Surveying Cultures

Surveying Cultures uniquely employs techniques rooted in survey methodology to discover cultural patterns in social science research. Examining both classical and emerging methods that are used to survey and assess differing norms among populations, the book successfully breaks new ground in the field, introducing a theory of measurement for ethnographic studies that employs the consensus-as-culture model. The book begins with a basic overview of cross-cultural measurement of sentiments and presents innovative and sophisticated analyses of measurement issues and of homogeneity among respondents. Subsequent chapters explore topics that are at the core of successful data collection and analysis in culture studies, including: The role of bipolar scales and Internet data collection in measuring sentiments Key methodological variables that determine the quality of quantitative data, including measurement errors, validity, and reliability New approaches to reliability and several new methods of assessing a respondent's degree of inculcation into group culture Sampling, coverage, nonresponse, and measurement errors, with an in-depth discussion of their occurrence in culture surveys, their impact assessments, and how current measurement techniques are constructed to help prevent these kinds of errors Common problems often encountered in the acquisition and communication of data, including identifying error variances, interpreting gender differences in responses, and defining the difference between cultures and subcultures Throughout the book, each topic is accompanied by a review of related methodological literature. For many of the presented concepts, the author includes a formal analysis of the related issues in measuring cultural norms and reports on analyses. Each chapter concludes with an organized list of major findings as well as an insightful outline of specific recommendations regarding practical problems in culture studies. Surveying Cultures serves as a valuable supplemental book to courses on survey and research methods at the upper-undergraduate and graduate levels. It is also an excellent reference for researchers in the fields of sociology, anthropology, psychology, and political science.

Surveying Cultures uniquely employs techniques rooted in survey methodology to discover cultural patterns in social science research. Examining both classical and emerging methods that are used to survey and assess differing norms among populations, the book successfully breaks new ground in the field, introducing a theory of measurement for ethnographic studies that employs the consensus-as-culture model. The book begins with a basic overview of cross-cultural measurement of sentiments and presents innovative and sophisticated analyses of measurement issues and of homogeneity among respondents. Subsequent chapters explore topics that are at the core of successful data collection and analysis in culture studies, including: The role of bipolar scales and Internet data collection in measuring sentiments Key methodological variables that determine the quality of quantitative data, including measurement errors, validity, and reliability New approaches to reliability and several new methods of assessing a respondent's degree of inculcation into group culture Sampling, coverage, nonresponse, and measurement errors, with an in-depth discussion of their occurrence in culture surveys, their impact assessments, and how current measurement techniques are constructed to help prevent these kinds of errors Common problems often encountered in the acquisition and communication of data, including identifying error variances, interpreting gender differences in responses, and defining the difference between cultures and subcultures Throughout the book, each topic is accompanied by a review of related methodological literature. For many of the presented concepts, the author includes a formal analysis of the related issues in measuring cultural norms and reports on analyses. Each chapter concludes with an organized list of major findings as well as an insightful outline of specific recommendations regarding practical problems in culture studies. Surveying Cultures serves as a valuable supplemental book to courses on survey and research methods at the upper-undergraduate and graduate levels. It is also an excellent reference for researchers in the fields of sociology, anthropology, psychology, and political science.

Over the past few years there had been a dramatic increase in the number of women entering the surveying profession. Fewer than five per cent of practising surveyors were women, but women comprised twenty per cent of students. Originally published in 1991, Surveying Sisters explores the question of whether ‘more’ would mean ‘better’, either for women surveyors themselves, or for women as consumers of the built environment. Clara Greed investigates the experiences of individual women surveyors, as well as studying the nature of the male majority. Taking a broadly feminist perspective and using an ethnographic approach, she develops a strong theoretical basis, incorporating the gender, class, and spatial dimensions of the situation, centring round the concept that surveying has its own distinct professional subculture. She traces the historical roots of the profession, and its attitudes to women, and makes constructive suggestions for improving the position of women surveying today. This was a highly topical study, at a time when the surveying profession was eager to attract more women in order to allay the effects of declining numbers of school leavers and potential ‘manpower’ shortages. It will be of interest to people concerned about issues of gender in disciplines such as sociology, management studies, higher education, urban geography, and women’s studies, and to the women and men who work in the surveying and other built environment professions.

A revised and updated second edition of Metric Survey Specifications for English Heritage - the standard specification that English Heritage has successfully used to procure metric survey for the last 9 years.

The effective use of technology offers numerous benefits in protecting cultural heritage. With the proper implementation of these tools, the management and conservation of artifacts and knowledge are better attained. The Handbook of Research on Emerging Technologies for Digital Preservation and Information Modeling is an authoritative resource for the latest research on the application of current innovations in the fields of architecture and archaeology to promote the conservation of cultural heritage. Highlighting a range of real-world applications and digital tools, this book is ideally designed for upper-level students, professionals, researchers, and academics interested in the preservation of cultures.

Cross-Cultural Risk Perception demonstrates the richness and wealth of theoretical insights and practical information that risk perception studies can offer to policy makers, risk experts, and interested parties. The book begins with an extended introduction summarizing the state of the art in risk perception research and core issues of cross-cultural comparisons. The main body of the book consists of four cross-cultural studies on public attitudes towards risk in different countries, including the United States, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Sweden, Bulgaria, Romania, Japan, and China. The last chapter critically discusses the main findings from these studies and proposes a framework for understanding and investigating cross-cultural risk perception. Finally, implications for communication, regulation and management are outlined. The two editors, sociologist Ortwin Renn (Center of Technology Assessment, Germany) and psychologist Bernd Rohrmann (University of Melbourne, Australia), have been engaged in risk research for the last three decades. They both have written extensively on this subject and provided new empirical and theoretical insights into the growing body of international risk perception research.

The construction industry is undergoing great change particularly with the introduction of digital technologies and the increasing emphasis on sustainability and ethical practice. The fifth edition of New Aspects of Quantity Surveying Practice introduces and discusses these changes and their impact on the industry. The book champions the adaptability and flexibility of the quantity surveyor, whilst covering the hot topics which have emerged since the previous edition’s publication, including: • A new chapter on the impact of digital construction • Sustainable construction • Procurement trends • Ethics and ethical practice • The RICS Futures (2020) publication The book is essential reading for all quantity surveying students, teachers and professionals. It is particularly suited to undergraduate professional skills courses and non-cognate postgraduate students looking for an up to date understanding of the industry and the role.