Description

This second edition has been substantially revised and expanded to form a truly comprehensive, practical guide to research methods and statistical analysis. 

 

The text retains the successful student-centred approach, assuming no background knowledge. Logically and intuitively organised, the book introduces key terms and concepts, progressing through the process of selecting a study and analysing results right through to the final point of preparing a report.

 

This edition has been extensively revised to offer more detailed coverage - including more depth on topics such as power, meta-analysis, ethics, the literature review, questionnaire design, small sample research, and graphing techniques.  Coverage of qualitative methods has been expanded to include more on software tools and IPA.

 

The book offers a range of support focused on essential concepts, practicalities, and a new feature to highlight important research from the scientific literature. The examples have been increased and updated to help clarify concepts and further support the reader in developing both a conceptual and practical understanding of research and analysis. 

 

The book relates to the most recent version of PASW statistics (previously SPSS).

Features

'A closer look at' and 'Key Issues' boxes enhance student understanding of the main topics

'How to' and 'Practicalities' boxes provide practical advice and tips on particular issues

Checklist boxes highlight the essential points students need to know

Summary reviews recap the topics that have been covered in the chapter, to consolidate understanding and learning

Suggested further readings to help students expand their knowledge and explore topics in more depth

New to this Edition

• Greater detail and depth on topics such as observation research, questionnaire design, graphing techniques, ethics, validity procedures, IPA, critical evaluation of literature, history of tests, scale construction and internal reliability, small sample research and power / power analysis 
• Greater depth on qualitative methods and more information on software tools and IPA
• Increased and updated examples to help clarify concepts and further support the reader in developing both a conceptual and practical understanding of research and analysis. 
• Pedagogical approach to help highlight the link between published research and each research process and encourage critical thinking on psychological constructs

Table of Contents

1. Introducing research

2. The nature of research design

3. Experimental research designs

4. Correlational and regression designs

5. The essentials of carrying out research - the participants

6. Ethics and research

7. Using questionnaires in research

8. Tables, figures snd descriptive statistics

9. Introducing SPSS

10. Introducing inferential statistics and tests of differences

11. Tests of association

12. Advanced analysis

13. Introducing qualitative research

14. Writing up your research

Back Cover

 

'This outstanding book guides students gently through the maze of research methods. The authors' engaging and accessible approach to this subject has created an invaluable and up to date resource for undergraduate students at all levels of competency. It can only serve to improve their confidence and understanding in this core subject.' Dr Jacqui Harrison, University of Bolton

 

 

Substantially revised, yet retaining the practical, student-centred approach of the first edition, this new edition of Introduction to Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology is an ideal starting point for students coming to the subject for the first time. Comprehensive as well as accessible, the coverage ranges from designing a study to advanced analysis of data, and takes in all of the key areas of quantitative and qualitative research along the way.

 

Features:

·    The text is structured to reflect the research process and is divided into seven useful stages: beginning a research project, designing a study, carrying out a study, descriptive statistics, qualitative research methods, inferential statistics, and writing up research.

·    Up-to-date examples bring the text to life and make it relevant to students

·    Datasets are provided on the companion website so students can practice what they’ve learnt.

 

New to the 2nd edition:

·    'From the literature' highlights the link between published research and the processes covered in the text.

·    New sections on meta-analysis, power and small-sample research

·    More detail on qualitative methods, ethics, observation research, questionnaire design, the literature review and describing data

 

This friendly step-by-step guide to the research process takes students from the basics all the way through to the more advanced statistical analysis carried out in the final year of a degree course, and provides everything needed by students embarking on a psychology research project.

 

Ronald A. McQueen and Christina Knussen teach in the Department of Psychology and Allied Health Sciences at Glasgow Caledonian University