic, and psychosocial. Part Two on affect and cognition discusses the role of emotion in memory, problem solving, and internal perceptions of self and gender. Part Three on emotion and relationships expands on the role of emotion in sibling and parent/child relationships, as well as relationships between friends and romantic partners, and the emotional reaction to interpersonal loss across the life span. Part Four on stress, health, and psychological well-being treats issues of stress and coping, religion, personality, and quality of life. The final part on continuity and change in emotion patterns and personality discusses emotion and emotionality throughout the life span.An ideal reference source for professionals across a wide range of disciplines, the text summarizes recent important developments in this fast growing area of psychology and proposes many new directions for future research.

    • Commercial Contracts

      • 1st Edition
      • July 31, 1996
      • Chris Thorpe + 1 more
      • English
      • Hardback
        9 7 8 1 8 5 5 7 3 2 5 0 6
      • eBook
        9 7 8 1 8 4 5 6 9 8 9 8 0
      This book aims to explain the principles of contract law for the businessman, and to put those principles into their commercial context. Anyone involved in commercial transactions needs at least a basic understanding of the principles of contract law – the legal framework for all commercial activity. A lack of such a basic understanding at best results in a business which is less competitive and ultimately less profitable than it should be, and at worst can have expensive and sometimes disastrous commercial consequences.

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