Stacks D.W. Primer of Public Relations Research

3rd Edition. — The Guilford Press, 2017. — 416 p. — ISBN: 978-1-462-52270-5.Thousands of public relations (PR) students and professionals have relied on this authoritative text to understand the key role of research in planning and evaluating PR campaigns. Revised and expanded to reflect today's emphasis on standards-based practice, the third edition has a heightened emphasis on setting baselines, creating benchmarks, and assessing progress. Stacks presents step-by-step guidelines for using a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods to track output, outtakes, and outcomes, and shows how to present research findings clearly to clients. Every chapter features review questions and a compelling practice problem. PowerPoint slides for use in teaching are provided at the companion website. Instructors requesting a desk copy also receive a supplemental Instructor's Manual with a test bank, suggested readings, and case studies.
New to This Edition:
Chapter on standardization, moving beyond the prior edition's focus on best practices.
Chapter on different types of data sets, with attention to the advantages and disadvantages of using Big Data.
Addresses the strategic use of key performance indicators.
Covers the latest content analysis software.
Pedagogical Features:
Each chapter opens with a chapter overview and concludes with review questions.
End-of-chapter practice problems guide readers to implement what they have learned in a PR project.
Appendix provides a dictionary of public relations measurement and research terms.
Supplemental Instructor's Manual and PowerPoint slides.An Introduction to Research in Public Relations
Understanding Research: An Introduction with Public Relations Implications
Management of Research in Public Relations
Standards for Conducting Public Relations Research
Necessary Considerations for Quantification
Measuring Outcomes
Data and Data Sets
Descriptive Statistical Reasoning and Computer Analysis
Ethical Concerns in Public Relations Research, with Shannon A. Bowen
Research Methodology
Qualitative Research Methodology: Content Analysis
Qualitative Research Methodology: Historical and Secondary Research Methods
Qualitative Research Methodology: Case Studies
Qualitative Research Methodology: Methods of Observing People, Shannon A. Bowen
Quantitative Research Methodology: Sampling Messages and People
Quantitative Research Methodology: Survey and Poll Methods
Quantitative Research Methodology: The Experimental Method
Quantitative Statistics: Advanced Inferential Statistical Reasoning and Computer Analysis
Obtaining and Reporting Public Relations Research
Putting It All Together.