Research Methods for the Behavioral and Social Sciences

A comprehensive introduction to research methods and best
practices for designing,conducting, interpreting, and reporting
findings

This text is designed to develop in students a passion for
conducting research and an understanding of the practical value of
systematic information- gathering and decision-making. It features
step-by-step coverage of the research process including research
design, statistical considerations, and guidance on writing up and
presenting results.

Recognized leaders in the field--authors Bart Weathington,
Christopher Cunningham, and David Pittenger--present:

• Introductions to multiple research designs--including
  single-participant, multi-group, longitudinal, correlational, and
  experimental designs--accompanied by examples

• Bibliographic research and methods for appropriate sampling

• Identifying, developing, and evaluating reliable and valid
  approaches to measurement

• The issues and steps common to all single-factor and multifactor
  studies, as well as single-subject and nonexperimental methods

• How to summarize research in writing that conforms to the
  editorial guidelines of the American Psychological Association

A comprehensive review of research methods and the statistical
concepts that support them, Research Methods for the Behavioral
and Social Sciences offers the best techniques for studying
behavior and social phenomena.

Autorentext
Bart L. Weathington, PhD, is a UC Foundation Associate Professor of Psychology at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is an industrial-organizational and sport psychology researcher, teacher, and consultant on applied psychological issues. Christopher J. L. Cunningham, PhD, is a UC Foundation Assistant Professor of Psychology at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is actively engaged in industrial-organizational and occupational health psychology research, teaching, and consulting.

David J. Pittenger, PhD, is Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Marshall University. His primary research interests and publications focus on the partial reinforcement extinction effect, psychometric properties of personality inventories, the coping strategies of caregivers, and ethical issues related to the behavioral sciences.

Klappentext
A comprehensive introduction to research methods and best practices for designing,conducting, interpreting, and reporting findings This text is designed to develop in students a passion for conducting research and an understanding of the practical value of systematic information- gathering and decision-making. It features step-by-step coverage of the research process including research design, statistical considerations, and guidance on writing up and presenting results.

Recognized leaders in the fieldauthors Bart Weathington, Christopher Cunningham, and David Pittengerpresent:

• Introductions to multiple research designsincluding single-participant, multi-group, longitudinal, correlational, and experimental designsaccompanied by examples

• Bibliographic research and methods for appropriate sampling

• Identifying, developing, and evaluating reliable and valid approaches to measurement

• The issues and steps common to all single-factor and multifactor studies, as well as single-subject and nonexperimental methods

• How to summarize research in writing that conforms to the editorial guidelines of the American Psychological Association

A comprehensive review of research methods and the statistical concepts that support them, Research Methods for the Behavioral and Social Sciences offers the best techniques for studying behavior and social phenomena.

Inhalt

Preface xv

Acknowledgments xix

Part I Overview of the Research Process 1

Chapter 1 Research and the Social Sciences 3

Introduction 3

Why Is Understanding Research Methods So Important? 6

The Role of Science in Everyday Life 6

The Scientific Method 8

Brief History of the Science of Behavior 8

Bacon's Legacy 13

Other Important Historical Figures 13

Assumptions of Science 16

Requirements for Scientific Research 17

Research in Action: The Case of Facilitated Communication 23

Chapter Summary 26

Chapter Glossary for Review 29

Chapter References 30

Chapter 2 Ethics and Research 32

Introduction 32

What Is Ethics? 34

Approaches to Ethical Analysis 36

Making Ethical Decisions 41

The Ethical Code of the American Psychological Association 42

Seeking Approval for Research: The Institutional Review Board 44

Milgram's Experiment Revisited 52

Research with Animals 56

Research in Action: Ethical Dilemmas 58

Chapter Summary 62

Chapter Glossary for Review 64

Chapter References 64

Chapter 3 The Foundations of Research 66

Introduction 66

The Hypothesis in Research 67

Types of Hypotheses 72

Measurement 78

Reliability of Measurement 84

Validity of Measurement 87

Populations and Samples 90

Research in Action: Measuring Sexism 94

Chapter Summary 96

Chapter Glossary for Review 97

Chapter References 100

Chapter 4 An Overview of Empirical Methods 101

Introduction 101

Internal, Statistical Conclusion, and External Validity 102

Survey of Empirical Methods 113

Intact Groups Designs and Quasi-Experimental Studies 117

Surveys 120

Correlational Studies 121

Single-Participant Research Methods 122

Meta-Analysis 124

Computers and Statistics 126

Research in Action: Effectiveness of Psychotherapy 128

Chapter Summary 133

Chapter Glossary for Review 135

Chapter References 137

Part II Nuts and Bolts of Research 139

Chapter 5 Writing the Research Report 141

Introduction 141

What Do Readers Appreciate in Good Writing? 143

Elements of APA Style 143

Special Grammatical Issues 147

Academic Integrity 152

Parts of the Research Report 156

Proofreading 173

Chapter Summary 174

Chapter References 174

Chapter 6 Reviewing the Literature and Forming Hypotheses 175

Introduction 175

Bibliographic Research 175

The Internet 179

Developing a Search Strategy 181

Searching the Literature: The Library 182

Research in Action: Does Listening to Mozart Make You Smarter? 186

Statistical Inference and Testing Hypotheses 190

Chapter Summary 193

Chapter Glossary for Review 194

Chapter References 194

Chapter 7 Sampling: The First Steps in Research 196

Introduction 196

The Nature of Samples 197

Probability Sampling 199

Sampling Methods 201

Nonprobability Sampling 205

Central Limit Theorem 207

Applications of the Central Limit Theorem 211

Sources of Bias and Error: A Reprise 217

Research in Action: Trends in HIV-Related Risk Behaviors 220

Chapter Summary 224

Chapter Glossary for Review 225

Chapter References 227 **Chapter 8 Creating and Using Assessments, Surveys, and Objective Measures...