Encyclopedia of Social Measurement

     The Encyclopedia of  Social Measurement is another methodology resource for social scientists. This 3 volume set is an extensive kit of research methods, models, tools, data sources, and other topics relating to social sciences. I think this source would be appropriate for undergraduate levels and up, for any area relating to the social sciences.

     The subject areas included in this encyclopedia are: analytical techniques, constructs and variables, data collection, data sets and websites, data sources and subjects, fields and applications, historical events and figures, interpretation and data limitations, measurement models, research designs, and sampling design. If this list seems exhaustive it is because there are 356 articles in total. The different areas covered allow for all facets of social measurement to be covered; this is not limited to one part of research, but to all. A foreword by Bent Flyvbjerg lauds this text for its comprehensive and inclusive approach to social science, particularly for its equal consideration of qualitative and quantitative methods. He calls the text a guide on "how to do science." This is as apt a description as any that I could come up with.

     Each article includes its main text, along with an introduction, glossary, cross references to other articles, and a bibliography. When appropriate, the articles include illustrations, graphs, charts, equations, and other visual aids. I think the inclusion of a glossary for each article makes the encyclopedia more accessible. The well over 200 contributors come from a wide range of subject areas and institutions. The articles are arranged alphabetically but are also listed at the beginning organized the subject areas I listed. The index has 130,000 items, so this can be a very helpful tool for locating needed information as well.

     This resource is especially interesting because it is not limited to simple instruction on how to formulate research, but provides background in to the different schools of thought and methodologies in social science. It includes historical context in to methods, disciplines, and people, as well as covering emerging trends in the social sciences (as of 2005).

Kempf-Leonard, K. (Ed.). (2005). Encyclopedia of Social Measurement. Oxford, U.K.: Elsevier.