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Psychology Research Methods
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Psychology Research Methods
How to Think About and Write About Research

Second Edition


March 2025 | 712 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
The second edition of Psychology Research Methods: How to Think About and Write About Research by Wendy Heath engages students with compelling studies relevant to students’ lives, but in a research methods context. By looking underneath the conclusions of these studies to determine which methods they use, students discover the relevance and importance of research methods. Heath also focuses on writing about research methods by presenting examples from the literature as well as writing exercises at the end of each chapter. These features help students complete their research papers with confidence while gaining a greater understanding of research methods through writing. Coverage of descriptive, experimental, quasi-experimental, small-N design, and qualitative methods in psychology give students a broad overview of all methods in this clear text.
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About The Author
 
Chapter 1: Introduction to Research Methodology
Why Do I Need to Know About Research Methods?

 
The Goals of Science

 
The Steps in the Research Process

 
Characteristics of Science

 
Summary

 
Review Questions

 
Articles as Illustration

 
Suggested Activities

 
 
Chapter 2: Developing Research Ideas and Hypotheses
Sources of Research Ideas

 
Finding Relevant Literature

 
The Basic Components of a Journal Article

 
Outlining Your Literature Review

 
Generating Hypotheses

 
Summary

 
Review Questions

 
Articles as Illustration

 
Suggested Activities

 
Let’s Write About Research!

 
 
Chapter 3: Ethics
A Brief History of Research Ethics

 
General Principles of the American Psychological Association’s Ethics Code

 
Ethical Standards of the American Psychological Association’s Ethics Code: Research

 
Ethics and Research on the Internet

 
Ethical Standards of the American Psychological Association’s Ethics Code: Publication

 
Open Science

 
Summary

 
Review Questions

 
Articles as Illustration

 
Suggested Activities

 
Let’s Write About Research!

 
 
Chapter 4: Defining and Measuring Variables
Operational Definitions

 
Scales of Measurement

 
Characteristics of Good Measurement

 
Internal Validity and External Validity

 
Chapter Summary

 
Review Questions

 
Articles as Illustration

 
Suggested Activities

 
Let’s Write About Research!

 
 
Chapter 5: Descriptive Research Methods and Qualitative Research
Naturalistic Observation

 
Participant Observation

 
Archival Research

 
Case Studies

 
Qualitative Research

 
Summary

 
Review Questions

 
Articles as Illustration

 
Suggested Activities

 
 
Chapter 6: Correlational Research
The Basic Differences Between Experimentation and Correlational Research

 
The Correlation Coefficient

 
A Visual Representation of a Correlation

 
Factors Affecting the Strength of a Correlation Coefficient

 
Statistical Assessments of Relationships

 
Correlation and Causality

 
Summary

 
Review Questions

 
Articles as Illustration

 
Suggested Activities

 
 
Chapter 7: Survey Research
Types of Survey Questions

 
Question-Writing Guidelines

 
Administering the Survey

 
Response and Nonresponse Biases

 
Sample Size

 
Online Survey Research

 
Summary

 
Review Questions

 
Articles as Illustration

 
Suggested Activities

 
 
Chapter 8: Experimentation With One Independent Variable
Experimental Design

 
Controlling Extraneous Variables

 
Differentiating Between-Subject Designs from Within-Subject Designs

 
Manipulating Independent Variables

 
Measuring Dependent Variables

 
A Few Final Points About Dependent Variables

 
The Posttest Only Design Versus the Before-After Design

 
A Consideration of the Results

 
Creating an Online Experiment

 
Summary

 
Review Questions

 
Articles as Illustration

 
Suggested Activities

 
 
Chapter 9: Factorial Designs: Experiments With More Than One Independent Variable
Factorial Designs

 
Using a 2 x 2 Design

 
Using a 2 x 3 Design

 
Using a 3 x 3 Design

 
Mixed Designs

 
Higher Order Factorial Designs

 
Summary

 
Review Questions

 
Articles as Illustration

 
Suggested Activities

 
 
Chapter 10: Quasi-Experimental Designs
What Is a Quasi-Experimental Design?

 
More on Testing Preformed Groups

 
Possible Threats to Internal Validity

 
Summary

 
Review Questions

 
Articles as Illustration

 
Suggested Activities

 
 
Chapter 11: Small-N Designs
What Are Small-N Designs?

 
History of Small-N Designs

 
Small-N Designs: General Details

 
Multiple-Baseline Designs

 
Changing-Criterion Designs

 
Summary

 
Review Questions

 
Articles as Illustration

 
Suggested Activities

 
 
Chapter 12: External Validity
What Is External Validity?

 
Population Validity

 
Ecological Validity

 
Temporal Validity

 
Summary

 
Review Questions

 
Articles as Illustration

 
Suggested Activities

 
 
Chapter 13: Writing About and Presenting Your Research
The Organization of a Psychology Research Paper

 
Title Page

 
Abstract

 
The Introduction

 
Method

 
Results

 
Discussion

 
References

 
Tables and Figures

 
Summary

 
Review Questions

 
Additional Sources to Consider

 
Suggested Activities

 
 
Appendix A: Sample Research Paper
 
Appendix B: Table of Random Numbers
 
Appendix C: A Review of Selected Grammar Rules
 
Appendix D: The Research Paper Checklist

Supplements

Instructor Resources
Online resources included with this text 
 
The online resources for your text are available via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site, which offers access to all text-specific resources, including a test bank and editable, chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides. 
 
For additional information, custom options, or to request a personalized walkthrough of these resources, please contact your sales representative

“An easy to read and accessible text that touches on all of the basics of research methods.”

Elizabeth Riina
Queens College CUNY

“This textbook provides students with the basics of research in psychology and appears to break it down to where the students can really learn and focus on key knowledge and skills.”

Anna Mayer
Northeastern University

“This is a research methods book written at a level intended for undergraduate majors in psychology. It introduces human behavioral research at a level students can understand without any previous research methods knowledge or experience.”

Erin Briggs
Augusta University

“An introductory research methods book that walks students through the steps of the research process through the delivery of the content, examples to learn from, and the application to writing practice and skills.”

Douglas P. Cooper
Johnson C. Smith University

“A thorough and detailed coverage of publishing research. The book's storytelling approach makes the material more intriguing and engaging. Students could easily follow the guidelines to write their manuscripts or prepare a presentation.”

Rui Ni
Wichita State University

“An introductory-level and modern research methods book that emphasizes writing.”

Edward Lemay
University of Maryland

“Humor is appropriately used to intrigue readers new to the scientific method. The writing is clear and easy to follow, and the examples are interesting and relevant to college students.”

Marilu Isiordia
Modesto College

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