Research Methods in Psychology for Dummies

Your hands-on introduction to research methods in psychologyLooking for an easily accessible overview of research methods in psychology? This is the book for you! Whether you need to get ahead in class, you're pressed for time, or you just want a take on a topic that's not covered in your textbook, Research Methods in Psychology For Dummies has you covered.Written in plain English and packed with easy-to-follow instruction, this friendly guide takes the intimidation out of the subject and tackles the fundamentals of psychology research in a way that makes it approachable and comprehensible, no matter your background. Inside, you'll find expert coverage of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including surveys, case studies, laboratory observations, tests and experiments--and much more.* Serves as an excellent supplement to course textbooks* Provides a clear introduction to the scientific method* Presents the methodologies and techniques used in psychology research* Written by the authors of Psychology Statistics For DummiesIf you're a first or second year psychology student and want to supplement your doorstop-sized psychology textbook--and boost your chances of scoring higher at exam time--this hands-on guide breaks down the subject into easily digestible bits and propels you towards success.

Introduction 1Part I: Getting Started with Research Methods 5Chapter 1: Why Do Research in Psychology? 7Chapter 2: Reliability and Validity 21Chapter 3: Research Ethics 33Part II: Enhancing External Validity 45Chapter 4: Survey Designs and Methods 47Chapter 5: Sampling Methods 63Chapter 6: Questionnaires and Psychometric Tests 89Part III: Enhancing Internal Validity 105Chapter 7: Basic Experimental Designs 107Chapter 8: Looking at More Complex Experimental Designs 129Chapter 9: Small Experiments 141Part IV: Qualitative Research 161Chapter 10: Achieving Quality in Qualitative Research 163Chapter 11: Analysing Qualitative Data 175Chapter 12: Theoretical Approaches and Methodologies in Qualitative Research 187Part V: Reporting Research 203Chapter 13: Preparing a Written Report 205Chapter 14: Preparing a Research Presentation 223Chapter 15: APA Guidelines for Reporting Research 239Part VI: Research Proposals 253Chapter 16: Finding Research Literature 255Chapter 17: Sample Size Calculations 275Chapter 18: Developing a Research Proposal 291Part VII: The Part of Tens 303Chapter 19: Ten Pitfalls to Avoid When Selecting Your Sample 305Chapter 20: Ten Tips for Reporting Your Research 311Index 317