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Cover image for The psychologist as detective : an introduction to conducting research in psychology
Title:
The psychologist as detective : an introduction to conducting research in psychology
Personal Author:
Edition:
6th ed.
Publication Information:
MA, : Pearson, 2013.
Physical Description:
xii, 443 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 25 cm.
ISBN:
9780205859078
Added Author:

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Item Category 1
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30000010325181 BF76.5 S545 2013 Open Access Book Book
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Summary

Summary

Understanding psychological research by finding a problem, discovering the clues, and evaluating the evidence.

The Psychologist as Detectives introduces students to the research process. The authors treat psychological research as a detective case in which a problem is presented, clues are discovered, evidence is evaluated, and a report is prepared for consideration by peers.

Learning Goals

Upon completing this book, readers will be able to:

Think critically about research and research methods Analyze research as a problem solving procedure Develop research skills by looking at examples of research studies Evaluate evidence from a research study and prepare a report or summary of the case


Author Notes

Randolph A. (Randy) Smith is Professor and Chair of Psychology at Lamar University. Randy completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Houston and PhD at Texas Tech University in experimental psychology (specialties in human learning/memory and statistics). Randy taught at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas for 26 years, chaired Kennesaw State University's Psychology Department for four years, and became Chair of Lamar University's Psychology Department in 2007. His professional work centers on the scholarship of teaching and learning. Randy served for 12 years as Editor of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology's journal Teaching of Psychology and subsequently served as Editor of the Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research.

He has written several book chapters and articles and made numerous presentations dealing with varied aspects of teaching, applying social psychology to teaching, and assessment of teaching. He has worked with high school teachers grading AP exams since the test's inception and has served as Faculty Advisor for TOPSS (Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools). He is a member of the American Psychological Association (a Fellow of Divisions 1 and 2--General Psychology and Teaching) and a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science. In 2006, Randy received the American Psychological Foundation's Charles L. Brewer Distinguished Teaching of Psychology Award and the University System of Georgia Regents' Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award.

Stephen F. Davis is Roe R. Cross Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. Currently he is Visiting Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Texas Wesleyan University and Distinguished Guest Professor at Morningside College. In 2002-2003 he was the Knapp Distinguished Professor of Arts and Sciences at the University of San Diego. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology from Southern Methodist University and his PhD in experimental psychology from Texas Christian University. In 2007 he was awarded the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by Morningside College. His research, which always includes student assistants, has investigated such diverse topics as academic dishonesty, learning versus grade orientation of students, Type A personality, the Impostor Phenomenon, and the behavioral effects of ingesting toxic metals. He is the author of more than 300 journal articles, 31 books, and more than 900 convention presentations.

Steve's teaching abilities have drawn acclaim on the national level. He has received the National Distinguished Teaching of Psychology Award from the American Psychological Foundation and the Teaching Excellence Award from Division Two (Society for the Teaching of Psychology) of the American Psychological Association. His professional accomplishments also include serving as president of the Southwestern Psychological Association, the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology, and Division Two of the American Psychological Association. He also served as the National President of Psi Chi (The National Honor Society in Psychology). He has been elected as a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychological Society, and the American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology.


Table of Contents

Prefacep. xii
Chapter 1 Psychological Research and the Research Methods Coursep. 1
How Psychologists Acquire Knowledgep. 3
The Research Processp. 4
Finding a Problemp. 5
Reviewing the Literaturep. 5
Theoretical Considerationsp. 5
Hypothesisp. 6
Research Planp. 6
Conducting the Research Projectp. 6
Analysis of Research Findingsp. 6
Decisions in Terms of Past Research and Theoryp. 7
Preparing the Research Reportp. 7
Sharing Your Results: Presentation and Publicationp. 7
Finding a New Problemp. 10
Why Is the Research Methods Course Important?p. 11
Review Summaryp. 12
Check Your Progressp. 13
Key Termsp. 13
Looking Aheadp. 13
Chapter 2 Developing a Good Research Idea and Conducting an Ethical Projectp. 14
The Research Ideap. 14
Characteristics of Good Research Ideasp. 14
Sources of Research Ideasp. 16
Developing a Research Questionp. 19
Surveying the Psychological Literaturep. 20
Review Summaryp. 29
Check Your Progressp. 29
The Need for Ethical Principlesp. 30
APA Principles in the Conduct of Research With Humansp. 33
Is Deception in Research Necessary?p. 33
Informed Consentp. 35
Participants at Risk and Participants at Minimal Riskp. 37
Vulnerable Populationsp. 38
The Debriefing Sessionp. 38
The Ethical Use of Animals in Psychological Researchp. 40
The Institutional Review Boardp. 41
The Experimenter's Responsibilityp. 42
The Participants' Responsibilityp. 42
The Researcher's Ethical Obligations Once the Research Is Completedp. 44
Plagiarismp. 44
Fabrication of Datap. 45
Lying With Statisticsp. 46
Citing Your References Correctlyp. 47
Review Summaryp. 49
Check Your Progressp. 49
Key Termsp. 50
Looking Aheadp. 50
Chapter 3 Qualitative Research Methodsp. 51
General Overviewp. 52
Characteristics of Qualitative Researchp. 52
Data Analysisp. 53
Selected Examples of Qualitative Research Methodsp. 54
Naturalistic Observationp. 54
Ethnographic Inquiryp. 54
Focus Groupsp. 56
Interview Studiesp. 56
Narrative Studiesp. 56
Case Studiesp. 56
Artifact Analysisp. 57
Historiographiesp. 57
Symbolic Interactionp. 57
Grounded Theoryp. 58
Participatory Action Researchp. 59
Review Summaryp. 60
Check Your Progressp. 61
Key Termsp. 62
Looking Aheadp. 62
Chapter 4 Nonexperimental Methods: Descriptive Methods, Correlational Studies, Ex Post Facto Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sampling, and Basic Research Strategiesp. 63
Descriptive Methodsp. 63
Archival and Previously Recorded Sources of Datap. 63
Naturalistic Observationp. 65
Choosing Behaviors and Recording Techniquesp. 67
Correlational Studiesp. 70
The Nature of Correlationsp. 70
Correlational Researchp. 71
Review Summaryp. 72
Check Your Progressp. 73
Ex Post Facto Studiesp. 73
Surveys, Questionnaires, Tests, and Inventoriesp. 74
Surveys and Questionnairesp. 74
Tests and Inventoriesp. 81
Sampling Considerations and Basic Research Strategiesp. 83
Samplingp. 84
Basic Research Strategiesp. 86
Review Summaryp. 87
Check Your Progressp. 88
Key Termsp. 89
Looking Aheadp. 89
Chapter 5 Using the Scientific Method in Psychologyp. 90
Components of the Scientific Methodp. 90
Objectivityp. 90
Confirmation of Findingsp. 91
Self-Correctionp. 91
Controlp. 91
The Psychological Experimentp. 92
Independent Variablep. 92
Dependent Variablep. 93
Extraneous Variablesp. 93
Establishing Cause-and-Effect Relationsp. 93
Formulating the Research Hypothesisp. 95
Characteristics of the Research Hypothesisp. 96
Types of Statementsp. 96
Types of Reasoningp. 98
Directional Versus Nondirectional Research Hypothesesp. 100
An Alternate View of Hypothesis Testingp. 101
Review Summaryp. 102
Check Your Progressp. 102
Key Termsp. 103
Chapter 6 Conducting a Good Experiment I: Variables and Controlp. 104
The Nature of Variablesp. 104
Operationally Defining Variablesp. 105
Independent Variablesp. 106
Types of IVsp. 106
Extraneous Variables (Confounders)p. 107
Dependent Variablesp. 109
Selecting the DVp. 109
Recording or Measuring the DVp. 110
Recording More Than One DVp. 111
Characteristics of a Good DVp. 112
Nuisance Variablesp. 113
Review Summaryp. 115
Check Your Progressp. 116
Controlling Extraneous Variablesp. 116
Basic Control Techniquesp. 117
Review Summaryp. 127
Check Your Progressp. 127
Key Termsp. 128
Looking Aheadp. 128
Chapter 7 Conducting a Good Experiment II: Final Considerations, Unanticipated Influences, and Cross-Cultural Issuesp. 129
Participantsp. 129
Types of Participantsp. 129
Number of Participantsp. 131
Apparatusp. 132
IV Presentationp. 133
DV Recordingp. 134
Review Summaryp. 134
Check Your Progressp. 135
The Experimenter as an Extraneous Variablep. 135
Experimenter Characteristicsp. 136
Experimenter Expectanciesp. 136
Controlling Experimenter Effectsp. 137
Participant Perceptions as Extraneous Variablesp. 138
Demand Characteristics and Good Participantsp. 138
Response Biasp. 140
Controlling Participant Effectsp. 141
Review Summaryp. 143
Check Your Progressp. 143
The Interface Between Research and Culturep. 144
Culture, Knowledge, and Truthp. 145
The Effect of Culture on Researchp. 146
Methodology and Analysis Issuesp. 147
Review Summaryp. 149
Check Your Progressp. 149
Key Termsp. 150
Looking Aheadp. 150
Chapter 8 Internal and External Validityp. 151
Internal Validity: Evaluating Your Experiment From the Insidep. 151
Threats to Internal Validityp. 151
Protecting Internal Validityp. 159
Review Summaryp. 159
Check Your Progressp. 160
External Validity: Generalizing Your Experiment to the Outsidep. 161
Threats to External Validity (Based on Methods)p. 163
Threats to External Validity (Based on Our Participants)p. 166
The Devil's Advocate: Is External Validity Always Necessary?p. 170
Review Summaryp. 173
Check Your Progressp. 173
Key Termsp. 174
Looking Aheadp. 174
Chapter 9 Using Statistics to Answer Questionsp. 175
Descriptive Statisticsp. 175
Scales of Measurementp. 176
Measures of Central Tendencyp. 177
Graphing Your Resultsp. 180
Calculating and Computing Statisticsp. 185
Measures of Variabilityp. 186
Review Summaryp. 191
Check Your Progressp. 191
Correlationp. 192
The Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficientp. 195
Inferential Statisticsp. 196
What Is Significant?p. 196
The t Testp. 197
One-Tail Versus Two-Tail Tests of Significancep. 200
The Logic of Significance Testingp. 200
When Statistics Go Astray: Type I and Type II Errorsp. 203
Effect Sizep. 204
Review Summaryp. 205
Check Your Progressp. 205
Key Termsp. 206
Looking Aheadp. 206
Chapter 10 Designing, Conducting, Analyzing, and Interpreting Experiments with Two Groupsp. 207
Experimental Design: The Basic Building Blocksp. 207
The Two-Group Designp. 208
Review Summaryp. 217
Check Your Progressp. 217
Comparing Two-Group Designsp. 218
Variations on the Two-Group Designp. 222
Review Summaryp. 224
Check Your Progressp. 224
Statistical Analysis: What do Your Data Show?p. 224
The Relation Between Experimental Design and Statisticsp. 224
Analyzing Two-Group Designsp. 225
Calculating Your Statisticsp. 225
Interpretation: Making Sense of Your Statisticsp. 226
Interpreting Computer Statistical Outputp. 226
The Continuing Research Problemp. 232
Review Summaryp. 233
Check Your Progressp. 234
Key Termsp. 234
Looking Aheadp. 234
Chapter 11 Designing, Conducting, Analyzing, and Interpreting Experiments with More Than Two Groupsp. 235
Experimental Design: Adding to the Basic Building Blockp. 235
The Multiple-Group Designp. 236
Comparing the Multiple-Group and Two-Group Designsp. 242
Comparing Multiple-Group Designsp. 244
Variations on the Multiple-Group Designp. 245
Review Summaryp. 246
Check Your Progressp. 247
Statistical Analysis: What Do Your Data Show?p. 247
Analyzing Multiple-Group Designsp. 247
Planning Your Experimentp. 248
Rationale of ANOVAp. 249
Interpretation: Making Sense of Your Statisticsp. 251
Interpreting Computer Statistical Outputp. 252
The Continuing Research Problemp. 260
Review Summaryp. 261
Check Your Progressp. 261
Key Termsp. 262
Looking Aheadp. 262
Chapter 12 Designing, Conducting, Analyzing, and Interpreting Experiments with Multiple Independent Variablesp. 263
Experimental Design: Doubling the Basic Building Blockp. 263
The Factorial Designp. 264
Review Summaryp. 276
Check Your Progressp. 277
Comparing the Factorial Design to Two-Group and Multiple-Group Designsp. 277
Choosing a Factorial Designp. 280
Variations on Factorial Designsp. 281
Review Summaryp. 285
Check Your Progressp. 286
Statistical Analysis: What Do Your Data Show?p. 286
Naming Factorial Designsp. 287
Planning the Statistical Analysisp. 287
Rationale of Factorial ANOVAp. 288
Understanding Interactionsp. 290
Interpretation: Making Sense of Your Statisticsp. 291
Interpreting Computer Statistical Outputp. 291
A Final Notep. 300
The Continuing Research Problemp. 300
Review Summaryp. 301
Check Your Progressp. 302
Key Termsp. 303
Looking Aheadp. 303
Chapter 13 Alternative Research Designsp. 304
Protecting Internal Validity Revisitedp. 304
Examining Your Experiment From the Insidep. 304
Protecting Internal Validity With Research Designsp. 307
Conclusionp. 311
Review Summaryp. 311
Check Your Progressp. 312
Single-Case Experimental Designsp. 312
History of Single-Case Experimental Designsp. 314
Uses of Single-Case Experimental Designsp. 314
General Procedures of Single-Case Experimental Designsp. 315
Statistics and Single-Case Experimental Designsp. 317
Representative Single-Case Experimental Designsp. 318
Review Summaryp. 324
Check Your Progressp. 325
Quasi-Experimental Designsp. 325
History of Quasi-Experimental Designsp. 326
Uses of Quasi-Experimental Designsp. 327
Representative Quasi-Experimental Designsp. 327
Review Summaryp. 334
Check Your Progressp. 335
Key Termsp. 336
Looking Aheadp. 336
Chapter 14 Writing and Assembling an APA-Format Research Reportp. 337
What Is APA Format?p. 337
Sections of the APA-Format Paperp. 338
Title Pagep. 340
Author Notep. 341
Abstractp. 341
Introductionp. 342
Methodp. 348
Resultsp. 352
Discussionp. 357
Referencesp. 361
Appendixp. 367
Headingsp. 367
Review Summaryp. 373
Check Your Progressp. 374
Writing in APA Stylep. 375
General Guidelinesp. 375
Grammatical Guidelinesp. 377
APA Editorial Stylep. 379
Preparing Your Manuscriptp. 379
Student Views of Professional Activitiesp. 384
Review Summaryp. 390
Check Your Progressp. 391
Key Termsp. 392
Looking Aheadp. 392
Appendix A Statistical Tablesp. 393
Appendix B Selected Statistical Formulaep. 399
Appendix C Factorial Design with Three Independent Variablesp. 401
Appendix D Check Your Progress Answersp. 404
Glossaryp. 422
Referencesp. 430
Name Indexp. 436
Subject Indexp. 438
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