Introducing Psychological Research provides readable and full summaries of over sixty major research studies in psychology. These illustrate the major themes of the subject and the major methodologies that psychologists use. The summaries provide enough detail for readers to make their own evaluation of the quality of the research and the conclusions that can be drawn from it. They are the next best thing to reading the original papers, often written in very dense academic style, and provide a readable and accessible account of some famous psychological studies - warts and all

This book is designed to help students organize their thinking about psychology at a conceptual level. The focus on behaviour and empiricism has produced a text that is better organized, has fewer chapters, and is somewhat shorter than many of the leading books. The beginning of each section includes learning objectives; throughout the body of each section are key terms in bold followed by their definitions in italics; key takeaways, and exercises and critical thinking activities end each section.

Crucially, the foundations of good psychology, in both practice and knowledge, are the ability to understand and carry out effective methods in psychological research. Subsequently, this title aims to introduce students to a thorough history of the key psychological studies across the sub-disciplines of social, developmental, cognitive and biological psychology as well as neuroscience. Research case-studies are described and critiqued encouraging students to critically think about the wider implications of how research is conducted and the subsequent findings that they produce. The pivotal case studies covered have been specifically chosen to illustrate how psychological methods in research have evolved over the history of the discipline and to showcase as broad an overview as possible of the various ways in which research may be conducted; including controlled experiments, in-depth interviewing and literature searches. The book is essential for undergraduate students looking for a comprehensive and clearly written guide to both the classic and contemporary studies that have informed the research methods in the discipline of psychology today. This book has been written to provide clear and well-explained summaries that encourage critical reflection and discussion of the material learnt, making this an apt introduction for students wishing to learn about the valid methods of carrying out empirical research.

E-Prime, the software suite of Psychology Software Tools, is used worldwide for designing and running custom psychology experiments. Aimed at students and researchers alike, this timely volume provides a much needed, down-to-earth introduction into the wide range of experiments that can be set up using E-Prime. Many tutorials are provided to introduce the beginner and reacquaint the experienced researcher with constructing experiments typical for the broad field of psychological and cognitive science. Apart from explaining the basic structure of E-Prime and describing how it suits daily scientific practice, this book also gently introduces programming via E-Prime's own language: E-Basic. The authors guide the readers through the software step by step, from an elementary level to an advanced level, enabling them to benefit from the enormous possibilities E-Prime provides for experimental design.

Clinical psychology makes a significant contribution to mental health care across the world. The essence of the discipline is the creative application of the knowledge base of psychology to the unique, personal experiences of individuals who are facing difficulties or changes in their lives. Rather than addressing such experiences as primarily a medical, political or legal problem, clinical psychologists approach personal distress as an unhappy outcome of certain ways of thinking, behaving and relating, often occurring within difficult social, cultural or economic circumstances. Clinical psychologists work with people to try and help them change what is distressing or concerning them, based on a belief in the value of the individual to determine what happens to them and on the importance of using approaches which have been demonstrated through research to be effective. In this Very Short Introduction Susan Llewellyn and Katie Aafjes-van Doorn provide insights into the world of clinical psychologists and their clients or patients, and cover the range of domains of practice, the difficulties tackled, and the approaches and models used. They consider the challenges and controversies facing the profession today, and also how it varies across the globe. Finally, they discuss the key questions surrounding clinical psychology, such as whether it should compete or collaborate with psychiatry, how far it is yet another instrument of social control, what new technology can offer in the future, and whether clinical psychology can ever really be considered a science. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Why Science Matters: Understanding the Methods of Psychological Research rises above standard research methods texts by presenting an up-to-date view of contemporary psychological science as it is currently understood and practiced. Explores not only the procedural aspects of psychological research, but also delves into the issue of how to accomplish effective science. Explicates how hypotheses and theories are to be evaluated. Suggests that the proper approach to devising and evaluating theories is by abduction, not by induction or deduction alone. Incorporates new investigatory procedures, current methodologists, conflicts and issues, implications of the philosophy of science, and a lively prose style. Provides a picture of science that will engage students and expand their abilities as both scientists and psychologists.

Methods in Psychological Research introduces students to the rich world of research in psychology through student-friendly writing, compelling real-world examples, and frequent opportunities for practice. Using a relaxed yet supportive tone that eases student anxiety, the authors present a mixture of conceptual and practical discussions, and spark reader interest in research by covering meaningful topics that resonate with today’s students. In-text features like Conceptual Exercises, FYI sections, and FAQ sections with accompanying visual cues support learning throughout the research experience. The Fourth Edition equips students with the tools they need to understand research concepts, conduct their own experiments, and present their findings.

An introduction to the psychology of learning that summarizes and integrates findings from both functional psychology and cognitive psychology.learning. Learning unites all living creatures, from simple microbes to complex human beings. But what is learning? And how does it work? For over a century, psychologists have considered such questions. Behavior analysts examined the ways in which the environment shapes behavior, whereas cognitive scientists have sought to understand the mental processes that enable us to learn. This book offers an introduction to the psychology of learning that draws on the key findings and major insights from both functional (behavior analysis) and cognitive approaches. After an introductory overview, the book reviews research showing how seemingly simple regularities in the environment lead to powerful changes in behavior, from habituation and classical conditioning to operant conditioning effects. It introduces the concept of complex learning and considers the idea that for verbal human beings even seemingly simple types of learning might qualify as instances of complex learning. Finally, it offers many examples of how psychological research on learning is being used to promote human well-being and alleviate such societal problems as climate change. Throughout the book, boxed text extends the discussion of selected topics and “think it through” questions help readers gain deeper understanding of what they have read. The book can be used as an introductory textbook on the psychology of learning for both undergraduate and postgraduate students or as a reference for researchers who study behavior and thinking.

For undergraduate Psychology courses in statistics and research methods. A forward-looking text that combines research methods and statistics, this book is valuable for a single course or a two-semester sequence that covers what have traditionally been two separate courses.

My Biggest Research Mistake helps students and professionals in the field of psychological science learn from the diverse mistakes of successful psychological scientists. Through 57 personal stories drawn from the experiences of fellows in the Association for Psychological Science (APS), editor Robert J. Sternberg presents the mistakes of experts in the field as opportunities for learning, allowing students to avoid making the same mistakes in their own work.