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.
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
