This book introduces readers to the range of theories, approaches and techniques required to understand New Zealand. Part one looks at how cultures gather knowledge, introduces readers to science, social science, Maori approaches, cross-cultural and feminist research, and ethics. Part two explains how to do a literature review, design, collect, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data, and write up the results. In part three, a number of prominent...

Four different experts (Mark Bevir, Brian Epstein, Nile Green, Jennifer Michael Hecht) give their candid perspectives on how social science research should be improved.

"Everyone wants to be more appealing and effective, but few believe we can manage the personal magnetism of a Bill Clinton or an Oprah Winfrey. John Neffinger and Matthew Kohut trace the path to influence through a balance of strength (the root of respect) and warmth (the root of affection). Each seems simple, but only a few of us figure out the tricky task of projecting both at once. Drawing on cutting-edge social science research as well as their...

In our fast-changing world, leaders are increasingly confronted by messy, multifaceted challenges that require collaboration to resolve. But the standard methods for tackling these challenges--meetings packed with data-drenched presentations or brainstorming sessions that circle back to nowhere--just don't deliver. Great strategic conversations generate breakthrough insights by combining the best ideas of people with different backgrounds and perspectives....

"The midlife crisis is the butt of so many jokes, but this long-derided life stage has an upside. What if we could reframe our thinking about the natural transition of midlife not as a crisis, but as a chrysalis—a time when something profound awakens in us, as we shed our skin, spread our wings, and pollinate our wisdom to the world? In Learning to Love Midlife, Chip Conley offers an alternative narrative to the way we commonly think of our 40s,...