Psychologists use a variety of research methods and tools to learn about behavior and mental processes. The goal of this book is to introduce students to the “multimethod approach” to research in psychology, including observational, survey, and experimental methods. Students learn the strengths and weaknesses of each method, as well as ethical dilemmas when using them, so that they can become competent practitioners and thoughtful consumers of psychological research. Our approach is to engage students in the research process by describing contemporary research in psychology. Students learn about recent topics such as online dating and Facebook, cross-cultural observations of helping behavior, PTSD in orphaned chimpanzees, Medicaid and Medicare health outcomes, decision-making during Hurricane Katrina, clinical research and DSM-5, and much more. Each chapter's “stretching exercises,” “stat tips,” review questions, and challenge questions develop students' critical thinking about the psychological research that appears in scientific journals and in popular media. Together with the companion Online Learning Center for students, the 10th edition of Research Methods in Psychology provides a clearly written, compelling introduction to research methods in psychology.

Brief Contents

Preface

PART I

General Issues

1 Introduction

2 The Scientific Method

3 Ethical Issues in the Conduct of Psychological Research

PART II

Descriptive Methods

4 Observation

5 Survey Research

PART III

Experimental Methods

6 Independent Groups Designs

7 Repeated Measures Designs

8 Complex Designs

PART IV

Applied Research

9 Single-Case Designs and Small-n Research

10 Quasi-Experimental Designs and Program Evaluation

PART V

Analyzing and Reporting Research

11 Data Analysis and Interpretation: Part I. Describing Data, Confidence Intervals, Correlation

12 Data Analysis and Interpretation: Part II. Tests of Statistical Significance and the Analysis Story

13 Communication in Psychology

Appendix Statistical Tables

Glossary

References

Credits

Name Index

Subject Index