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Understanding Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
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Understanding Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology



February 2008 | 424 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

Understanding and applying research methods and statistics in psychology is one of the corner stones of study at undergraduate level. To enable all undergraduate psychology students to carry out their own investigations the textbook covers basic and advanced qualitative and quantitative methods and follows a sequential structure starting from first principles to more advanced techniques.

Accompanied by a companion website, the textbook:

- Grounds all techniques to psychological theory relating each topic under discussion to well established pieces of research

- Can be used by the student at beginning and more advanced undergraduate level - therefore a `one-stop' shop

- Includes a creative and practical selection of heuristic devices that cement knowledge of the techniques and skills covered in the textbook

 
PART ONE: FIRST EXPLORATIONS
 
The Range of Research
 
Ethics in Research
Some Shocking Cases

 
 
Some Basic Concepts in Psychological Research
 
PART TWO: BEGINNING QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
 
Using Numbers to Describe Behaviour
 
Inferential Statistics
Why and What?

 
 
Simple Experimental Designs
Being Watched

 
 
Single Factorial Designs
The Levels of Processing Experiments

 
 
Survey Research
Who is afraid of Crime?

 
 
Correlational Designs
The Poor Relation?

 
 
PART THREE: COMPLEX QUANTITATIVE DESIGNS
 
Factorial Designs with More than One Factor
A Closer Look at Memory

 
 
Multivariate Statistics
 
Complex Correlational Designs and Analysis
Stats Can Be Murder

 
 
PART FOUR: BEGINNING QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
 
Theory in Qualitative Research
 
Designing Qualitative Research
 
PART FIVE: COMPLEX QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
 
Interviews and Focus Groups
 
Participant Observation
Girls, Gangs and Aggression

 
 
Thematic Analysis
 
Discourse Analysis
Power and Control

 
 
Evaluation Research
 
PART SIX: COMMUNICATION OF RESEARCH
 
Communicating Research

'This text covers more than most research methods and statistics texts in terms of its breadth …Not only will students understand a range of methods and analytical techniques, they will understand why and how these have been used in relation to key psychological studies. By putting key studies at the heart of this book it demonstrates the importance of understanding methods and analysis in order to fully appreciate and understand psychology' - Dr Paul Redford, University of West of England

'Understanding Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology provides an excellent introduction for any student new to psychology and psychological research. Each chapter clearly and systematically covers a key area, ranging from research ethics through quantitative methods to complex designs and qualitative analysis. I highly recommend this book to anybody who would like a good understanding of basic research methods and statistics in psychology and related disciplines' - Dr David Popplewell, University of Oxford


Very good comprehensive text book which highlights research methods, giving good guidence for the student. Using examples to show the reader how to apply research methods to Psychology. This text book will be recommended to my students and staff.

Miss Sharron Stillyards
health and social care, northlindsey college
July 15, 2013

Good general coverage of both quant and qual methods.

Dr Chris Bale
Behavioural Sciences, Huddersfield University
February 7, 2012

An understandable and practical guide, breaks statistics into manageable chunks...pushing away the daunting stigma!!!

Miss Kate Steabler
HE Care, Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education
January 4, 2010

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Paperback
ISBN: 9781412934428
£45.99

Hardcover
ISBN: 9781412934411
£135.00

SAGE Knowledge is the premier social sciences platform for SAGE and CQ Press book, reference and video content.

The platform allows researchers to cross-search and seamlessly access a wide breadth of must-have SAGE book and reference content from one source.

SAGE Research Methods is a research methods tool created to help researchers, faculty and students with their research projects. SAGE Research Methods links over 175,000 pages of SAGE’s renowned book, journal and reference content with truly advanced search and discovery tools. Researchers can explore methods concepts to help them design research projects, understand particular methods or identify a new method, conduct their research, and write up their findings. Since SAGE Research Methods focuses on methodology rather than disciplines, it can be used across the social sciences, health sciences, and more.

With SAGE Research Methods, researchers can explore their chosen method across the depth and breadth of content, expanding or refining their search as needed; read online, print, or email full-text content; utilize suggested related methods and links to related authors from SAGE Research Methods' robust library and unique features; and even share their own collections of content through Methods Lists. SAGE Research Methods contains content from over 720 books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and handbooks, the entire “Little Green Book,” and "Little Blue Book” series, two Major Works collating a selection of journal articles, and specially commissioned videos.