The Process of Research in Psychology

Employing numerous examples and the pedagogical approach of spaced repetition, this introductory text provides a step-by-step explanation of how to design, conduct, and present research in psychology. Early chapters instroduce important concepts for developing research ideas, subject sampling, ethics, and data collection to help students understand the process of research. Subsequent "Nuts and Bolts" chapters provide more detailed coverage of these topics and the various types of research. This approach creates a logical scaffolding upon which students can build their knowledge. Key Features Chapter organization mirrors the steps in the research process in the first part of the book and then lays out the details of different types of research designs in the second half. This sequence reflects the logical, natural progression of the research process. The spaced repetition of concepts follows a proven memory/learning model that maximizes student retention. Thinking About Research sections at the end of chapters provide a summary of a real research study for students to analyze and relate to the chapter content Examples and activities in each chapter come from a wide range of psychological settings, giving students a useful overview of real research. Using Research feature at the end of selected chapters help students connect research methods knowledge to reports they encounter in their daily lives and from the media. End-of-Chapter Quizzes allow students to assess their progress Ancillaries: Password-protected Instructor Resource Site include a test bank, PowerPoint slides, sample syllabi, answers/tips for the in-text questions, an answer key for the Lab Manual and class discussion topics and activities. An open-access student study site provides chapter summaries and objectives, E-flashcards, Web quizzes, additional SPSS data examples, SAGE journal articles, and additional Web resources. Lab Manual The Lab Manual for Psychological Research by Dawn M. McBride and J. Cooper Cutting (available separately or bundled with the text) provides the perfect supplement for instructors who teach a lab component with their methods course or would simply like to provide their students with more guidance and practice in conducting their own research project PrefaceAcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorPart I: Overview of the Research Process from Start to FinishChapter 1: Psychological Research: The Whys and Hows of the Scientific Method Why Psychologists Conduct Research How Psychologists Use the Scientific Method Basic and Applied Research Why Should I Care About Research if I Don't Want to Do Research in My Career? Chapter Summary Thinking About Research Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them Using Research Test Yourself Stop and Think Answers SAGE edge Study SiteChapter 2: Hypothesis Development: Where Research Questions Come From Developing a Research Question How to Conduct a Literature Review What You Find in a Literature Review Using the Literature to Make Hypotheses Chapter Summary Thinking About Research Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them Test Yourself Stop and Think Answers SAGE edge Study SiteChapter 3: Ethical Guidelines for Psychological Research Historical Context for Ethical Guidelines Current Ethical Guidelines for Human Participants Research Institutional Review Boards Current Ethical Guidelines for Nonhuman Animal Subjects Ethics in Reporting Research Chapter Summary Thinking About Research Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them Test Yourself Stop and Think Answers SAGE edge Study SiteChapter 4: How Psychologists Use the Scientific Method: Data Collection Techniques and Research Designs Data Collection Techniques Types of Research Designs Chapter Summary Thinking About Research Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them Using Research Test Yourself Stop and Think Answers SAGE edge Study SiteChapter 5: Variables and Measurement in Research Dependent Variables Independent Variables Validity and Sources of Bias Chapter Summary Thinking About Research Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them Test Yourself Stop and Think Answers SAGE edge Study SiteChapter 6: Sampling Populations and Samples Probability Samples Convenience Samples Comparison of Probability and Convenience Sampling Techniques Recruiting Participants Using the Internet to Sample Chapter Summary Thinking About Research Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them Using Research Test Yourself Stop and Think Answers SAGE edge Study SiteChapter 7: Summarizing and Interpreting Data: Using Statistics Descriptive Statistics: Summarizing the Data Inferential Statistics: Testing Hypotheses Chapter Summary Thinking About Research Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them Test Yourself Stop and Think Answers SAGE edge Study SiteChapter 8: Reporting Research APA-Style Article Writing Oral Presentations Poster Presentations Chapter Summary Thinking About Research Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them Test Yourself Stop and Think Answers SAGE edge Study SitePart II: The Nuts and Bolts of Research Methods and AnalysisChapter 9: The Nuts and Bolts of Survey Research Answering Research Questions With Surveys Creating a Survey Survey Administration Chapter Summary Thinking About Research Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them Test Yourself Stop and Think Answers SAGE edge Study SiteChapter 10: The Nuts and Bolts of Correlational Studies Research Questions in Correlational Studies Correlational Study Examples Chapter Summary Thinking About Research Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them Test Yourself Stop and Think Answers SAGE edge Study SiteChapter 11: The Nuts and Bolts of One-Factor Experiments Learning About Causation Through Manipulation and Control Control in Within-Subjects and Between-Subjects Experiments Experiment Examples Chapter Summary Thinking About Research Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them Test Yourself Stop and Think Answers SAGE edge Study SiteChapter 12: The Nuts and Bolts of Multi-Factor Experiments Factorial Designs More About Interactions Experiment Examples Chapter Summary Thinking About Research Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them Test Yourself Stop and Think Answers SAGE edge Study SiteChapter 13: The Nuts and Bolts of Quasi-Experiments Types of Quasi-Experiments Sources of Bias in Quasi-Experiments Chapter Summary Thinking About Research Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them Test Yourself Stop and Think Answers SAGE edge Study SiteChapter 14: The Nuts and Bolts of Other Specialized Designs Developmental Designs Small-n Designs Chapter Summary Thinking About Research Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them Test Yourself Stop and Think Answers SAGE edge Study SiteChapter 15: The Nuts and Bolts of Using Statistics Comparing Groups or Conditions Chapter Summary Thinking About Research Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them Test Yourself Stop and Think Answers SAGE edge Study SiteAppendix: Statistical CalculationsGlossaryReferencesIndex Using diverse examples from published research, the Third Edition of The Process of Research in Psychology by Dawn M. McBride provides step-by-step coverage on how to design, conduct, and present a research study. Early chapters introduce important concepts for developing research ideas while subsequent "nuts and bolts" chapters provide more detailed coverage of topics and examine the types of research relevant to the field. This logical two-part structure creates an excellent foundation upon which students can build their knowledge of the entire research process