Statistical and Methodological Myths and Urban Legends

Doctrine, Verity and Fable in Organizational and Social Sciences

Charles E Lance editor Robert J Vandenberg editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Inc

Published:3rd Oct '08

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Statistical and Methodological Myths and Urban Legends cover

This book provides an up-to-date review of commonly undertaken methodological and statistical practices that are sustained, in part, upon sound rationale and justification and, in part, upon unfounded lore. Some examples of these "methodological urban legends", as we refer to them in this book, are characterized by manuscript critiques such as: (a) "your self-report measures suffer from common method bias"; (b) "your item-to-subject ratios are too low"; (c) "you can’t generalize these findings to the real world"; or (d) "your effect sizes are too low".

Historically, there is a kernel of truth to most of these legends, but in many cases that truth has been long forgotten, ignored or embellished beyond recognition. This book examines several such legends. Each chapter is organized to address: (a) what the legend is that "we (almost) all know to be true"; (b) what the "kernel of truth" is to each legend; (c) what the myths are that have developed around this kernel of truth; and (d) what the state of the practice should be. This book meets an important need for the accumulation and integration of these methodological and statistical practices.

"It is an easy-to carry size and has clear print and particularly important, clear writing. The text includes many good charts and graphics that could come in handy as examples to be used in classes, especially high-level graduate classes in statistics or research methods. … Most doctoral students should have a copy of Lance and Vandenberg before they set words to paper in their dissertation proposals … The information in the many chapters can be very important in considering results and especially in considering limitations. It can serve as a rich source of primary articles and coherent discussion of many important topics." - Malcolm James Ree, Professor of Leadership, Our Lady of the Lake University, Texas, in Personnel Psychology

"Owning a copy of this book is essential for any researcher interested in issues regarding statistics and methods. It is beneficial as well for instructors." –Stephen A. Truhon, PsycCritiques

“The chapters in this book address topics with which every researcher has grappled with such as missing data, tests of moderating and mediating effects, dependence on self report data, and the importance of the sample of respondents available. With the increased interest and use of qualitative research, this volume should also be of wide interest. The book’s chapters promise to be standard citations in research papers for many years to come. Students are likely to find this book invaluable as they begin research careers. More experienced researchers will likely relate to these chapters as well, since they will have experienced the frustration associated with many of these problems firsthand." -Neal Schmitt,Chair, Michigan State University

"Misconceptions about methods are all too common in the organizational and social sciences and they impede research progress. Until now, researchers lacked a comprehensive guidebook that separates fact from fiction regarding appropriate methodological choices. Drawing on a world class team of authors, Lance and Vandenberg close the gap between 'what we know' and 'what we need to know' about missing data, factor analysis, moderation, mediation, structural equation modeling, sampling and many other essential methodological issues." -Dave Ketchen, Lowder Eminent Scholas and Professor of Management, Auburn University

"For every management researcher, this is a GREAT book. The chapters improve one's technical skills but also explain the many, many details that one always wanted to know. I recommend this book for all researchers and graduate and doctoral students. It's as close to a 'must have' as there can be." -Tom Lee, Michael G. Foster School of Business, University of Washington


"It is an easy-to carry size and has clear print and particularly important, clear writing. The text includes many good charts and graphics that could come in handy as examples to be used in classes, especially high-level graduate classes in statistics or research methods. … Most doctoral students should have a copy of Lance and Vandenberg before they set words to paper in their dissertation proposals … The information in the many chapters can be very important in considering results and especially in considering limitations. It can serve as a rich source of primary articles and coherent discussion of many important topics." - Malcolm James Ree, Professor of Leadership, Our Lady of the Lake University, Texas, in Personnel Psychology

"Owning a copy of this book is essential for any researcher interested in issues regarding statistics and methods. It is beneficial as well for instructors." –Stephen A. Truhon, PsycCritiques

“The chapters in this book address topics with which every researcher has grappled with such as missing data, tests of moderating and mediating effects, dependence on self report data, and the importance of the sample of respondents available. With the increased interest and use of qualitative research, this volume should also be of wide interest. The book’s chapters promise to be standard citations in research papers for many years to come. Students are likely to find this book invaluable as they begin research careers. More experienced researchers will likely relate to these chapters as well, since they will have experienced the frustration associated with many of these problems firsthand." -Neal Schmitt,Chair, Michigan State University

"Misconceptions about methods are all too common in the organizational and social sciences and they impede research progress. Until now, researchers lacked a comprehensive guidebook that separates fact from fiction regarding appropriate methodological choices. Drawing on a world class team of authors, Lance and Vandenberg close the gap between 'what we know' and 'what we need to know' about missing data, factor analysis, moderation, mediation, structural equation modeling, sampling and many other essential methodological issues." -Dave Ketchen, Lowder Eminent Scholas and Professor of Management, Auburn University

"For every management researcher, this is a GREAT book. The chapters improve one's technical skills but also explain the many, many details that one always wanted to know. I recommend this book for all researchers and graduate and doctoral students. It's as close to a 'must have' as there can be." -Tom Lee, Michael G. Foster School of Business, University of Washington

ISBN: 9780805862386

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 800g

432 pages