You are in: South America
Change location

You are here

Book > Textbooks > Research Methods in Psychology
Doing Psychology
Share
Share

Doing Psychology
An Introduction to Research Methodology and Statistics

First Edition
February 1998 | 312 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Download flyer
Doing Psychology provides a clear and accessible introduction to the principal research methods and statistical procedures that underpin psychological research. This introductory text builds a carefully integrated understanding of the research process from the ground up and addresses the many challenges confronted by first-time students of psychologyùissues surrounding research goals, methodological choices and strategy, multiple approaches to statistical inference, and ethical controversies. Throughout the text the authors incorporate a range of multiple choice questions and answers that reinforce understanding of key concepts in an ongoing way. Assuming only limited mathematical knowledge the book provides step-by-step guides to key statistical procedures together with a comprehensive glossary of technical terms. By using words and figures rather than just numbers and equations, Doing Psychology offers a highly readable guide on how to design, analyze, and evaluate experiments and surveys in psychological research while exploring the process of psychology as a science. It will be an essential companion for all students of psychology.
 
Introduction
 
Research in Psychology
Objectives and Ideals

 
 
Research Methods
 
Experimental Design
 
Survey Design
 
Descriptive Statistics
 
Some Principles of Statistical Inference
 
Examining Differences between Means
The t-test

 
 
Examining Relationships between Variables
Correlation

 
 
Research Ethics
 
Conclusion
Managing Uncertainty in Psychological Research

 
 
The chapters in detail
 
Chapter One: Introduction
`Why do I have to do this?'; the structure of this book and an overview of the chapters; how to use this book

 
 
Chapter Two: Research in Psychology: Objectives and Ideals
What is psychological research and why do it?; how does psychological research progress?; principles of good research; some notes of caution

 
 
Chapter Three: Research Methods
Psychological measurement; the experimental method; the quasi-experimental method; the survey method; the case study method; overview

 
 
Chapter Four: Experimental Design
Choosing an independent variable; choosing a dependent variable; choosing an experimental sample; threats to internal validity; threats to external validity

 
 
Chapter Five: Survey Design
The differences between surveys and experiments; setting the question; finding a sample; types of survey; overview: designing a survey

 
 
Chapter Six: Descriptive Statistics
Different forms of research data; describing a typical score: measures of central tendency; the relationship between measures of central tendency and a response distribution; describing the spread of scores: measures of dispersion; observed distributions

 
 
Chapter Seven: Some Principles of Statistical Inference
Statistical inference; inferences about individual scores; inferences about means; overview

 
 
Chapter Eight: Examining Differences between Means: The t-test
Student's t-distribution; comparing the results for a single sample to a specific value; within-subjects t-tests; between-subjects t-tests; the controversy about what to do with t-values; handling the results of t-te

 
 
Chapter Nine: Examining Relationships between Variables: Correlation
Some basic principles of correlation; the measurement of correlation; interpreting and making inferences about correlations; some notes of caution; conclusion

 
 
Chapter Ten: Research Ethics
Science and society; participation in research; research with animals; final comment

 
 
Chapter Eleven: Conclusion: Managing Uncertainty in Psychological Research
`Where has all this got us?'; managing uncertainty in psychological research; final comment

 
 
Appendices: Step-by-step guides to computing t-tests and correlations; statistical tables
·

 

`Doing Psychology is a sound text with clear and accurate explanations in areas which it covers' - South African Journal of Psychology

`Doing Psychology ... challenges the reader to become active in the development and understanding of psychological research and to be critical in its application. Academics will find the text would easily complement the structure of an introductory course. Overall this book is written clearly and concisely, adopting a conversational tone, and utilises a structure that students can easily follow without the techniques and concepts being oversimplified.

Doing Psychology is certainly a text well worth considering in introductory courses, or as a refresher text for those who need to revise key techniques. The text would provide students with a good foundation for advanced design and statistics courses' - Australian Psychologist