First Steps in Research and Statistics is a new, very accessible approach to learning about quantitative methods. No previous knowledge or experience is assumed and every stage of the research process is covered.Key topics include: Formulating your research questions How to choose the right statistical test for your research design Important research issues, such as questionnaire design, ethics, sampling, reliability and validity Conducting simple statistics to explore relationships and differences in your data Using statistics to explore relationships and differences in your data Writing up your research report and presenting statistics Simple and helpful worksheets and flow diagrams guide you through the research stages. Each chapter contains exercises with answers to check whether you've understood.

Applied Statistics I: Basic Bivariate Techniques has been created from the first half of Rebecca M. Warner's popular Applied Statistics: From Bivariate Through Multivariate Techniques. The author's contemporary approach differs from some of the well-worn texts in the market, and reflects current thinking in the field. It spends less time on statistical significance testing, and moves in the direction of the "new statistics" by focusing more on confidence intervals and effect size. Instructors of upper undergraduate or beginning graduate level courses will find that the greater focus on basic concepts such as partition of variance and effect size is more useful to students, particularly as preparation for more advanced courses. Spending less time on statistical significance testing allows for more time to be devoted to more interesting and useful statistics that students will see in journal articles (such as correlation and regression). This introductory statistics text includes examples in SPSS, together with datasets on an accompanying website. A companion study guide reproducing the exercises and examples in R will also be available.

This is a complete text combining practical data collection, research and statistical analysis, plus how to write up reports. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches are discussed in-depth. This is an essential all-in-one text for students undertaking practical courses in psychology. Suitable for AS/A2 psychology and undergraduates.

This compendium of examples of psychological concepts and phenomena is designed to make it easier for both novice and experienced teachers of psychology at all levels to bring new and/or particularly illuminating examples to their lectures and other presentations. Psychology instructors know that vivid examples bring concepts to life for students, making psychology both more accessible and interesting. Having a good supply of such examples can be particularly important when, as often happens, students fail to immediately grasp particular points, especially those that are complex or difficult. Generating compelling examples can be challenging, particularly when teaching a course, such as Introductory Psychology, in which much of the material is outside one's main area of expertise, when teaching a course for the first time, or when teaching a course that is entirely outside one's main area of expertise. This compendium will serve as a one-stop reference that presents a topic-organized body of compelling examples that instructors can explore as they prepare their teaching materials. The examples they will find range from simple illustrations (e.g., muting an obnoxious commercial as an example of negative reinforcement), to videos (e.g., of a patient with prosopagnosia), to brief stories (e.g., about how confirmation bias led a man to dismantle a kitchen because he assumed that an electrical stove's whining clock was a trapped kitten), to short summaries of research that illustrate a concept or phenomenon. Beyond their value for enhancing the quality and interest level of classroom lectures, the examples in this book can help teachers find ideas for engaging multiple-choice exam and quiz items. They can also serve as stimuli for writing assignments and small group discussions in which students are asked to come up with additional examples of the concept or phenomenon, or link them to other concepts or phenomena.

Strategies and Tactics of Behavioral Research and Practice focuses on the most effective methods for measuring and evaluating changes in behavior. The authors provide the rationale for different procedures for measuring behavior and designing within-subject comparisons between control and intervention conditions. The text explains the strengths and weaknesses of methodological alternatives for every topic so that behavioral researchers and practitioners can make the best decisions in each situation. This classic text has been extensively revised to be more accessible and practical. Not only does it feature much more discussion of how research methods are relevant to today's practitioners, it also includes additional examples based on field research and service delivery scenarios. With expanded coverage on creating experimental designs, as well as new chapters on behavioral assessment, the statistical analysis of data, and ethical issues associated with research methods, this book provides a strong foundation for direct behavioral measurement, within-subject research design, and interpretation of behavioral interventions. Enriched with more pedagogical features, including key terms, tables summarizing important points, figures to help readers visualize text, and updated examples and suggested readings, this book is an invaluable resource for students taking courses in research methods. This book is appropriate for researchers and practitioners in behavior analysis, psychology, education, social work, and other social and health science programs that address questions about behavior in research or practice settings.

More comprehensive than other texts, this new book covers the classic and cutting edge multivariate techniques used in today's research. Ideal for courses on multivariate statistics/analysis/design, advanced statistics or quantitative techniques taught in psychology, education, sociology, and business, the book also appeals to researchers with no training in multivariate methods. Through clear writing and engaging pedagogy and examples using real data, Hahs-Vaughn walks students through the most used methods to learn why and how to apply each technique. A conceptual approach with a higher than usual text-to-formula ratio helps reader's master key concepts so they can implement and interpret results generated by today's sophisticated software. Annotated screenshots from SPSS and other packages are integrated throughout. Designed for course flexibility, after the first 4 chapters, instructors can use chapters in any sequence or combination to fit the needs of their students. Each chapter includes a 'mathematical snapshot' that highlights the technical components of each procedure, so only the most crucial equations are included. Highlights include: -Outlines, key concepts, and vignettes related to key concepts preview what's to come in each chapter -Examples using real data from education, psychology, and other social sciences illustrate key concepts -Extensive coverage of assumptions including tables, the effects of their violation, and how to test for each technique -Conceptual, computational, and interpretative problems mirror the real-world problems students encounter in their studies and careers -A focus on data screening and power analysis with attention on the special needs of each particular method -Instructions for using SPSS via screenshots and annotated output along with HLM, Mplus, LISREL, and G*Power where appropriate, to demonstrate how to interpret results -Templates for writing research questions and APA-style write-ups of results which serve as models -Propensity score analysis chapter that demonstrates the use of this increasingly popular technique -A review of matrix algebra for those who want an introduction (prerequisites include an introduction to factorial ANOVA, ANCOVA, and simple linear regression, but knowledge of matrix algebra is not assumed) -www.routledge.com/9780415842365 provides the text's datasets preformatted for use in SPSS and other statistical packages for readers, as well as answers to all chapter problems, Power Points, and test items for instructors

This volume in the Springer Series in Evolutionary Psychology presents a state of the art view of the topic of sexuality and sexual behavior drawing on theoretical constructs and research of noted individuals in the field. Comprehensive and multi-disciplinary, this book seeks to provide a broad overview without sacrificing the complexity of a multi-faceted approach. The book is framed by introductory and closing sections that provide a context for the range of ideas contained within. Ample space is provided in designated sections that focus on key areas of sexuality from both male and female perspectives and that include information from primate studies. This volume can serve as a graduate text in sexual behavior in evolutionary terms and as a guide for further research.

What impact can various research methods have on consumer psychology? How can they help us understand the workings of the consumer mind? And how can the field of consumer psychology best utilize these methods? In the Handbook of Research Methods in Consumer Psychology, leading consumer psychologists summarize key aspects of the research process and explain how different methods enrich understanding of how consumers process information to form judgments and opinions and to make consumption-related decisions. Kardes, Herr, and Schwarz provide an in-depth analysis of the scientific research methods needed to understand consumption-related judgments and decisions. The book is split into five parts, demonstrating the breadth of the volume: classic approaches, contemporary approaches, online research methods, data analysis, and philosophy of science. A variety of leading researchers give insight into a wide range of topics, reflecting both long-standing debate and more recent developments in the field to encourage discussion and the advancement of consumer research. The Handbook of Research Methods in Consumer Psychology is essential reading for researchers, students, and professionals interested in consumer psychology and behavior.

Multilevel and Longitudinal Modeling Using Stata, Fourth Edition, is a complete resource for learning to model data in which observations are grouped. With comprehensive coverage, researchers who need to apply multilevel models will find this book to be the perfect companion. It is also the ideal text for courses in multilevel modeling because it provides examples from a variety of disciplines as well as end-of-chapter exercises that allow students to practice newly learned material. The book comprises two volumes. Volume I focuses on linear models for continuous outcomes.

This book provides an outline and critical discussion of the characteristics of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) research. Since the first reports on the use of mindfulness practices in health interventions, a large body of research literature has emerged to document the effectiveness of MBIs for reducing psychological distress and to increase well-being. The integration of mindfulness into very diverse psychological theories makes it a unique concept in psychology that has generated a large amount of interest both in academic research but also the broader media. With this growing literature, mindfulness researchers have also recognised the need to be more critical of its developments, such as how MBIs are presented to the public or what types of research methods are used to test claims of an MBI's effectiveness. This book examines the large variety of approaches in which MBIs have been studied, including an outline of the philosophical underpinnings of MBI research, definition and measurement of mindfulness, the use of qualitative and quantitative research methods, research design, and research that addresses cultural and religious factors. The book contributes to increased awareness of the current direction of MBI research and thus seeks to contribute to further methodological refinement and sophistication of the research field. This book on the characteristics of research on MBIs is a must read for any researcher or practitioner interested in this fascinating topic.

Crime statistics are everywhere, but how do you know when they're valid? If a newspaper report says "the rate of overall violent crime decreased by 0.9 percent," how can you tell where that statistic came from, what it measures, and how accurate it is? Is it worth repeating or sharing? Measuring Crime: Behind the Statistics gives you the tools to interpret and evaluate crime statistics' quality and usefulness. The book focuses on ways of thinking about crime statistics (no formulas!) and features Eight questions you should ask before quoting a statistic The two sources of information about homicide FBI statistics: what do they measure? How victimization surveys can reflect your experiences even though you were not asked to participate Special considerations when interpreting statistics about sexual assault and fraud Examples of experiments and studies on how to improve crime statistics Two online supplements containing additional details and links to data sources Whether you are a law enforcement professional, journalist, student, or interested citizen, Measuring Crime: Behind the Statistics will tell you how to read statistics as a statistician would. Sharon Lohr, the author of Sampling: Design and Analysis, has published widely about statistical methods for education, public policy, law, and crime. She has been recognized as Fellow of the American Statistical Association, elected member of the International Statistical Institute, and recipient of the Gertrude M. Cox Statistics Award and the Deming Lecturer Award. Formerly Dean's Distinguished Professor of Statistics at Arizona State University and a Vice President at Westat, she is now a freelance statistical consultant and writer. Visit her website at www.sharonlohr.com. "The book aims to achieve two goals: introduce statistical ideas to a general audience and provide an overview of US crime statistics. These are disparate topics, but in the way they are approached here, there is a strong synergy that reinforces both aspects. One the one hand, the reader's natural curiosity about crime (what is it, how are crime events classified and reported, how reliable are the numbers you see in the newspaper, etc.) will help him/her become interested in the statistical issues and learn these concepts in a practical and concrete setting. And on the other hand, by reading about the statistical issues surrounding crime data, he/she gains a better appreciation for the complexities of crime statistics, eventually acquiring a deeper understanding of them. As a statistician myself, I learned interesting facts about the types of crime, their nomenclature and the possible confusion surrounding them, and how the data are collected and reported. Overall, I think the combination is effective and very well developed in this book." (Jean Opsomer, Westat) "This book is an excellent primer on handling the mass of data and information researchers are faced with. While it is geared toward followers of criminal justice information, much of the book is a very good introduction to survey techniques discussing their strong and weak points. Most importantly, there are very good guidelines and questions that one should employ before citing any data or using data for policy decisions or for reporting on data such as journalists do. The book is written in a non-technical manner and does a very good job of explaining the nuances in reviewing data. Any researcher who utilizes data would find this valuable. While it has specific examples in the criminal justice field, it really is quite useful for any user of data." (Barry Nussbaum, former President American Statistical Association)

Mental illness is many things at once: It is a natural phenomenon that is also shaped by society and culture. It is biological but also behavioral and social. Mental illness is a problem of both the brain and the mind, and this ambiguity presents a challenge for those who seek to accurately classify psychiatric disorders. The leading resource we have for doing so is the American Psychiatric Association'sDiagnostic and Statistical Manual, but no edition of the manual has provided a decisive solution, and all have created controversy. InThe Diagnostic System, the sociologist Jason Schnittker looks at the multiple actors involved in crafting theDSMand the many interests that the manual hopes to serve. Is the DSM the best tool for defining mental illness? Can we insure against a misleading approach? Schnittker shows that the classification of psychiatric disorders is best understood within the context of a system that involves diverse parties with differing interests. The public wants a better understanding of personal suffering. Mental-health professionals seek reliable and treatable diagnostic categories. Scientists want definitions that correspond as closely as possible to nature. And all parties seek definitive insight into what they regard as the right target. Yet even the best classification system cannot satisfy all of these interests simultaneously. Progress toward an ideal is difficult, and revisions to diagnostic criteria often serve the interests of one group at the expense of another. Schnittker urges us to become comfortable with the socially constructed nature of categorization and accept that a perfect taxonomy of mental-health disorders will remain elusive. Decision making based on evolving though fluid understandings is not a weakness but an adaptive strength of the mental-health profession, even if it is not a solid foundation for scientific discovery or a reassuring framework for patients.

The world of Research Methods is always changing and becoming ever more complex. Now completely up to date with the latest innovations, this book engages with recent controversies to give you the best start with your research. In each chapter you will find: * Key concept boxes to help you stay on track and focus on what's most important * Real life examples which make the theory easier to understand * Exercises to check you've understood the chapter * Questions to help you develop your critical thinking. Also available online are: * Multiple choice questions to test your understanding * Datasets to allow you to practice your skills * A flashcard glossary to help with revision. Offering a complete package to anyone taking a research methods course as part of their degree.

This book reviews several psychological perspectives of religiosity. It studies individual differences and health benefits of religiosity as well. Chapter One focuses on religious conversion and provides a review of psychological concepts related to religious conversion and defines religious conversion as a positive change in religious beliefs including significant changes in spiritual and personal life. Chapter Two examines whether the meaning of life can mediate the relationships between religiosity and hope. Chapter Three discusses the contribution of religiosity and spirituality to well-being. Chapter Four explores the associations between religiosity, subjective well-being, and psychopathology. Chapter Five describes two studies that explores whether the experience of loneliness is influenced by one's degree of religious observance. Chapter Six reviews research on whether religiosity is a protective factor for suicidal ideation and behavior. Chapter Seven studies spiritual tactics, sickness and depressed moods in older adults. Chapter Eight reviews often conflicting scientific literature dealing with spirituality and religiosity and eating disorder symptomatology in women. Finally, Chapter Nine discusses religion, spirituality and health in the Chinese context.

This textbook aims to support counsellors, psychotherapists, and counselling psychologists to develop a creative research-informed practice. Following from the authors' earlier title Enjoying Research, the book covers qualitative, quantitative, pluralistic, and mixed methods approaches with a special focus on diversity, researcher support and innovative methods. The book explores research during critical stages like question formulation, data gathering, ethics, analysis, and presentation of the findings. It mixes theory with illustrative real-life, 'how-to-do-it'-examples and reader activities. International experts contribute with examples ranging from arts-based 'decolonising' research to creative use of outcome- and survey-based approaches - with a shared interest in dialogues between 'scientific' and 'aesthetic' (or intuitive, embodied) means of knowing. This is essential reading for anyone looking for a book that combines self-awareness with analytical and practical skills in counselling and psychotherapy related research.

This book focuses on the latest developments in psychology research. The first chapter examines psychoactive substance use and abuse among individuals living with spinal cord injury. The following chapters discuss the role of time perspective on well-bring, life stratification and mindfulness; the ecological landscape of bilingual memory; provide a discussion on developing EI/empathy of pre-service teachers using SDM as a teaching model; examine the pros and cons of an online prospective memory experiment; religious influence on out-group stereotypes; biophysical aspects of childhood obesity; performance errors and commission errors while performing a prospective memory task under divided attention; and spirituality as an aspect of health behavior and informal care-giving.

Insightful observations on common question evaluation methods and best practices for data collection in survey research

Featuring contributions from leading researchers and academicians in the field of survey research, "Question Evaluation Methods: Contributing to the Science of Data Quality" sheds light on question response error and introduces an interdisciplinary, cross-method approach that is essential for advancing knowledge about data quality and ensuring the credibility of conclusions drawn from surveys and censuses. Offering a variety of expert analyses of question evaluation methods, the book provides recommendations and best practices for researchers working with data in the health and social sciences.

Based on a workshop held at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), this book presents and compares various question evaluation methods that are used in modern-day data collection and analysis. Each section includes an introduction to a method by a leading authority in the field, followed by responses from other experts that outline related strengths, weaknesses, and underlying assumptions. Topics covered include: Behavior codingCognitive interviewingItem response theoryLatent class analysisSplit-sample experimentsMultitrait-multimethod experimentsField-based data methods

A concluding discussion identifies common themes across the presented material and their relevance to the future of survey methods, data analysis, and the production of Federal statistics. Together, the methods presented in this book offer researchers various scientific approaches to evaluating survey quality to ensure that the responses to these questions result in reliable, high-quality data.

Question Evaluation Methods is a valuable supplement for courses on questionnaire design, survey methods, and evaluation methods at the upper-undergraduate and graduate levels. it also serves as a reference for government statisticians, survey methodologists, and researchers and practitioners who carry out survey research in the areas of the social and health sciences.

Statistical Methods for Communication Science is the only statistical methods volume currently available that focuses exclusively on statistics in communication research. Writing in a straightforward, personal style, author Andrew F. Hayes offers this accessible and thorough introduction to statistical methods, starting with the fundamentals of measurement and moving on to discuss such key topics as sampling procedures, probability, reliability, hypothesis testing, simple correlation and regression, and analyses of variance and covariance. Hayes takes readers through each topic with clear explanations and illustrations. He provides a multitude of examples, all set in the context of communication research, thus engaging readers directly and helping them to see the relevance and importance of statistics to the field of communication. Highlights of this text include: *thorough and balanced coverage of topics; *integration of classical methods with modern "resampling" approaches to inference; *consideration of practical, "real world" issues; *numerous examples and applications, all drawn from communication research; *up-to-date information, with examples justifying use of various techniques; and *downloadable resources with macros, data sets, figures, and additional materials. This unique book can be used as a stand-alone classroom text, a supplement to traditional research methods texts, or a useful reference manual. It will be invaluable to students, faculty, researchers, and practitioners in communication, and it will serve to advance the understanding and use of statistical methods throughout the discipline.

Experience the art of Jay Haley's strategic therapy as he personally utilizes a variety of techniques in treating depression, violence, and psychosis with couples, children, families and various ethnic groups. Visit www.haley-therapies.com for additional resources by Jay Haley, including live videos of the pioneering therapist in action.

This continuing series presents original research results on the leading edge of psychology. Each article has been carefully selected in an attempt to present substantial results across a broad spectrum. This book reviews research on the parenting behaviour, parental influence, and adolescents' risk behaviour; estimating the effects of casinos and of lotteries on suicide; human brainwaves synchronisation; honours students; the biopsychology of SCZ; issues surrounding the assessment of developmental coordination disorder; and the real roles of corruption.

This continuing series presents original research results on the leading edge of psychology. Each article has been carefully selected in an attempt to present substantial results across a broad spectrum. This book reviews research on behaviour modification for the obese person with depression; mental health and therapy in contemporary china; intensive behavioural therapy for the treatment of obesity; a post-Jungian personality theory; Kolb's experiential learning theory revisited; impulsivity and reactive aggressiveness; supporting students from divorced families; appraisals and control strategies for intrusive thoughts of failure, dirt, and aggression; exploration of the belief bias in transitive inference; and aggression and impulsivity in suicidal behaviour.

While consumer research is founded on traditional quantitative approaches, the insight produced through qualitative research methods within consumer settings has not gone unnoticed. The culturally situated consumer, who is in intimate dialogue with their physical, virtual and social surroundings, has become integral to understanding the psychology behind consumer choices. This volume presents readers with theoretical and applied approaches to using qualitative research methods in ethnographic studies looking at consumer behavior. It brings together an international group of leading scholars in the field of consumer research, with educational and professional backgrounds in marketing, advertising, business, education, therapy and health. Researchers, teaching faculty, and students in the field of consumer and social psychology will benefit from the applied examples of qualitative and ethnographic consumer research this volume presents.

Presenting a new frame of reference, the author argues that Freud's theories are not the result of his genius alone but were developed in exchange with colleagues and students, which is not always apparent at first glance. Replete with examples, the author reconstructs who the theories were addressed to and the discursive context they originally belonged to, thus presenting fresh and surprising readings of Freud's oeuvre. The book also offers a glimpse into Freud's practice. For the first time, Freud's patient record books which he kept for ten years, are being reviewed, offering readers the hard facts about the length and frequency of Freud's analyses.

Mental illness causes a substantial health burden in all regions of the world, and is a major contributor to world poverty. Developing a National Mental Health Policy is designed to support those involved in developing locally appropriate mental health policies, emphasising the crucial role of primary care, NGOs, the social sector, schools and workplaces, and the criminal justice system as well as the specialist mental health services. The book addresses the principles of human rights, mental health legislation, mental health information systems, human resources, accountability and financing as well as key cultural issues. It gives a comprehensive and up to date account of the task of tailoring mental health services to the needs of countries in the post-institutional era.

How do biological and environmental factors influence the development of childhood and adolescent disorders? There has been a substantial increase of interest in research into child and adolescent psychopathology. In this book, Cecilia Essau brings together contributions from the UK, the US and Canada to provide a comprehensive summary of the information available on the subject. Beginning with an introduction to general issues related to child and adolescent psychopathology, including theoretical models of normal and abnormal development, each chapter goes on to address the issues associated with specific disorders, such as: oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder eating disorders substance use disorders somatoform disorders. The contributors present a thorough overview of each disorder, including discussion of definition and classification, epidemiology, risk factors, comorbidity, course, outcome and prevention. Child & Adolescent Psychopathology will be welcomed by all mental health professionals seeking a reliable source of scientifically and clinically relevant information on the nature and treatment of child and adolescent disorders.