Methods in Psychological Research

About the Book

Methods in Psychological Research introduces students to the rich world of research in psychology through student-friendly writing, compelling real-world examples, and frequent opportunities for practice. Using a relaxed yet supportive tone that eases student anxiety, the authors present a mixture of conceptual and practical discussions, and spark reader interest in research by covering meaningful topics that resonate with today’s students. In-text features like Conceptual Exercises, FYI sections, and FAQ sections with accompanying visual cues support learning throughout the research experience. The Fourth Edition equips students with the tools they need to understand research concepts, conduct their own experiments, and present their findings.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments About the Authors About the Contributors Chapter 1. Introduction to Research in Psychology Acquiring Knowledge About the World Conceptual Exercise 1A Psychology—Science and Art Critical Thinking Objectives of Science The Tenets of Science Conceptual Exercise 1B The Scientific Method Theories, Concepts, and Hypotheses Why We Do Research Approaches to Research Steps in Planning and Doing Research Conceptual Exercise 1C Chapter Summary Chapter Resources Chapter 2. Understanding the Research Literature Searching the Literature The Research Article Conceptual Exercise 2A Basic Statistical Procedures Conceptual Exercise 2B More Complex Statistical Procedures Chapter Summary Chapter Resources Chapter 3. Research in Psychology: An Ethical Enterprise Are Ethical Codes Necessary? General Principles Conceptual Exercise 3A Ethical Standards Conceptual Exercise 3B Conceptual Exercise 3C Conceptual Exercise 3D Conceptual Exercise 3E Special Populations Internet Research Bias and Intellectual Honesty Chapter Summary Chapter Resources Chapter 4. Hypothesis Testing, Power, and Control: A Review of the Basics Three Levels of Hypotheses Conceptual Exercise 4A Testing the Null Hypothesis Statistical Significance Inferential Errors: Type I and Type II Conceptual Exercise 4B Power and How to Increase It Effect Size The Role of Replication in Research Conceptual Exercise 4C External and Internal Validity Conceptual Exercise 4D Chapter Summary Chapter Resources Chapter 5. Measuring Variables Ways of Asking Questions Conceptual Exercise 5A Social Desirability and Response Set Measuring Observed Behavior Conceptual Exercise 5B Conceptual Exercise 5C The Importance of Precision in Measurement Conceptual Exercise 5D Tests, Scales, and Inventories Commercially Available Tests and Inventories Chapter Summary Chapter Resources Chapter 6. Selecting Research Participants Sampling Methods Conceptual Exercise 6A Conceptual Exercise 6B Conceptual Exercise 6C Recruitment Sample and Effect Size Power Revisited Chapter Summary Chapter Resources Chapter 7. Experimental Design: Independent-Groups Designs Why We Do Experiments Conceptual Exercise 7A Where We Do Experiments Conceptual Exercise 7B How We Do Experiments: Independent-Groups Designs Chapter Summary Chapter Resources Chapter 8. Experimental Design: Dependent-Groups and Mixed Designs Dependent-Groups Designs Conceptual Exercise 8 Mixed Designs Chapter Summary Chapter Resources Chapter 9. Experimental Design: Single-Participant Designs/The Operant Approach Single-Participant Design and the Experimental Analysis of Behavior Concepts in the Experimental Analysis of Behavior ABA and ABAB Withdrawal Designs Conceptual Exercise 9A Multiple-Baseline Design Alternating-Treatment Design Changing-Criterion Design Conceptual Exercise 9B Advantages and Disadvantages of Single-Participant Designs Chapter Summary Chapter Resources Chapter 10. Nonexperimental Research: Finding Relationships Among Variables Quasi-Experiments Conceptual Exercise 10A Conceptual Exercise 10B Conceptual Exercise 10C Longitudinal Research Cross-Sectional Research Conceptual Exercise 10D Case Studies Correlational Research Conceptual Exercise 10E Chapter Summary Chapter Resources Chapter 11. Data Collection Methods Observational Research: Observing the Behavior of Individuals Advantages and Disadvantages of Observational Research Conceptual Exercise 11A Survey Research: Asking People Questions About Their Behavior Conceptual Exercise 11B Conceptual Exercise 11C Observing Group Behavior: The Focus Group Chapter Summary Chapter Resources Chapter 12. Program Evaluation, Archival Research, and Meta-Analytic Designs Program Evaluation Conceptual Exercise 12A Conceptual Exercise 12B Archival Research Conceptual Exercise 12C Meta-Analysis Chapter Summary Chapter Resources Chapter 13. Analyzing, Interpreting, and Summarizing Research Data What Are Statistics, and Why Are They Necessary? Summarizing Your Data With Descriptive Statistics Conceptual Exercise 13A Conceptual Exercise 13B Testing the Statistical Significance of Your Research Findings Conceptual Exercise 13C Chapter Summary Chapter Resources Chapter 14. Communicating in Psychology Writing in Psychology Conceptual Exercise 14A Conceptual Exercise 14B Conceptual Exercise 14C Conceptual Exercise 14D Conceptual Exercise 14E Conceptual Exercise 14F Conceptual Exercise 14G Conceptual Exercise 14H Presenting Research in Writing Other Ways of Presenting Research Chapter Summary Chapter Resources Glossary References Index

About the Author :
Bryan J. Rooney is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Concordia University of Edmonton. He enjoys teaching research methods and finds the process of helping students design and implement their own research projects particularly rewarding. When students learn about research by developing their own projects, they experience the frustrations, excitements, and occasional disappointments that are part of the process. They also discover how fun it is to seek answers to questions that pique their curiosity. He has taught research methods for over 15 years and also teaches introductory and intermediate statistics. His research background is in visual and auditory sensation and perception, and more recent interests include quality-of-life issues for people with dementia. When he is not involved in the life of his busy family, you can find him skiing or riding his motorcycles depending on the season. He earned his PhD in psychology from Carleton University in Ottawa and his BSc and MSc from the University of Calgary. Annabel Ness Evans  received her PhD in cognitive psychology from the University of Alberta in 1979. She was the Chair of the Department of Psychology at Concordia University of Edmonton from 1975 until 2013, when she retired as Professor Emerita to muddle about in her garden, ski her brains out, and basically have a really good time. She has written two previous texts. Her Using Basic Statistics in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (2014) is in its fifth edition and is available from Sage. She has coauthored a book, Principles of Behavior Analysis (1994), with Lyle Grant.  Annabel’s sons, Christiaan, Marcus, and Luke, are grown and on their own so she lives with her Havanese dog, Skye, who has shown a notable lack of interest in psychological research.  

Review :

"This is an appealing, accessible, and highly readable introductory quantitative research textbook. The authors provide clearly written, jargon-free explanations and examples drawn from various areas of psychology to enhance a sophisticated understanding of the research process."

"This book offers a straightforward progression of concepts with direct application as students prepare their research project from beginning to end."