Introduction to Behavioral Research Methods : Research Edition

by Leary, Mark R.

• ISBN13: 9780205396764
• ISBN10: 0205396763
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

Introduction to Behavioral Research Methods shows students how to conceptualize questions, measure variables, design studies, and analyze data. After chapters that introduce behavioral science, the text deals with the four basic approaches to behavioral research: descriptive research, correlational research, experimental research, and quasi-experimental research. Chapters on research ethics and scientific writing (including the most recent version of APA style) round out the book. Throughout each chapter, boxes on Developing Your Research Skills and Behavioral Research Case Study provide practical examples and pique student interest. The Research Edition provides margin icons that guide students to the Research Navigator site.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
1 Research in the Behavioral Sciences	1	(33)
The Beginnings of Behavioral Research	2	(2)
Goals of Behavioral Research	4	(2)
Describing Behavior	5	(1)
Predicting Behavior	5	(1)
Explaining Behavior	6	(1)
Behavioral Science and Common Sense	6	(1)
The Value of Research to the Student	7	(2)
The Scientific Approach	9	(3)
Systematic Empiricism	9	(1)
Public Verification	9	(1)
Solvable Problems	10	(2)
The Scientist's Two Jobs: Detecting and Explaining Phenomena	12	(2)
Research Hypotheses	14	(3)
Conceptual and Operational Definitions	17	(2)
Proof, Disproof, and Scientific Progress	19	(5)
The Logical Impossibility of Proof	19	(1)
The Practical Impossibility of Disproof	20	(1)
If Not Proof or Disproof, Then What?	21	(1)
The Scientific Filter	21	(3)
Strategies of Behavioral Research	24	(3)
Descriptive Research	24	(1)
Correlational Research	25	(1)
Experimental Research	26	(1)
Quasi-Experimental Research	26	(1)
Domains of Behavioral Science	27	(1)
A Preview	28	(1)
Summary	29	(5)
2 Behavioral Variability and Research	34	(21)
Variability and the Research Process	35	(3)
Variance: An Index of Variability	38	(5)
A Conceptual Explanation of Variance	39	(1)
A Statistical Explanation of Variance	40	(3)
Systematic and Error Variance	43	(4)
Systematic Variance	43	(1)
Error Variance	44	(2)
Distinguishing Systematic from Error Variance	46	(1)
Assessing the Strength of Relationships	47	(2)
Meta-Analysis: Systematic Variance Across Studies	49	(3)
The Quest for Systematic Variance	52	(1)
Summary	52	(3)
3 The Measurement of Behavior	55	(27)
Types of Measures	56	(2)
Scales of Measurement	58	(1)
Estimating the Reliability of a Measure	59	(10)
Measurement Error	60	(2)
Reliability as Systematic Variance	62	(1)
Assessing Reliability	63	(5)
Increasing the Reliability of Measures	68	(1)
Estimating the Validity of a Measure	69	(6)
Assessing Validity	69	(6)
Fairness and Bias in Measurement	75	(2)
Summary	77	(5)
4 Approaches to Psychological Measurement	82	(29)
Observational Methods	83	(8)
Naturalistic Versus Contrived Settings	84	(2)
Disguised Versus Nondisguised Observation	86	(2)
Behavioral Recording	88	(2)
Increasing the Reliability of Observational Methods	90	(1)
Physiological Measures	91	(1)
Self-Report: Questionnaires and Interviews	92	(10)
Writing Questions	93	(4)
Questionnaires	97	(2)
Interviews	99	(1)
Advantages of Questionnaires Versus Interviews	100	(1)
Biases in Self-Report Measurement	101	(1)
Archival Data	102	(3)
Content Analysis	105	(2)
Summary	107	(4)
5 Descriptive Research	111	(36)
Types of Descriptive Research	112	(5)
Surveys	112	(4)
Demographic Research	116	(1)
Epidemiological Research	116	(1)
Summary	117	(1)
Sampling	117	(13)
Probability Samples	118	(8)
Nonprobability Samples	126	(4)
Describing and Presenting Data	130	(12)
Criteria of a Good Description	130	(1)
Frequency Distributions	130	(6)
Measures of Central Tendency	136	(1)
Measures of Variability	137	(1)
Standard Deviation and the Normal Curve	138	(3)
The z-Score	141	(1)
Summary	142	(5)
6 Correlational Research	147	(27)
The Correlation Coefficient	149	(1)
A Graphic Representation of Correlations	150	(3)
The Coefficient of Determination	153	(4)
Statistical Significance of r	157	(2)
Factors That Distort Correlation Coefficients	159	(4)
Restricted Range	159	(2)
Outliers	161	(2)
Reliability of Measures	163	(1)
Correlation and Causality	163	(3)
Partial Correlation	166	(1)
Other Indices of Correlation	167	(2)
Summary	169	(5)
7 Advanced Correlational Strategies	174	(22)
Predicting Behavior: Regression Strategies	174	(9)
Linear Regression	175	(2)
Types of Multiple Regression	177	(5)
Multiple Correlation	182	(1)
Assessing Directionality: Cross-Lagged and Structural Equations Analysis	183	(4)
Cross-Lagged Panel Design	183	(1)
Structural Equations Modeling	184	(3)
Uncovering Underlying Dimensions: Factor Analysis	187	(5)
An Intuitive Approach	188	(1)
Basics of Factor Analysis	188	(2)
Uses of Factor Analysis	190	(2)
Summary	192	(4)
8 Basic Issues in Experimental Research	196	(34)
Manipulating the Independent Variable	198	(5)
Independent Variables	198	(4)
Dependent Variables	202	(1)
Assignment of Participants to Conditions	203	(5)
Simple Random Assignment	203	(1)
Matched Random Assignment	204	(1)
Repeated Measures Designs	204	(4)
Experimental Control	208	(4)
Systematic Variance	209	(1)
Error Variance	210	(1)
An Analogy	211	(1)
Eliminating Confounds	212	(8)
Internal Validity	212	(1)
Threats to Internal Validity	213	(4)
Experimenter Expectancies, Demand Characteristics, and Placebo Effects	217	(3)
Error Variance	220	(3)
Sources of Error Variance	221	(2)
Experimental Control and Generalizability: The Experimenter's Dilemma	223	(2)
Summary	225	(5)
9 Experimental Design	230	(24)
One-Way Designs	231	(1)
Assigning Participants to Conditions	232	(1)
Posttest and Pretest-Posttest Designs	233	(3)
Factorial Designs	236	(5)
Factorial Nomenclature	237	(2)
Assigning Participants to Conditions	239	(2)
Main Effects and Interactions	241	(5)
Main Effects	242	(1)
Interactions	242	(3)
Higher-Order Designs	245	(1)
Combining Independent and Subject Variables	246	(4)
Summary	250	(4)
10 Analyzing Experimental Data	254	(20)
An intuitive Approach to Analysis	255	(2)
The Problem: Error Variance Can Cause Mean Differences	255	(1)
The Solution: Inferential Statistics	256	(1)
Hypothesis Testing	257	(4)
The Null Hypothesis	257	(1)
Type I and Type II Errors	258	(3)
Effect Size	261	(1)
Summary	261	(1)
Analysis of Two-Group Experiments: The t-Test	261	(6)
Conducting a t-Test	262	(4)
Back to the Droodles Experiment	266	(1)
Analyses of Matched-Subjects and Within-Subjects Designs	267	(1)
Computer Analyses	268	(2)
Summary	270	(4)
11 Analyzing Complex Designs	274	(22)
The Problem: Multiple Tests Inflate Type I Error	275	(1)
The Rationale Behind ANOVA	276	(1)
How ANOVA Works	277	(6)
Total Sum of Squares	277	(1)
Sum of Squares Within-Groups	278	(1)
Sum of Squares Between-Groups	279	(1)
The F-Test	280	(1)
Extension of ANOVA to Factorial Designs	280	(3)
Follow-Up Tests	283	(5)
Main Effects	284	(1)
Interactions	284	(1)
Putting It All Together: Interpreting Main Effects and Interactions	285	(3)
Between-Subjects and Within-Subjects ANOVAs	288	(1)
Multivariate Analysis of Variance	289	(3)
Conceptually Related Dependent Variables	289	(1)
Inflation of Type I Error	290	(1)
How MANOVA Works	290	(2)
Experimental and Nonexperimental Uses of Inferential Statistics	292	(1)
Summary	293	(3)
12 Quasi-Experimental Designs	296	(24)
Pretest-Posttest Designs	298	(7)
How NOT to Do a Study: The One-Group Pretest Posttest Design	299	(1)
Nonequivalent Control Group Design	300	(5)
Time Series Designs	305	(4)
Simple Interrupted Terne Series Design	305	(2)
Interrupted Time Series with a Reversal	307	(2)
Control Group Interrupted Time Series Design	309	(1)
Longitudinal Designs	309	(3)
Program Evaluation	312	(2)
Evaluating Quasi-Experimental Designs	314	(3)
Threats to Internal Validity	314	(1)
Increasing Confidence in Quasi-Experimental Results	315	(2)
Summary	317	(3)
13 Single-Case Research	320	(23)
Single-Case Experimental Designs	322	(13)
Criticisms of Group Designs and Analyses	323	(3)
Basic Single-Case Experimental Designs	326	(3)
Data from Single-Participant Designs	329	(3)
Uses of Single-Case Experimental Designs	332	(2)
Critique of Single-Participant Designs	334	(1)
Case Study Research	335	(4)
Uses of the Case Study Method	335	(2)
Limitations of the Case Study Approach	337	(2)
Summary	339	(4)
14 Ethical Issues in Behavioral Research	343	(27)
Approaches to Ethical Decisions	344	(2)
Basic Ethical Guidelines	346	(3)
Potential Benefits	347	(1)
Potential Costs	348	(1)
Balancing Benefits and Costs	348	(1)
The Institutional Review Board	348	(1)
The Principle of Informed Consent	349	(3)
Obtaining Informed Consent	349	(1)
Problems with Obtaining Informed Consent	350	(2)
Invasion of Privacy	352	(1)
Coercion to Participate	353	(1)
Physical and Mental Stress	353	(1)
Deception in Research	354	(2)
Objections to Deception	354	(1)
Debriefing	355	(1)
Confidentiality in Research	356	(3)
Common Courtesy	359	(1)
Ethical Principles in Research with Animals	360	(2)
Scientific Misconduct	362	(4)
A Final Note	366	(1)
Summary	367	(3)
15 Scientific Writing	370	(49)
How Scientific Findings Are Disseminated	370	(4)
Journal Publication	371	(1)
Presentations at Professional Meetings	372	(1)
Personal Contact	373	(1)
Elements of Good Scientific Writing	374	(5)
Organization	374	(1)
Clarity	375	(2)
Conciseness	377	(1)
Proofreading and Rewriting	378	(1)
Avoiding Biased Language	379	(3)
Gender-Neutral Language	379	(2)
Other Language Pitfalls	381	(1)
Parts of a Manuscript	382	(5)
Title Page	382	(1)
Abstract	383	(1)
Introduction	384	(1)
Method	385	(1)
Results	386	(1)
Discussion	387	(1)
Citing and Referencing Previous Research	387	(5)
Citations in the Text	387	(1)
The Reference List	388	(4)
Other Aspects of APA Style	392	(3)
Optional Sections	392	(1)
Headings, Spacing, Pagination, and Numbers	393	(2)
Writing a Research Proposal	395	(1)
Sample Manuscript	396	(23)
Glossary	419	(12)
Appendix A Statistical Tables	431	(7)
Appendix B Computational Formulas for ANOVA	438	(9)
Appendix C Choosing the Proper Statistical Analysis	447	(2)
References	449	(8)
Index	457