The Design Of Experiments In Neuroscience

by Harrington, Mary

• ISBN13: 9780534624156
• ISBN10: 0534624154
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-05-27
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

Intended to meet the needs of a student who wishes to begin research in the field of neuroscience or biological psychology, this book provides background to the scientific method, and the use of both experimental and non-experimental research designs. Using examples from published studies in neuroscience, the text discusses control of variables and analysis of results, with a focus on the logic of experimental design. Ethical issues associated with neuroscience research are considered and guidelines are described. Statistical concepts are discussed within the context of the research examples. Many exercises are provided to allow students to apply their knowledge and test their understanding. The background in research skills that this book provides will help students succeed in their research endeavors.

Table of Contents

The Varieties of Scientific Experience	1	(15)
The Savvy Research Student	2	(1)
The Skeptical Consumer	2	(2)
What Is Science?	4	(2)
Recognizing Pseudoscience	6	(1)
Neuroscience in the Service of Pseudoscience	6	(2)
Box 1.1 Tools of the Trade Rules to Help You Recognize Pseudoscience	7	(1)
What Is the Scientific Method?	8	(1)
Epistemology for Scientists	9	(5)
Check Your Understanding	14	(1)
Think About It	14	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	14	(1)
Web Resources	15	(1)
Ethics	16	(15)
Research Ethics	16	(4)
Fraud	16	(2)
Plagiarism	18	(2)
Ethics of Animal Use	20	(2)
Box 2.1 More, Please! Just the Facts: Animal Research in the United States	21	(1)
Regulation of Animal Use	22	(2)
Human Participants	24	(3)
Respect for Persons	25	(1)
Beneficence	26	(1)
Justice	27	(1)
General Ethical Considerations	27	(1)
Check Your Understanding	28	(1)
Think About It	29	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	30	(1)
Web Resources	30	(1)
Getting Started	31	(14)
Picking a Question	31	(4)
What Are the Big Questions?	31	(1)
Influence of Dogma or Bias on Selecting Your Research Question	32	(1)
Questions to Avoid	33	(2)
Forming a Hypothesis	35	(4)
Work With a Mentor	35	(1)
Read, Read, Read!	35	(1)
Box 3.1 More, Please! Primary Versus Secondary Sources	36	(1)
Narrow Your Focus	37	(2)
What Makes a Good Hypothesis?	39	(4)
Box 3.2 More, Please! Model Versus Theory?	41	(1)
Operationalizing Your Hypothesis	41	(2)
Check Your Understanding	43	(1)
Think About It	44	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	44	(1)
Web Resources	44	(1)
What Is an Experiment?	45	(21)
Observational Studies	46	(2)
Box 4.1 More, Please! Scales of Measurement	46	(2)
Case Studies	48	(2)
Box 4.2 More, Please! Double Dissociation	50	(1)
The Experiment	50	(1)
Independent-Samples Design	51	(2)
Control of Other Variables	53	(1)
Randomization	54	(1)
Inferential Statistics	55	(4)
Drawing a Sample From a Population	55	(1)
Box 4.3 Tools of the Trade Random Elements	56	(1)
Testing the Null Hypothesis	56	(3)
The Power of the Experiment: Inferring Cause and Effect	59	(2)
Check Your Understanding	61	(3)
Think About It	64	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	65	(1)
Web Resources	65	(1)
Controlling Extraneous Variables	66	(21)
What Variables Need to Be Controlled?	66	(1)
Controlling Subject Variables	67	(3)
The Within-Subjects Design	67	(1)
The Matched-Samples Design	68	(1)
Attrition	68	(1)
Assessing an Intervention for Reading Disability	68	(2)
Placebo Controls	70	(2)
Single-and Double-Blind Studies	72	(3)
Vehicle Controls and Sham Surgery	73	(1)
Box 5.1 Tools of the Trade A Few Special Concerns for Pharmacological Studies	74	(1)
Controlling Order Effects: Counterbalancing	75	(1)
Time-Series Design	76	(1)
When Experiments Are Impossible: Quasi-Experiments	76	(5)
Box 5.2 Tools of the Trade The Design of fMRI Experiments	78	(2)
Transgenic or Knockout Mice	80	(1)
External Validity and Internal Validity	81	(3)
Box 5.3 More, Please! A Cautionary Tale	82	(2)
Check Your Understanding	84	(1)
Think About It	85	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	86	(1)
Web Resources	86	(1)
More Than One Predictor Variable: Factorial Designs	87	(16)
Why Include More Than One Independent or Predictor Variable?	87	(1)
Describing Factorial Designs	88	(3)
Describing Results From Factorial Designs: Main Effects and Interactions	91	(5)
Examples of 2 x 2 Factorial Experiments	96	(1)
Example 1	96	(1)
Example 2	97	(1)
Other Designs With More Than One Independent Variable	97	(4)
Check Your Understanding	101	(1)
Think About It	101	(1)
Suggestions for Further Research	102	(1)
Web Resources	102	(1)
Correlational Designs	103	(11)
Designing a Correlational Study	103	(1)
Scatterplots	104	(2)
The Pearson Product Correlation Coefficient	106	(2)
Cautions in Interpreting Results From Correlational Studies	108	(4)
Check Your Understanding	112	(1)
Think About It	112	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	112	(1)
Web Resources	113	(1)
Review of All Research Designs	114	(4)
Check Your Understanding	115	(2)
Think About It	117	(1)
Web Resources	117	(1)
Appendix A Working With Your Data	118	(21)
Appendix B Writing a Research Paper	139	(12)
Appendix C Table of Random Numbers	151	(4)
Appendix D Review Questions and Exercises	155	(3)
Appendix E Glossary	158	(8)
Appendix F Answers to End-of-Chapter Questions	166	(15)
References	181	(7)
Index	188