Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This introduction to the basic principles of psychological research is organized so that each chapter focuses on a specific step in the research process. The eighth edition features discussion of quantitative and qualitative research with quantitative research divided into both experimental and non-

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Preface (p. ix)
• Chapter 1 What Is Science? (p. 1)
• Learning Objectives (p. 1)
• Introduction (p. 3)
• Methods of Acquiring Knowledge (p. 4)
• Science (p. 10)
• Advantage of the Scientific Method (p. 13)
• Characteristics of the Scientific Approach (p. 13)
• Objectives of Science (p. 18)
• Basic Assumptions Underlying Science (p. 20)
• Method versus Technique (p. 22)
• The Role of Theory in Science (p. 24)
• The Role of the Scientist in Science (p. 25)
• Summary (p. 27)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 28)
• Chapter 2 Nonexperimental Research Approaches (p. 30)
• Learning Objectives (p. 30)
• Introduction (p. 32)
• Nonexperimental Quantitative Research (p. 33)
• Qualitative Research (p. 50)
• Summary (p. 58)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 59)
• Chapter 3 The Experimental Research Approach (p. 60)
• Learning Objectives (p. 60)
• Introduction (p. 61)
• Causation (p. 62)
• The Psychological Experiment (p. 66)
• Experimental Research Settings (p. 72)
• Summary (p. 74)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 75)
• Chapter 4 Problem Identification and Hypothesis Formation (p. 76)
• Learning Objectives (p. 76)
• Introduction (p. 78)
• Sources of Research Ideas (p. 78)
• Gender Bias in Research Ideas (p. 82)
• Ideas Not Capable of Scientific Investigation (p. 83)
• Review of the Literature (p. 83)
• Feasibility of the Study (p. 93)
• Formulating the Research Problem (p. 94)
• Formulating Hypotheses (p. 95)
• Summary (p. 98)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 98)
• Chapter 5 Ethics (p. 100)
• Learning Objectives (p. 100)
• Introduction (p. 102)
• Research Ethics: What Are They? (p. 103)
• Ethical Dilemmas (p. 108)
• Development of the APA Code of Ethics (p. 113)
• Ethical Principles (p. 114)
• Issues Raised by the Code of Ethics (p. 123)
• Ethics of Animal Research (p. 134)
• Summary (p. 141)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 142)
• Chapter 6 Variables Used in Experimentation (p. 143)
• Learning Objectives (p. 143)
• Introduction (p. 144)
• Types of Variables (p. 145)
• The Independent Variable (p. 146)
• The Dependent Variable (p. 160)
• Summary (p. 168)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 169)
• Chapter 7 Control in Experimentation (p. 170)
• Learning Objectives (p. 170)
• Introduction (p. 171)
• Control of Extraneous Variables (p. 173)
• Extraneous Variables to Be Controlled (p. 174)
• Research Participant and Experimenter Effects to Be Controlled (p. 181)
• Sequencing Effect to Be Controlled (p. 191)
• Additional Extraneous Variables to Be Held Constant (p. 192)
• Summary (p. 193)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 194)
• Chapter 8 Techniques for Achieving Constancy (p. 195)
• Learning Objectives (p. 195)
• Introduction (p. 197)
• Randomization (p. 197)
• Matching (p. 203)
• Counterbalancing (p. 212)
• Control of Participant Effects (p. 218)
• Control of Experimenter Effects (p. 223)
• Likelihood of Achieving Control (p. 228)
• Summary (p. 228)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 230)
• Chapter 9 Experimental Research Design (p. 231)
• Learning Objectives (p. 231)
• Introduction (p. 233)
• Faulty Research Design (p. 234)
• Requirements of True Research Designs (p. 238)
• Pretesting Participants (p. 240)
• True Research Designs (p. 242)
• Choice of a Research Design (p. 256)
• Summary (p. 258)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 259)
• Chapter 10 Quasi-Experimental Designs (p. 260)
• Learning Objectives (p. 260)
• Introduction (p. 262)
• Nonequivalent Control Group Design (p. 263)
• Time-Series Design (p. 271)
• Summary (p. 276)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 276)
• Chapter 11 Single-Case Research Designs (p. 260)
• Learning Objectives (p. 277)
• Introduction (p. 279)
• Single-Case Designs (p. 281)
• A-B-A Design (p. 282)
• Interaction Design (p. 286)
• Multiple-Baseline Design (p. 290)
• Changing-Criterion Design (p. 294)
• Methodological Considerations in Using Single-Case Designs (p. 296)
• Criteria for Evaluating Change (p. 299)
• Rival Hypotheses (p. 301)
• Summary (p. 302)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 303)
• Chapter 12 Data Collection (p. 304)
• Learning Objectives (p. 304)
• Introduction (p. 306)
• Research Participants (p. 306)
• Sample Size (p. 309)
• Apparatus (p. 311)
• Instructions (p. 314)
• Scheduling of Research Participants (p. 314)
• Procedure (p. 315)
• Institutional Approval (p. 317)
• Data Collection (p. 318)
• Consent to Participate (p. 318)
• Debriefing, or Postexperimental Interview (p. 320)
• Summary (p. 323)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 324)
• Chapter 13 Hypothesis Testing (p. 325)
• Learning Objectives (p. 325)
• Introduction (p. 327)
• Testing the Hypothesis (p. 328)
• The Mean (p. 329)
• Standard Deviation (p. 330)
• Selection of a Statistical Test (p. 332)
• Independent Samples t-Test (p. 334)
• Significance Level (p. 335)
• Analysis of Variance (p. 338)
• Potential Errors in the Statistical Decision-Making Process (p. 354)
• Summary (p. 356)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 357)
• Chapter 14 External Validity (p. 358)
• Learning Objectives (p. 358)
• Introduction (p. 360)
• Population Validity (p. 360)
• Ecological Validity (p. 364)
• Temporal Validity (p. 367)
• Relationship Between Internal and External Validity (p. 370)
• Cautions in Evaluating the External Validity of Experiments (p. 371)
• Summary (p. 374)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 375)
• Chapter 15 The Research Report (p. 376)
• Learning Objectives (p. 376)
• Introduction (p. 377)
• The APA Format (p. 379)
• Preparation of the Research Report (p. 407)
• Appendixes (p. 419)
• References (p. 425)
• Index (p. 445)