Title:
Research methods and statistics in psychology / S. Alexander Haslam and Craig McGarty.
Author:
Haslam, S. Alexander, author.
McGarty, Craig, author.
Publication Information:
London ; Los Angeles : SAGE, 2014.
Call Number:
BF76.5 .H38 2014
Abstract:
This book provides students with a highly readable and comprehensive introduction to the challenges of conducting research in psychology. The book guides readers through the range of choices involved in design, analysis, and presentation, and is supplemented by a range of practical learning features. These draw on the authors' extensive experience as frontline researchers, and provide step-by-step guides to quantitative and qualitative methods and analysis. Written in an accessible and engaging style, this text encourages deep engagement with its subject matter and is designed to communicate and cultivate passion for the research process as a whole. A comprehensive guide to the process of conducting psychological research from the ground up -- covering multiple methodologies, experimental and survey design, data analysis, ethics, and report writing. Detailed step-by-step guides to running analyses using SPSS as well as extended coverage of qualitative methods. Numerous thought-provoking examples of issues raised by contemporary research. An extensive range of learning aids and on-line resources. Written in an accessible style aimed at those starting out in psychology, but also relevant for advanced students and experienced researchers, this text will be essential reading for psychology students taking a research methods course for the first time.
Electronic Access:
Companion website http://www.sagepub.co.uk/haslamandmcgarty2e
Edition:
Second edition.
ISBN:
9781446255971
9781446255964
Series:
SAGE foundations of psychology
Sage foundations of psychology series.
Physical Description:
xix, 523 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm.
Contents:
1. Introduction. 'Why do I have to do this?' -- The structure of this book and an overview of the chapters -- How to use this book -- Discussion/essay questions -- 2. Research in psychology : objectives and ideals. What is psychological research and why do it? -- How does psychological research progress? -- Principles of good research -- Some notes of caution -- Further reading -- Objectives and ideals : a checklist for research evaluation and improvement -- Discussion/essay questions -- Exercises -- 3. Research methods. Psychological measurement -- The experimental method -- The quasi-experimental method -- The survey method -- The case-study method -- Overview -- Further reading -- Research methods : a checklist for research evaluation and improvement -- Discussion/essay questions -- Exercises -- 4. Experimental design. Choosing an independent variable -- Choosing a dependent variable -- Choosing an experimental sample -- Threats to internal validity -- Threats to external validity -- Further reading -- Experimental design : a checklist for research evaluation and improvement -- Discussion/essay questions -- Exercise.
5. Survey design. The differences between surveys and experiments -- Setting the question -- Finding a sample -- Types of survey -- Constructing a questionnaire -- Conducting research online -- Overview : designing a survey -- Further reading -- Survey design : a checklist for research evaluation and improvement -- Discussion/essay questions -- Exercises -- 6. Descriptive statistics. Different forms of research data -- Describing a typical score : measures of central tendency -- The relationship between measures of central tendency and a response distribution -- Describing the spread of scores : measures of dispersion -- Observed distributions and theoretical distributions : the difference between samples and populations -- Further reading -- Descriptive statistics : a checklist for research evaluation and improvement -- Discussion/essay questions -- Exercises.
7. Some principles of statistical inference. Statistical inference -- Inferences about individual scores -- Inferences about means -- Overview -- Further reading -- Statistical inference : a checklist for research evaluation and improvement -- Discussion/essay questions -- Exercises -- 8. Examining differences between means : the t-test. Student's t-distribution -- Comparing the results for a single sample with a specific value -- Within-subjects t-tests -- Between-subjects t-tests -- The controversy about what to do with t-values -- Handling the results of t-tests : the hypothesis-testing approach -- Other ways of handling the results of t-tests : probability-level, confidence-interval and effect-size approaches -- Some notes of caution -- Overview -- Further reading -- t-tests : a checklist for research evaluation and improvement -- Discussion/essay questions -- Exercises.
9. Examining relationships between variables : correlation. Some basic principles of correlation -- The measurement of correlation -- Interpreting and making inferences about correlations -- Some notes of caution -- Conclusion -- Further reading -- Correlations : a checklist for research evaluation and improvement -- Discussion/essay questions -- Exercises -- 10. Comparing two or more means by analysing variances : ANOVA. Analysing variances -- Comparing multiple means using one-way analysis of variance -- Another way to explain analysis of variance : sums of squares and mean squares -- How big does a difference need to be? : significance testing and effect sizes -- What does analysis of variance buy us? : some notes on comparing individual means -- Using F-ratios with and without comparisons planned in advance -- An introduction to analysis of variance with two independent variables -- A final word -- Further reading -- ANOVA : a checklist for research evaluation and improvement -- Discussion/essay questions -- Exercises.
11. Analysing other forms of data : chi-square and distribution-free tests. Dealing with a single categorical variable that has two levels : the binomial test -- Dealing with a single categorical variable that has more than two levels : the chi-square test of goodness of fit -- Examining the relationship between two categorical variables : the chi-square test of independence for 2 × 2 tables -- Distribution-free tests -- Examining differences between two groups with relaxed assumptions : the Mann-Whitney test -- Some options for other cases -- Overview and checklist -- Further reading -- Other forms of data : a checklist for research evaluation and improvement -- Discussion/essay questions -- Exercises -- 12. Classical qualitative methods. A classical critique of quantitative approaches -- Classical methods of collecting qualitative data -- Some general principles for collecting and analysing qualitative data -- Examples of classical qualitative research methods -- Critiques of classical qualitative methods -- Further reading -- Classical qualitative methods : a checklist for research evaluation and improvement -- Discussion/essay questions -- Exercises.
13. Contextual qualitative methods. A contextual critique of quantitative approaches -- Examples of contextual qualitative research methods -- Critiques of contextual qualitative methods -- Conclusion : the challenge of contextual qualitative methods -- Further reading -- Contextual qualitative methods : a checklist for research evaluation and improvement -- Discussion/essay questions -- Exercises -- 14. Research ethics. Science and society -- Ethical values -- Ethical risks associated with participation in research -- Research with animals -- Final comment -- Further reading -- Research ethics : a checklist for research evaluation and improvement -- Discussion/essay questions.
15. Conclusion : managing uncertainty in psychological research. 'Where has all this got us?' -- Managing uncertainty in psychological research -- Final comment -- Further reading -- Discussion/essay questions -- Appendix A. Writing research reports in psychology. Overview -- Basic structure -- The sections in detail -- General stylistic issues -- Presentational issues -- Referencing -- Further reading -- Sample psychology research report -- Appendix B. Areas under the standard normal curve -- Appendix C. Answers to exercises.
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