Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences

In RESEARCH METHODS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, Fifth Edition, bestselling statistics author Fredrick J Gravetter and co-author Lori-Ann B. Forzano help students see how interesting and exciting experimental and nonexperimental research can be. Inviting and conversational, the text leads students through the research process from start to finish. It begins with tips and strategies for generating research ideas, moves to selecting measures and participants, and then offers an examination of research strategy and design. This step-by-step approach emphasizes the decisions researchers must make at each stage of the process. The authors avoid a 'cookbook' presentation by linking terminology with applied concepts; their 'lecture in a book' style makes the text accessible to students by emphasizing discussion and explanation of topics. Each chapter ends with a set of student exercises and activities. Examples and content throughout the book reflect the most current APA guidelines.

Table of Contents:
Preface. 1. Introduction, Acquiring Knowledge, and the Scientific Method. 2. Research Ideas and Hypotheses. 3. Defining and Measuring Variables. 4. Ethics in Research. 5. Selecting Research Participants. 6. Research Strategies and Validity. 7. The Experimental Research Strategy. 8. Experimental Designs: Between-Subjects Design. 9. Experimental Designs: Within-Subjects Design. 10. The Nonexperimental and Quasi-Experimental Strategies: Nonequivalent Group, Pre–Post, and Developmental Designs. 11. Factorial Designs. 12. The Correlational Research Strategy. 13. The Descriptive Research Strategy. 14. Single-Subject Research Designs. 15. Statistical Evaluation of Data. 16. Writing an APA-Style Research Report. APPENDICES. A. Random Number Table and Instruction. B. Statistics Demonstrations and Statistical Tables. C. Instructions for Using SPSS. D. Sample APA-Style Research Report Manuscript for Publication. Glossary. References. Name Index. Subject Index.

About the Author :
Frederick J Gravetter is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at The College at Brockport, State University of New York College. While teaching at Brockport, he specialized in statistics, research design, and cognitive psychology. Dr. Gravetter received his Bachelor's degree in mathematics from M.I.T. and his Ph.D. in psychology from Duke University. In addition to publishing several research articles, Dr. Gravetter is co-author of the best-selling STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, 9th Edition, ESSENTIALS OF STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, 8th Edition, and (with Lori-Ann B. Forzano) RESEARCH METHODS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, 5th Edition. Lori-Ann B. Forzano is an Associate Professor of Psychology at The College at Brockport, State University of New York, where she regularly teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in research methods. She earned a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where she also received her B.S. in psychology. Dr. Forzano's research interests are in the area of conditioning and learning. Specifically, she studies impulsivity in adults and children. Her research has been published in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, Learning and Motivation, and The Psychological Record.

Review :
"A thorough and logical text with good advice and support for students creating a research project. The text format is ideal to guide students in not only gaining an understanding of research methods but applying the information as well." "The material presented in the Gravetter and Forzano text is efficient, detailed, and presented in a sophisticated yet interesting manner. The learning checks provide ample opportunity for the students to ensure they understand the material, and expand upon the concepts in question."