Ray Pawson's Books

Realistic Evaluation

By: Ray Pawson,Nicholas Tilley

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Realistic Evaluation shows how program evaluation needs to be, and can be bettered. It presents a profound yet highly readable critique of current evaluation practice, and goes on to introduce a `manifesto′ and `handbook′ for a fresh approach. The main body of this book is devoted to the articulation of a new evaluation paradigm, which promises greater validity and utility from the findings of evaluation studies. The authors call this new approach `realistic evaluation′. The name reflects the paradigm′s foundation in scientific realist philosophy, its commitment to the idea that programmes deal with real problems rather than mere social constructions, and its primary intention, which is to inform realistic developments in policy making that benefit programme participants and the public. Ray Pawson and Nicholas Tilley argue with passion that scientific evaluation requires a careful blend of theory and method, quality and quantity, ambition and realism. The book offers a complete blueprint for evaluation activities, running from design to data collection and analysis to the cumulation of findings across programmes and onto the realization of research into policy. The argument is developed using practical examples throughout and is grounded in the major fields of programme evaluation. This book will be essential reading for all those involved in the evaluation process especially those researchers, students and practitioners in the core disciplines of sociology, social policy, criminology, health and education. `This book is a must for those engaged in the field, providing a fully illustrated text on evaluation with numerous examples from the criminal justice system. Unusually, it offers something for the academic, practitioner and student alike. I found Pawson and Tilley′s latest work on evaluation an enjoyable and informative read. For myself their "realistic evaluation" clarified and formalised a jumbled set of ideas I had already been developing. Although not everyone will agree with the methodology proposed by the authors, this book is a valuable read as it will cause most of us at least to review our methodological stance′ - International Journal of Police Science and Management `This is an engaging book with a strong sense of voice and communicative task. The voice is sometimes strident, but always clear. Its communicative qualities are evident equally in its structure: lots of signposting for the reader within and across chapters′ - Language Teaching Research `This provocative, elegant and highly insightful book focuses on the effective incorporation of actual practice into the formulation of evaluation methodology. What a pleasure to read sentences like: "The research act involves "learning" a stakeholder′s theories, formalizing them, and "teaching" them back to that informant who is then in a position to comment upon, clarify and further refine the key ideas". Pawson and Tilley have given us a wise, witty and persuasive account of how real practitioner experience might be encouraged to intrude on (and modify) researchers′ concepts about program processes and outcomes. This holds important promise for achieving something that is devoutly to be wished: closer interaction among at least some researchers and some policy makers′ - Eleanor Chelimsky, Past-President of the American Evaluation Association `This is a sustained methodological argument by two wordly-wise social scientists. Unashamedly intellectual, theoretically ambitious yet with a clear but bounded conception of evaluation. It is articulate, occasionally eloquent and always iconoclastic, whilst eschewing "paradigm wars". The Pawson and Tilley "realist" call to arms threatens to take no prisoners among experimentalists, constructivists or pluralists. It is the kind of book that clarifies your thoughts, even when you disagree with everything they say′ - Elliot Stern, The Tavistock Institute

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254

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SAGE

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ISBN 10

1473924855

ISBN 13

9781473924857

Evidence-Based Policy

A Realist Perspective

By: Ray Pawson

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Evidence-Based Policy

A Realist Perspective

By: Ray Pawson

In this important new book, Ray Pawson examines the recent spread of evidence-based policy making across the Western world. Few major public initiatives are mounted these days in the absence of a sustained attempt to evaluate them. Programmes are tried, tried and tried again and researched, researched and researched again. And yet it is often difficult to know which interventions, and which inquiries, will withstand the test of time. The evident solution, going by the name of evidence-based policy, is to take the longer view. Rather than relying on one-off studies, it is wiser to look to the ′weight of evidence′. Accordingly, it is now widely agreed the most useful data to support policy decisions will be culled from systematic reviews of all the existing research in particular policy domains. This is the consensual starting point for Ray Pawson′s latest foray into the world of evaluative research. But this is social science after all and harmony prevails only in the first chapter. Thereafter, Pawson presents a devastating critique of the dominant approach to systematic review - namely the ′meta-analytic′ approach as sponsored by the Cochrane and Campbell collaborations. In its place is commended an approach that he terms ′realist synthesis′. On this vision, the real purpose of systematic review is better to understand programme theory, so that policies can be properly targeted and developed to counter an ever-changing landscape of social problems. The book will be essential reading for all those who loved (or loathed) the arguments developed in Realistic Evaluation (Sage, 1997). It offers a complete blueprint for research synthesis, supported by detailed illustrations and worked examples from across the policy waterfront. It will be of especial interest to policy-makers, practitioners, researchers and students working in health, education, employment, social care, criminal justice, regeneration and welfare.

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209

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SAGE

Published Date

ISBN 10

1847878199

ISBN 13

9781847878199

The Science of Evaluation

A Realist Manifesto

By: Ray Pawson

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The Science of Evaluation

A Realist Manifesto

By: Ray Pawson

Evaluation researchers are tasked with providing the evidence to guide programme building and to assess its outcomes. As such, they labour under the highest expectations - bringing independence and objectivity to policy making. They face huge challenges, given the complexity of modern interventions and the politicised backdrop to all of their investigations. They have responded with a huge portfolio of research techniques and, through their professional associations, have set up schemes to establish standards for evaluative inquiry and to accredit evaluation practitioners. A big question remains. Has this monumental effort produced a progressive, cumulative and authoritative body of knowledge that we might think of as evaluation science? This is the question addressed by Ray Pawson in this sequel to Realistic Evaluation and Evidence-based Policy. In answer, he provides a detailed blueprint for an evaluation science based on realist principles.

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243

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SAGE

Published Date

ISBN 10

1446275507

ISBN 13

9781446275504

The Roads of Roman Italy

Mobility and Cultural Change

By: Ray Laurence

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The Roads of Roman Italy

Mobility and Cultural Change

By: Ray Laurence

The Roads of Roman Italy offers a complete re-evaluation of both the evidence and the interpretation of Roman land transport. The book utilises archaeological, epigraphic and literary evidence for Roman communications, drawing on recent approaches to the human landscape developed by geographers. Among the topics considered are: * the relationship between the road and the human landscape * the administration and maintenance of the road system * the role of roads as imperial monuments * the economics of road construction and urban development.

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255

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Routledge

Published Date

ISBN 10

1136823948

ISBN 13

9781136823947

Path to Success

By: Ray Matthews

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Path to Success

By: Ray Matthews

As part of his seventy-fifth birthday celebrations, Ray Matthews set himself a challenge to run seventy-five marathons in seventy-five days to raise seventy-five thousand pounds. Impossible was the judgement of most. But only those who risk going too far can find out how far they can go...

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222

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Book Guild Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

1915853826

ISBN 13

9781915853820

The Road to Results

Designing and Conducting Effective Development Evaluations

By: Linda G. Morra-Imas,Linda G. Morra,Ray C. Rist

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The Road to Results

Designing and Conducting Effective Development Evaluations

By: Linda G. Morra-Imas,Linda G. Morra,Ray C. Rist

The Road to Results: Designing and Conducting Effective Development Evaluations' presents concepts and procedures for evaluation in a development context. It provides procedures and examples on how to set up a monitoring and evaluation system, how to conduct participatory evaluations and do social mapping, and how to construct a "rigorous" quasi-experimental design to answer an impact question. The text begins with the context of development evaluation and how it arrived where it is today. It then discusses current issues driving development evaluation, such as the Millennium Development Goals and the move from simple project evaluations to the broader understandings of complex evaluations. The topics of implementing 'Results-based Measurement and Evaluation' and constructing a 'Theory of Change' are emphasized throughout the text. Next, the authors take the reader down 'the road to results, ' presenting procedures for evaluating projects, programs, and policies by using a 'Design Matrix' to help map the process. This road includes: determining the overall approach, formulating questions, selecting designs, developing data collection instruments, choosing a sampling strategy, and planning data analysis for qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method evaluations. The book also includes discussions on conducting complex evaluations, how to manage evaluations, how to present results, and ethical behavior--including principles, standards, and guidelines. The final chapter discusses the future of development evaluation. This comprehensive text is an essential tool for those involved in development evaluation.

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611

Publisher

World Bank Publications

Published Date

ISBN 10

0821379119

ISBN 13

9780821379110

Practical Experience

By: Jane Tankard,Katerina Ruedi Ray

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Practical Experience

By: Jane Tankard,Katerina Ruedi Ray

The year out, or internship, in a professional practice can be the most rewarding experience in an architectural student's education. It can also be a shock to the system to find that architectural working practices are very different to architectural study. This book provides a beginner's guide to professional practice and a step-by-step guide on how to find the placement that best suits your goals. It is the fourth title in the successful 'Seriously Useful Guides...' series. In order to give you a real insight into professional experience, this guide includes real life case studies from students who have been through the experience and from practices that have taken them on. It guides you through the steps of finding a placement, outlines the norms and expectations for internship in different countries, and discusses codes of office behavior and professional ethics. Contemporary architectural practices are becoming increasingly diverse and this guide outlines some Practical experience/Internship choices, providing cases studies of award wining firms that offer practical experience. These case studies range from conventional practices based on the art of building, to practices based on digital media or contemporary urbanism. Finally, the term 'critical practice' is becoming increasingly important, and the book provides some definitions and examples of critically based architectural practices. Also in the Seriously Useful Guides Series: * The Crit * The The Portfolio * The Dissertation

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241

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Routledge

Published Date

ISBN 10

1136372660

ISBN 13

9781136372667

International Atlas of Evaluation

By: Jan-Eric Furubo, Ray C. Rist, Rolf Sandahl

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International Atlas of Evaluation

By: Jan-Eric Furubo, Ray C. Rist, Rolf Sandahl

The history, development, and future directions of evaluation in various European and Asian countries are described and examined. Chapter topics include international organizations or associations that influence this global direction."--Business Horizon Evaluation of public policy has changed considerably in the past decade. This is especially true in Europe, where evaluation is now an institutional part of public sector governance, but it is also characteristic of other parts of the world. The International Atlas of Evaluation describes individual country as well as global trends and developments in the application and impact of evaluation. It also explains underlying forces affecting the contour of evaluation in different national contexts and their consequences for the diffusion of evaluation. The International Atlas of Evaluation describes and examines the history development and future directions of evaluation in twenty-two countries: Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It includes chapters on international organizations or associations that heavily influence the global direction of evaluation-the European Union, the World Bank, and Development Assistance Evaluation. The volume includes a historical overview of supply and demand in relation to evaluation; shifts in institutional settings; university programs and other sources of training; descriptions of its applications in the executive and legislative branches of government; and observations on the status and future of national systems of evaluation. The Atlas explores whether those countries where evaluation "took off" some years ago are expanding its use, or whether its development has stabilized or even decreased. It explores factors supporting the development of evaluation in a number of developing countries. This volume in the Comparative Policy Analysis series is an essential tool for policy makers, government officials, and scholars interested in the contemporary status of evaluation. Jan-Eric Furubo is head of the Secretariat for Strategic Analyses in the National Audit Office in Sweden. Ray C. Rist is a senior evaluation officer with the Operations Evaluation Department of the World Bank. He has held senior positions in both the legislative and executive branches of the United States government as well as teaching positions at Cornell University, The John Hopkins University, and George Washington University. Rolf Sandahl is an expert in evaluation at the National Financial Management Authority in Sweden, and author of many books and articles in the area of policy instruments, results analysis, and management by results.

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490

Publisher

Transaction Publishers

ISBN 10

1412826462

ISBN 13

9781412826464

Evidence-Based Policy

A Realist Perspective

By: Ray Pawson

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Evidence-Based Policy

A Realist Perspective

By: Ray Pawson

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415

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SAGE

Published Date

ISBN 10

1446227839

ISBN 13

9781446227831

My Collected Thoughts

By: Ray Salmon

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My Collected Thoughts

By: Ray Salmon

My Collected Thoughts' contains autobiography, detailing how religion impacted on the author's life and reflections on those religious experiences. It also contains explorations of the religious ideas which were important to the author, particularly between 1981 and 2011, when most of the thoughts were written. This book will engage anyone interested in another person's religious journey, and there are indications of downs as well as ups. It will also engage those who have a general interest in religious ideas. It is the hope of the author that the book will be of help to anyone on a religious journey, which of course is all of us, and, in particular, help people to see the place which prayer can have in discovering the higher power. It was found by the author that a cry for help evoked a response from God, although it is true that this was preceded by many years searching and devotion in his quiet time. 'M. C. T' will provide a companion book for 'Prayers for Daily Life'.

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304

Publisher

Troubador Publishing Ltd

Published Date

ISBN 10

178803760X

ISBN 13

9781788037600

The Violent Workplace

By: P.A.J Waddington,Doug Badger,Ray Bull

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The Violent Workplace

By: P.A.J Waddington,Doug Badger,Ray Bull

In recent years the workplace has emerged as a recognized site of violence, threat and menace and this book makes a significant contribution to the growing literature on workplace violence. Using innovative research methods, this book uniquely examines four of the most violence-prone occupations: the police; Accident and Emergency staff; social workers; mental health professionals.

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217

Publisher

Routledge

Published Date

ISBN 10

1134044879

ISBN 13

9781134044870

Insurance Law

Text and Materials

By: Ray Hodgin

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Insurance Law

Text and Materials

By: Ray Hodgin

First published in 2002. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

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861

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Routledge

Published Date

ISBN 10

1135337497

ISBN 13

9781135337490

A History of the Personal Social Services in England

Feast, Famine and the Future

By: Ray Jones

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A History of the Personal Social Services in England

Feast, Famine and the Future

By: Ray Jones

This book provides a detailed narrative and analysis of the 50-year development of the personal social services in England, located throughout the changing ideological, political and relevant professional contexts of the period. Drawing on the experience and recollections of key players who were active during major moments, it constitutes a significant addition to the social work and social policy literature, synthesising important and often original evidence, and some provocative interpretations. The book speaks to crucial on-going issues and contentious current debates, such as the place of bureaucratic management structures in ‘practices with people' generally, and social work specifically. It will be of interest to student and qualified social workers, social policy students and researchers, and policy makers, as well as those with a general interest in the history and trajectory of current issues facing social work and social care in England.

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490

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Springer Nature

Published Date

ISBN 10

3030461238

ISBN 13

9783030461232

Madhubun ICSE Geography 6

By: Gita Duggal & Baruna Ray Chowdhury

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Madhubun ICSE Geography 6

By: Gita Duggal & Baruna Ray Chowdhury

Madhubun ICSE Geography 6–8 is exactly mapped to the themes of the New Curriculum published by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations for the Upper Primary Level. It aims to create curiosity and generate interest in the minds of the learner to study the subject of geography. The chapters are carefully graded and the concepts are complemented by beautiful illustrations, vivid pictures, accurate maps and diagrams. The exercises are carefully structured to assess various skills.

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160

Publisher

Vikas Publishing House

ISBN 10

932599464X

ISBN 13

9789325994645

Granular Neural Networks, Pattern Recognition and Bioinformatics

By: Sankar K. Pal,Shubhra S. Ray,Avatharam Ganivada

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Granular Neural Networks, Pattern Recognition and Bioinformatics

By: Sankar K. Pal,Shubhra S. Ray,Avatharam Ganivada

This book provides a uniform framework describing how fuzzy rough granular neural network technologies can be formulated and used in building efficient pattern recognition and mining models. It also discusses the formation of granules in the notion of both fuzzy and rough sets. Judicious integration in forming fuzzy-rough information granules based on lower approximate regions enables the network to determine the exactness in class shape as well as to handle the uncertainties arising from overlapping regions, resulting in efficient and speedy learning with enhanced performance. Layered network and self-organizing analysis maps, which have a strong potential in big data, are considered as basic modules,. The book is structured according to the major phases of a pattern recognition system (e.g., classification, clustering, and feature selection) with a balanced mixture of theory, algorithm, and application. It covers the latest findings as well as directions for future research, particularly highlighting bioinformatics applications. The book is recommended for both students and practitioners working in computer science, electrical engineering, data science, system design, pattern recognition, image analysis, neural computing, social network analysis, big data analytics, computational biology and soft computing.

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241

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Springer

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ISBN 10

331957115X

ISBN 13

9783319571157

Criminal Justice Research: Inspiration Influence and Ideation

Inspiration Influence and Ideation

By: Ian K McKenzie,Ray Bull

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Criminal Justice Research: Inspiration Influence and Ideation

Inspiration Influence and Ideation

By: Ian K McKenzie,Ray Bull

This title was first published in 2002: A collection of criminal justice researchers select a number of books, documents, papers and such like, that they believe to be important and influential in the field of criminal justice research. Each author has written a description and critique of the selected item and have discussed the impact of each of them with regards to formulating or developing their own research. The authors also speculate onb the direction they believe the area in question might be expected to develop in the first 10-15 years of the 21st century. The definition of crimnal justice, in this book, is a broad one, and that is reflected in the combination of criminologists, psychologists, sociologists and experts on social and public administration. In all the book attempts to examine the inspirations, influences and thought processes which underpin criminal justice research efforts.

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Page Count

260

Publisher

Routledge

Published Date

ISBN 10

1351785710

ISBN 13

9781351785716

Learning XML

Creating Self-Describing Data

By: Erik T. Ray

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Learning XML

Creating Self-Describing Data

By: Erik T. Ray

This second edition of the bestselling Learning XML provides web developers with a concise but grounded understanding of XML (the Extensible Markup Language) and its potential-- not just a whirlwind tour of XML.The author explains the important and relevant XML technologies and their capabilities clearly and succinctly with plenty of real-life projects and useful examples. He outlines the elements of markup--demystifying concepts such as attributes, entities, and namespaces--and provides enough depth and examples to get started. Learning XML is a reliable source for anyone who needs to know XML, but doesn't want to waste time wading through hundreds of web sites or 800 pages of bloated text.For writers producing XML documents, this book clarifies files and the process of creating them with the appropriate structure and format. Designers will learn what parts of XML are most helpful to their team and will get started on creating Document Type Definitions. For programmers, the book makes syntax and structures clear. Learning XML also discusses the stylesheets needed for viewing documents in the next generation of browsers, databases, and other devices.Learning XML illustrates the core XML concepts and language syntax, in addition to important related tools such as the CSS and XSL styling languages and the XLink and XPointer specifications for creating rich link structures. It includes information about three schema languages for validation: W3C Schema, Schematron, and RELAX-NG, which are gaining widespread support from people who need to validate documents but aren't satisfied with DTDs. Also new in this edition is a chapter on XSL-FO, a powerful formatting language for XML. If you need to wade through the acronym soup of XML and start to really use this powerful tool, Learning XML, will give you the roadmap you need.

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Page Count

419

Publisher

"O'Reilly Media, Inc."

Published Date

ISBN 10

1449378870

ISBN 13

9781449378875

A Measure for Measures

A Manifesto for Empirical Sociology

By: Ray Pawson

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A Measure for Measures

A Manifesto for Empirical Sociology

By: Ray Pawson

Maurice Ravel: A Research and Information Guide is an annotated bibliography concerning both the nature of primary sources related to the composer and the scope and significance of the secondary sources which deal with him, his compositions, and his influence as a composer and theorist.

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Page Count

337

Publisher

Psychology Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0415026598

ISBN 13

9780415026598

Realistic Evaluation

By: Ray Pawson,Nick Tilley

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Realistic Evaluation

By: Ray Pawson,Nick Tilley

Table of Contents

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260

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SAGE

Published Date

ISBN 10

0761950095

ISBN 13

9780761950097

Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery

By: M. Joseph Bojrab,Don Ray Waldron,James P. Toombs

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Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery

By: M. Joseph Bojrab,Don Ray Waldron,James P. Toombs

Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery, Fifth Edition provides current information regarding surgical techniques from the perspective of clinicians who are performing specific procedures on a regular basis. It is intended to be concise, well illustrated, and reflective of the writer's experience, both good and bad. The emphasis with this volume

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