Research Methods: A Process of Inquiry: United States Edition

This comprehensive book explores the entire range of research methodologies in psychology, using a programmatic approach to introduce topics and build on earlier presentations to increase understanding. It includes the most extensive package of web-based features of any book in this market.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Curiosity, Creativity, and Commitment Science Science Is a Way of Thinking Asking Questions Science and Art Acquiring Knowledge Tenacity Intuition Authority Rationalism Empiricism Science Emergence of Science Early Civilization Greek Science Medieval Science The Scientific Revolution Psychology The History of Psychology Women and Minorities in Psychology Modern Psychology The Science of Psychology Ethical Principles Using the Resources of this Text Exploring the Student Resource Website Using SPSS for Windows Summary Putting It into Practice Exercises   Chapter 2: Research is a Process of Inquiry The Scientific Process Basic Assumptions of Science Observation and Inference: Facts and Constructs Inductive and Deductive Thinking Models and Theories in Science A Model of the Research Process Phases of Research Levels of Constraint Ethical Principles Summary Putting It into Practice Exercises   Chapter 3: The Starting Point: Asking Questions Asking and Refining Questions Pursuing Your Personal Interests Following Up on the Work of Others Applied and Basic Research Refining Questions for Research Types of Variables in Research Classifying Variables Based on Their Nature Classifying Variables Based on Their Use in Research Validity and the Control of Extraneous Variables Ethical Principles Ethical Principles for Human Research Ethical Principles for Animal Research Summary Putting It into Practice Exercises   Chapter 4: Data and the Nature of Measurement Measurement Scales of Measurement Nominal Scales Ordinal Scales Interval Scales Ratio Scales Measuring and Manipulating Variables Measurement Error Operational Definitions Evaluating Measures Reliability Effective Range Validity The Need for Objective Measurement Ethical Principles Summary Putting It into Practice Exercises   Chapter 5: Statistical Analysis of Data Individual Differences Organizing Data Frequency Distributions Graphical Representation of Data Descriptive Statistics Measures of Central Tendency Measures of Variability Measures of Relationship Standard Scores Statistical Inference Populations and Samples The Null Hypothesis Statistical Decisions and Alpha Levels Type I and Type II Errors Inferential Statistics Testing for Mean Differences The Power of a Statistical Test Effect Size Ethical Principles Summary Putting It into Practice Exercises   Chapter 6: Field Research: Naturalistic and Case-Study Research The Challenge of Low-Constraint Research Examples of Naturalistic Observation Examples of Case-Study Research The Value of Low-Constraint Methods Conditions for Using Low-Constraint Research Information Gained from Low-Constraint Research Using Low-Constraint Methods Problem Statements and Research Hypotheses Making Observations Sampling of Participants Sampling of Situations Sampling of Behaviors Evaluating and Interpreting Data Limitations of Low-Constraint Methods Poor Representativeness Poor Replicability Causal Inference and Low-Constraint Research Limitations of the Observer Going Beyond the Data Ethical Principles Summary Putting It into Practice Exercises   Chapter 7: Correlational and Differential Methods of Research Correlational Research Methods Differential Research Methods Cross-Sectional versus Longitudinal Research Artifacts and Confounding Understanding Correlational and Differential Methods Comparing These Methods When to Use These Methods Conducting Correlational Research Problem Statements Secondary Analyses Measuring the Variables Sampling Analyzing the Data Interpreting the Correlation Conducting Differential Research Problem Statements Measuring the Variables Selecting Appropriate Control Groups Sampling Analyzing the Data Interpreting the Data Limitations of Correlational and Differential Research Problems in Determining Causation Confounding Variables Ethical Principles Summary Putting It into Practice Exercises   Chapter 8: Hypothesis Testing, Validity, and Threats to Validity Hypothesis Testing Starting Research with an Initial Idea Statement of the Problem Operational Definitions Research Hypothesis The Contribution of Theory to the Research Hypothesis Testing the Research Hypothesis Validity and Threats to Validity Statistical Validity Construct Validity External Validity Internal Validity Major Confounding Variables Maturation History Testing Instrumentation Regression to the Mean Selection Attrition Diffusion of Treatment Sequence Effects Examples of Confounding Subject and Experimenter Effects Subject Effects Experimenter Effects Ethical Principles  Summary Putting It into Practice Exercises   Chapter 9: Controls to Reduce Threats to Validity General Control Procedures Preparation of the Setting Response Measurement Replication Control over Subject and Experimenter Effects Single- and Double-Blind Procedures Automation Using Objective Measures Multiple Observers Using Deception Control through Participant Selection and Assignment Participant Selection Participant Assignment Advantages of Random Assignment Control through Experimental Design  Ethical principles Summary Putting It into Practice Exercises   Chapter 10: Single-Variable, Independent-Groups Designs Variance Sources of Variance Controlling Variance in Research Nonexperimental Approaches Ex Post Facto Studies Single-Group, Posttest-Only Studies Single-Group, Pretest-Posttest Studies Pretest-Posttest, Natural Control-Group Studies Experimental Designs Randomized, Posttest-Only, Control-Group Design Randomized, Pretest-Posttest, Control-Group Design Multilevel, Completely Randomized, Between-Subjects Design Pretest-Manipulation Interaction: A Potential Problem Analyses of Variance Specific Means Comparisons in ANOVA Graphing the Data Ethical Principles Summary Putting It into Practice Exercises   Chapter 11: Correlated-Groups and Single-Subject Designs Within-Subjects Designs Using Within-Subjects Designs Analyzing Within-Subjects Designs Strengths and Weaknesses of Within-Subjects Designs Matched-Subjects Designs Using Matched-Subjects Designs Analyzing Matched-Subjects Designs Strengths and Weaknesses of Matched-Subjects Designs Single-Subject Experimental Designs ABA Reversal Design Multiple-Baseline Design Single-Subject, Randomized, Time-Series Design Replication in Single-Subject Designs Ethical Principles Summary Putting It into Practice Exercises   Chapter 12: Factorial Designs Factorial Designs Main Effects and Interactions Possible Outcomes of Factorial Designs An Example: Children’s Dark-Fears Study Analysis of Variance in Factorial Designs Variations of Basic Factorial Design Within-Subjects or Repeated-Measures Factorial Mixed Designs ANOVA: A Postscript Analysis of Covariance Multivariate Analysis of Variance Ethical Principles Summary Putting It into Practice Exercises   Chapter 13: A Second Look at Field Research: Field Experiments, Program Evaluation, and Survey Research Conducting Field Research Reasons for Doing Field Research Difficulties in Field Research Flexibility in Research Quasi-Experimental Designs Nonequivalent Control-Group Designs Interrupted Time-Series Designs Program Evaluation Research Practical Problems in Program Evaluation Research Issues of Control Typical Program Evaluation Designs Program Evaluation Research: An Example Surveys Types of Surveys Steps in Survey Research Types of Survey Instruments Developing the Survey Instrument Sampling Participants Survey Research Design Ethical Principles Summary Putting It into Practice Exercises   Final Note   Appendix A: Using the Student Resource Website Resources Available What to Do If You Have Problems Getting Help Appendix Summary   Appendix B: Writing a Research Report in APA Style Structure of a Research Article Writing the Research Report Writing Style Summary   Appendix C: Conducting Library Research Using the Library How Research Materials Are Organized Finding the Relevant Research Search Strategies Summary   Appendix D: Selecting Statistical Procedures Selecting Appropriate Statistical Procedures Summary Exercises   Appendix E: Research Design Checklist I. Initial Problem Definition II. Clarity of the Research Hypotheses III. Statistical Analysis Procedures IV. Theoretical Basis and Operational Definitions V. Adequacy of the Independent Variable Manipulation VI. Adequacy of Dependent Measures VII. Are All Controls in Place? VIII. Participants IX. Preparation of the Setting X. Adequacy of Participant Preparation, Instruction, and Procedures   Appendix F: Random Numbers   Appendix G: Answers to Quick-Check Review Questions   Appendix H: Meta-Analysis   Glossary References Name Index Subject Index

About the Author :
Anthony M. Graziano is Professor Emeritus, Psychology, at the State University of New York, Buffalo. He was Co-Director of the Research Center for Children and Youth and served as the Director of the Clinical Area. Graziano received the B.A. degree from Columbia College and Ph.D. from Purdue University. He completed a clinical internship and a postdoctoral fellowship in child-clinical psychology at the Devereux Foundation. From 1961 to 1968 he developed and operated the first behavioral treatment program in the country for children with autism. Graziano was the first to employ relaxation and systematic desensitization techniques to help teach self-control skills to children with autism. He also served briefly as the Acting Director of the Kennedy Center for children with developmental disabilities. He has been a consultant to agencies in Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania. Graziano's research and writing has focused on children and families, and has included: child psychopathology; developmental disabilities; the treatment of childhood disorders; children's fears and phobias; behavior modification; parent training; community psychology; child abuse and neglect; family therapy; and cultural history. His most recent research was on the use of corporal punishment in child rearing, and he has been a long-time opponent of corporal punishment. He is editor, co-author, or author of fifteen books, 86 journal articles and presentations at professional meetings, and a dozen op-ed newspaper columns. Dr. Graziano has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Eastern Psychological Association, People, Inc., a Western New York agency serving persons with developmental disabilities, and the editorial board of the journal, Behavior Modification. When not playing with his grandchildren, Graziano passionately pursues cooking, tennis, carpentry, masonry, drawing cartoons, and traveling Europe with Sheila, his wife of 50 years. Michael Raulin is a clinical associate professor at the State University of New York, Buffalo, where he has been a faculty member since 1978. He received his BS and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. At Buffalo, he was the director of the Psychological Services Center--the research and training clinic for the Ph.D. program in clinical psychology--and also headed the Ph.D. clinical psychology program for several years. He founded and directed the department's Anxiety Disorders Clinic and maintained a small private practice for 20 years. Dr. Raulin's research has always focused on psychopathology, with most of his work on risk factors in schizophrenia. He has published 30 articles or chapters and is author of an abnormal psychology text. He served on the editorial board of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology and the Journal of Abnormal Psychology and reviewed papers for nearly 20 different journals and grant applications for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. He has been active in psychological affairs, locally, regionally, and nationally. He was president of the Psychological Association of Western New York, chaired the program committees for the Society for Research in Psychopathology and the Eastern Psychological Association, and was president of the National Association of Directors of Psychology Training Clinics and secretary of Society for Research in Psychopathology. He has an excellent reputation for his teaching, with evaluations that consistently place him among the top instructors at the university. He has won awards for teaching and public service and is listed in Who's Who in Among Rising Young Americans, Who's Who Among Health Service Professionals, Who's Who in Science and Engineering, and Who's Who in Medicine and Health Care.