Reviews

Tarling has produced a no-nonsense, comprehensive and very accessible book that will be a constant companion for the social researcher who wants to move beyond simple analysis. Building and testing theories is at the heart of social research and models are the way in which these theories are formulated. Conceptually it is not difficult to develop theoretical models but many stumble when they try to test models against quantitative data. This remarkably comprehensive book guides the social researcher through the logic of model building and shows how to apply a wide range of statistical approaches to testing these models. It is always practical but never simplistic; thorough but not longwinded. Each chapter explains how to use a statistical method to evaluate a model but the book goes well beyond simply showing what the steps to take. It progressively builds an understanding of what lies behind the techniques so that the researcher can become an independent and creative thinker as they interact with their data. All social researchers from intermediate to advanced levels will learn a great deal from this outstanding book.

David de Vaus, La Trobe University, Australia

"...Tarling provides a masterful overview of several of the key statistical techniques currently used by Sociologists and other social scientists. He provides practical advice on how to build statistical models without employing too much jargon."

-- Canadian Journal Of Sociology, Vol, 34, No. 1, 2009