Description

Rigorous, yet readable. 

The author presents the material with sufficient elaboration, explanation, and examples that not only interest the student, but make it understandable.

Introduction to Behavioral Research Methods incorporates the four basic approaches to behavioral research (descriptive research, correlational research, experimental research, and quasi-experimental research), and shows students how to conceptualize questions, measure variables, design studies, and analyze data.  Chapters on research ethics and scientific writing (including the most recent version of APA style) round out the book. Throughout each chapter, boxes on “Developing Your Research Skills” and “Behavioral Research Case Study” provide practical examples and pique student interest.

Teaching & Learning Experience

• Personalize Learning - MySearchLab delivers proven results in helping students succeed, provides engaging experiences that personalize learning, and comes from a trusted partner with educational expertise and a deep commitment to helping students and instructors achieve their goals.

• Improve Critical Thinking – New up-to-date Behavioral Research Case Studies help students apply research to practice.
• Engage Students – The text is designed to make research methods understandable, useful, and interesting for students.
• Explore Research – Real research, tidbits about the lives of famous researchers, and intriguing controversies that have arisen in behavioral science are included. A lab manual in MySearchLab helps engage students in the research process. 
• Support Instructors – MyTest, PowerPoints, and an instructor’s manual offer additional support for instructors.

Features

RIGOROUS, YET READABLE.

• The author’s primary reason for writing this book was to create a textbook that is rigorous, yet readable.  The author presents the material with sufficient elaboration, explanation, and examples that not only interest the student, but make it understandable.
• From the development of a research idea, through measurement issues, to design and analysis, the entire research process is an attempt to understand variability in behavior.  Because the concept of variability is woven throughout the research process, the author has used it as a framework to provide coherence to the various topics in the book.

• MySearchLab delivers proven results in helping students succeed, provides engaging experiences that personalize learning, and comes from a trusted partner with educational expertise and a deep commitment to helping students and instructors achieve their goals.

PERSONALIZE LEARNING WITH MYSEARCHLAB

• MySearchLab with eText can be packaged with this text.
• MySearchLab provides engaging experiences that personalize learning, and comes from a trusted partner with educational expertise and a deep commitment to helping students and instructors achieve their goals.
• eText – Just like the printed text, you can highlight and add notes to the eText or download it to your iPad.
• Assessment – Chapter quizzes and flashcards offer immediate feedback and report directly to the gradebook.
• Writing and Research – A wide range of writing, grammar and research tools and access to a variety of academic journals, census data, Associated Press newsfeeds, and discipline-specific readings help you hone your writing and research skills.

IMPROVE CRITICAL THINKING

• New up-to-date Behavioral Research Case Studies help students apply research to practice. (ex. p. 157)
• Writing resources on MySearchLab - Step by step tutorials present complete overviews of the research and writing process.
• Research and Citing Sources on MySearchLab - Instructors and students receive access to the EBSCO ContentSelect database, census data from Social Explorer, Associated Press news feeds, and the Pearson bookshelf. Pearson SourceCheck helps students and instructors monitor originality and avoid plagiarism.

ENGAGE STUDENTS

• The text is designed to make research methods understandable, useful, and interesting for students.
• Figures, tables, and an expanded glossary are included.(ex. p .12, p. 380)
  
• Without an elementary grasp of statistical concepts, students may find it difficult to understand the research articles they read.  Although this book is unquestionably focused on research methodology and design, the author has sprinkled essential statistical topics throughout the book.  With a better understanding of what becomes of the data they collect, students should be able to design more thorough and reliable research studies. (ex. p. 23)   
• New up-to-date Behavioral Research Case Studies help students apply research to practice. (ex. p. 157)
• eText on MySearchLab - Just like the printed text, students can highlight and add their own notes to their interactive text online.
• Chapter quizzes and flashcards on MySearchLab offer immediate feedback and a gradebook allows both students, and instructors to monitor student progress throughout the course.
• A full Lab Manual is included on MySearchLab to help engage students in the research process.

EXPLORE RESEARCH

• This edition of the book has even more examples of real research, tidbits about the lives of famous researchers, and intriguing controversies that have arisen in behavioral science. 
• New and expanded discussions in this edition include:
  • Section on resisting one’s personal biases when conducting research (p. 65)
    
  • Coverage of effect size indicators (ex. p. 42)
  • Sections on main effects and interactions (ex. p. 222)
  • Coverage of confidence intervals and the use of error bars (ex. p. 128)
  • Sections on telephone surveys, experience sampling, and Internet research (ex. p. 86)
  • Discussion (and case study) on neuroimaging methods (fMRI) (ex. p. 78)
  • Section on cross-sequential cohort designs (ex. p. 284)
  • Section on research with vulnerable populations (ex. p. 322) 
• A full Lab Manual is included on MySearchLab to help engage students in the research process.

SUPPORT INSTRUCTORS

• MyTest, PowerPoints, and Instructor’s Manual offer additional support for instructors.
• The Test Bank comes with Pearson MyTest a powerful assessment generation program that helps instructors easily create and print quizzes and exams. Questions and tests can be authored online, allowing instructors ultimate flexibility and the ability to efficiently manage assessments anytime, anywhere! Instructors can easily access existing questions and then edit, create, and store using simple drag-and-drop and Word-like controls. Data on each question provides information relevant to difficulty level and page number. In addition, each question maps to the text’s major section and learning objective. For more information go to www.PearsonMyTest.com.
• eText on MySearchLab - Just like the printed text, instructors can highlight and add their own notes to their interactive text online.
• Create a Custom Text - For enrollments as low as 25 students, instructors can customize their own textbook by combining chapters from best-selling Pearson textbooks and/or reading selections in the sequence they want.  To begin building your custom text, visit www.pearsoncustomlibrary.com. Instructors may also work with a dedicated Pearson Custom editor to create their ideal text—publishing their own original content or mixing and matching Pearson content. Contact a Pearson Publisher’s Representative to get started.

New to this Edition

Overview of Changes

PERSONALIZE LEARNING WITH MYSEARCHLAB

• MySearchLab with eText can be packaged with this text.
• MySearchLab provides engaging experiences that personalize learning, and comes from a trusted partner with educational expertise and a deep commitment to helping students and instructors achieve their goals.
• eText – Just like the printed text, you can highlight and add notes to the eText or download it to your iPad.
• Assessment – Chapter quizzes and flashcards offer immediate feedback and report directly to the gradebook.
• Writing and Research – A wide range of writing, grammar and research tools and access to a variety of academic journals, census data, Associated Press newsfeeds, and discipline-specific readings help you hone your writing and research skills.

IMPROVE CRITICAL THINKING

• New up-to-date Behavioral Research Case Studies help students apply research to practice.(ex. p. 157)
  
• Writing resources on MySearchLab - Step by step tutorials present complete overviews of the research and writing process.
• Research and Citing Sources on MySearchLab - Instructors and students receive access to the EBSCO ContentSelect database, census data from Social Explorer, Associated Press news feeds, and the Pearson bookshelf. Pearson SourceCheck helps students and instructors monitor originality and avoid plagiarism.

ENGAGE STUDENTS

• New up-to-date Behavioral Research Case Studies help students apply research to practice. (ex. p. 157)
• eText on MySearchLab - Just like the printed text, students can highlight and add their own notes to their interactive text online.
• Chapter quizzes and flashcards on MySearchLab offer immediate feedback and a gradebook allows both students, and instructors to monitor student progress throughout the course.
• A full Lab Manual is included on MySearchLab to help engage students in the research process.
• Expanded glossary

EXPLORE RESEARCH

• A full Lab Manual is included on MySearchLab to help engage students in the research process.
• New chapter on Selecting Research Participants (ex. p. 99)
• Chapter on scientific writing updated to conform to 6th edition of APA style (ex. p. 333)
• New sample manuscript reflects recent changes in APA style (ex. p. 355)
• New section on resisting one’s personal biases when conducting research (p. 65)
• Expanded coverage of effect size indicators (ex. p. 42)
• Revision of sections on main effects and interactions (ex. p. 222)
• New coverage of confidence intervals and the use of error bars (ex. p. 128)
• Expanded sections on telephone surveys, experience sampling, and Internet research  (ex. p. 86)
• Enhanced discussion (and case study) on neuroimaging methods (fMRI) (ex. p. 78)
• New section on cross-sequential cohort designs (ex. p. 284)
• New section on research with vulnerable populations (ex. p. 322) 
• New section on using PsycInfo (ex. p. 352)
• New up-to-date Behavioral Research Case Studies throughout text (ex. p. 157)

SUPPORT INSTRUCTORS

• MyTest, PowerPoints, and Instructor’s Manual offer additional support for instructors.
• Create a Custom Text - For enrollments of at least 25, create your own textbook by combining chapters from best-selling Pearson textbooks and/or reading selections in the sequence you want.  To begin building your custom text, visit www.pearsoncustomlibrary.com. You may also work with a dedicated Pearson Custom editor to create your ideal text—publishing your own original content or mixing and matching Pearson content. Contact your Pearson Publisher’s Representative to get started.

Table of Contents

IN THIS SECTION:

1.) BRIEF

2.) COMPREHENSIVE

BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Chapter 1: Research in the Behavioral Sciences

Chapter 2: Behavioral Variability and Research

Chapter 3: The Measurement of Behavior

Chapter 4: Approaches to Psychological Measurement  

Chapter 5: Selecting Research Participants 

Chapter 6: Descriptive Research

Chapter 7: Correlational Research

Chapter 8: Advanced Correlational Strategies

Chapter 9: Basic Issues in Experimental Research

Chapter 10: Experimental Design

Chapter 11: Analyzing Experimental Data

Chapter 12: Analyzing Complex Designs

Chapter 13: Quasi-Experimental Designs

Chapter 14: Single-Case Research

Chapter 15: Ethical Issues in Behavioral Research

Chapter 16: Scientific Writing

COMPREHENSIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Chapter 1: Research in the Behavioral Sciences

The Beginnings of Behavioral Research

Goals of Behavioral Research

Behavioral Science and Common Sense

The Value of Research to the Student

The Scientific Approach

Science and Pseudoscience

The Scientist’s Two Jobs: Detecting and Explaining Phenomena

Research Hypotheses

Conceptual and Operational Definitions

Proof, Disproof, and Scientific Progress

Strategies of Behavioral Research

Domains of Behavioral Science

Behavioral Research on Human and Nonhuman Animals

A Preview

Summary

Chapter 2: Behavioral Variability and Research

Variability and the Research Process

Variance: An Index of Variability

Systematic and Error Variance

Assessing the Strength of Relationships

Effect Size: Assessing the Strength of Relationships

Meta-Analysis: Systematic Variance across Studies

The Quest for Systematic Variance

Summary

Chapter 3: The Measurement of Behavior

Types of Measures

Scales of Measurement

Assessing the Reliability of a Measure

Assessing the Validity of a Measure

Fairness and Bias in Measurement

Summary

Chapter 4: Approaches to Psychological Measurement

Observational Approaches

Physiological and Neuroscience Approaches

Self-Report Approaches: Questionnaires and Interviews

Archival Data

Content Analysis

Summary

Chapter 5: Selecting Research Participants

A Common Misconception

Probability Samples

Nonprobability Samples

How Many Participants?

Summary

Chapter 6: Descriptive Research

Types of Descriptive Research

Describing and Presenting Data

Frequency Distributions

Measures of Central Tendency

Measures of Variability Tendency

The z-Score

Summary

Chapter 7: Correlational Research

The Correlation Coefficient

A Graphic Representation of Correlations

The Coefficient of Determination

Statistical Significance of r

Factors That Distort Correlation Coefficients

Correlation and Causality

Partial Correlation

Other Indices of Correlation

Summary

Chapter 8: Advanced Correlational Strategies

Predicting Behavior: Regression Strategies

Assessing Directionality: Cross-Lagged and Structural Equations Analysis

Analyzing Nested Data: Multilevel Modeling

Uncovering Underlying Dimensions: Factor Analysis

Summary

Chapter 9: Basic Issues in Experimental Research

Manipulating the Independent Variable

Assigning Participants to Conditions

Experimental Control

Eliminating Confounds

Error Variance

Experimental Control and Generalizability: The Experimenter’s Dilemma

Web-Based Experimental Research

Summary

Chapter 10: Experimental Design

One-Way Designs

Factorial Designs

Main Effects and Interactions

Combining Independent and Participant Variables

Summary

Chapter 11: Analyzing Experimental Data

An Intuitive Approach to Analysis

Hypothesis Testing

Analysis of Two-Group Experiments: The t-Test

Analyses of Matched-Subjects and Within-Subjects Designs

Computer Analyses

Summary

Chapter 12: Analyzing Complex Designs

The Problem: Conducting Multiple Tests Inflates Type I Error

The Rationale behind ANOVA

How ANOVA Works

Follow-Up Tests

Between-Subjects and Within-Subjects ANOVAs

Multivariate Analysis of Variance

Experimental and Nonexperimental Uses of Inferential Statistics

Summary

Chapter 13: Quasi-Experimental Designs

Pretest—Posttest Designs  

Time Series Designs

Comparative Time Series Design

Longitudinal Designs

Cross-sequential Cohort Designs

Program Evaluation

Evaluating Quasi-Experimental Designs

Summary

Chapter 14: Single-Case Research

Single-Case Experimental Designs

Case Study Research

Summary

Chapter 15: Ethical Issues in Behavioral Research

Approaches to Ethical Decisions

Basic Ethical Guidelines

The Principle of Informed Consent

Invasion of Privacy

Coercion to Participate

Physical and Mental Stress

Deception

Confidentiality

Debriefing

Common Courtesy

Vulnerable Populations

Ethical Principles in Research with Nonhuman Animals

Scientific Misconduct

Suppression of Scientific Inquiry and Research Findings

A Final Note

Summary