Research Methods in Psychology For Dummies

ISBN-13: 9781119035084 / Angielski / Miękka / 2015 / 352 str.

Wiley

Opis

Your hands-on introduction to research methods in psychology Looking for an easily accessible overview of research methods in psychology? This is the book for you Whether you need to get ahead in class, you're pressed for time, or you just want a take on a topic that's not covered in your textbook, Research Methods in Psychology For Dummies has you covered. Written in plain English and packed with easy-to-follow instruction, this friendly guide takes the intimidation out of the subject and tackles the fundamentals of psychology research in a way that makes it approachable and comprehensible, no matter your background. Inside, you'll find expert coverage of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including surveys, case studies, laboratory observations, tests and experiments--and much more.

• Serves as an excellent supplement to course textbooks
• Provides a clear introduction to the scientific method
• Presents the methodologies and techniques used in psychology research
• Written by the authors of Psychology Statistics For Dummies

If you're a first or second year psychology student and want to supplement your doorstop-sized psychology textbook--and boost your chances of scoring higher at exam time--this hands-on guide breaks down the subject into easily digestible bits and propels you towards success.

Spis treści

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started with Research Methods 5

Chapter 1: Why Do Research in Psychology? 7

Chapter 2: Reliability and Validity 21

Chapter 3: Research Ethics 33

Part II: Enhancing External Validity 45

Chapter 4: Survey Designs and Methods 47

Chapter 5: Sampling Methods 63

Chapter 6: Questionnaires and Psychometric Tests 89

Part III: Enhancing Internal Validity 105

Chapter 7: Basic Experimental Designs 107

Chapter 8: Looking at More Complex Experimental Designs 129

Chapter 9: Small Experiments 141

Part IV: Qualitative Research 161

Chapter 10: Achieving Quality in Qualitative Research 163

Chapter 11: Analysing Qualitative Data 175

Chapter 12: Theoretical Approaches and Methodologies in Qualitative Research 187

Part V: Reporting Research 203

Chapter 13: Preparing a Written Report 205

Chapter 14: Preparing a Research Presentation 223

Chapter 15: APA Guidelines for Reporting Research 239

Part VI: Research Proposals 253

Chapter 16: Finding Research Literature 255

Chapter 17: Sample Size Calculations 275

Chapter 18: Developing a Research Proposal 291

Part VII: The Part of Tens 303

Chapter 19: Ten Pitfalls to Avoid When Selecting Your Sample 305

Chapter 20: Ten Tips for Reporting Your Research 311

Index 317

O autorze

Martin Dempster, PhD, is a health psychologist and research coordinator for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology program at Queen′s University Belfast. Donncha Hanna, PhD, is a psychology lecturer at Queen′s University Belfast responsible for teaching statistics and research methods.

Blurb

Learn to:

• Understand the scientific method
• Design a research study
• Conduct surveys, case studies, tests, experiments, and more
• Interpret data

Don′t be stumped by research methods let this book help!

Need an overview of psychology research methods that′s more approachable than your textbook? This plain–English guide explains research fundamentals and methodologies in easily digestible bites, helping you understand surveys, case studies, laboratory observations, tests and experiments, and much more. You′ll find it pays off at exam time, too!

• Understand the basics explore what different research methods accomplish and the importance of reliability, validity, and ethical studies
• Designing for validity examine different survey and experimental designs and understand how to develop them to support validity
• It′s qualitative discover how to approach qualitative research using the method of thematic analysis and explore some specific techniques
• What to do with the results get guidelines for reporting your research results and learn to prepare a written report and a conference presentation
• Prepare a proposal find out what goes into a research proposal and how to develop one, write it up, and create a research protocol

Open the book and find:

• Common research methods
• How to maintain scientific integrity
• Tips on designing questionnaires
• Secrets of successful small experiments
• Principles used in analysing qualitative data
• Ways to manage anxiety during a conference presentation
• How to calculate sample size
• Ten common mistakes and how to avoid them