Psychology Research Methods is a foundational textbook designed for undergraduate and graduate psychology students studying research methodology. The book introduces the theory and practice of research methods in psychology, addressing primarily quantitative and qualitative approaches.

A unique feature of the text is its emphasis on the way in which social science researchers can utilise research methods to respond to contexts characterised by power imbalances, socio-economic disparities, and other inequalities. It frames research as a socially situated process that acknowledges the perspectives of the researched communities.

Ethical considerations are interwoven throughout the text, framing ethicality as a core aspect of both the researcher’s identity and the broader knowledge-production process. This ethical grounding reinforces the book’s commitment to social justice and its vision of research as a tool for meaningful societal transformation.

Case studies and practical exercises give students a feel for what real research is and illustrate how traditional methods can be creatively transformed to become more African-centred. This develops students’ critical thinking skills preparing them to identify, select, and apply contextually relevant methods to solve real-world problems. Students are encouraged to reflect on research methods, i.e., on what they are doing and why, rather than uncritically consume theory and processes.

The book provides a contextual way of utilising research methods to conduct socially relevant research in South Africa, which could extend across global contexts.

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1. Contextualising the research process and practice.
Chapter 2. How do we know what we know?
Chapter 3. Research ethics in context: Toward a decolonial approach to ethicality.
Chapter 4. What to research: Formulating questions and assumptions.
Chapter 5. Establishing a blue print: Research design for quantitative research.
Chapter 6. Research design for qualitative and mixed methods.
Chapter 7. The ‘who’ in psychological research: Choosing your sample.
Chapter 8. Data collection methods: Surveys and measurement.
Chapter 9. Applying psychometric principles to measures.
Chapter 10. Data collection methods in qualitative research.
Chapter 11. Data collection using AI, social media, and technological tools.
Chapter 12. Establishing rigour in quantitative and qualitative research.
Chapter 13. Quantitative data analysis: Preparing data and descriptive statistical analysis.
Chapter 14. Quantitative data analysis: Inferential data analysis.
Chapter 15. Analysing qualitative data.
Chapter 16. Final steps: Writing up your research.

Appendix: Research in context: Participatory Action Research and co-design.
 

High in the eastern Himalayan foothills, people had a unique vantage point on the British Empire. The Mizo Discovery of the British Raj presents a history of Mizoram in Northeast India told from historical Indigenous perspectives of encounters with empire from the 1890s to the 1920s. Based on a wide range of research and enriched by sources newly digitised by the author through the British Library's Endangered Archives Programme, Kyle Jackson sheds new light on the complex and violent processes of how and why diverse populations of highland clans in the Indo-Burmese borderlands came to redefine themselves as Christian Mizos. By using historical Indigenous concepts and logics to approach early twentieth-century imperial encounters, Jackson guides readers into a decolonial history of Northeast India, demonstrating the value of thinking not just about the histories of colonized peoples and concepts but also with them.

Track and field season has arrived, and Mac is ready to report. Between last year's returning stars and standout newcomer Aleesha Ramos, the Predators are poised for an even better year at the state championships. That is, until practice ends, and meets begin. When the bleachers fill, Aleesha's sprinting is unremarkable. While the other sprinters warm up, Aleesha looks down. During races, she clips hurdles and loses speed. And afterward, she simply disappears. Mac is determined to find out why. Can Mac find out the cause behind the sprinter's poor performance? Or will the Predators lose their chance at a championship win? Stewart "Mac" McKenzie is THE sports expert at Coyote Canyon Middle School, and its best sports reporter. While he scores big on the court with his wheelchair basketball team, his love for all sports is equally epic. There isn't a stat he doesn't know, a player's name he doesn't recognize, a big game he hasn't seen.

The Predators are on a hot streak, but their star shooter is in a slump. Drew Borders isn't putting up the numbers, and no one--except Mac--wants to go on record as to why. It's obvious to Mac that Drew's overly critical and loud father, powerful attorney Larry Borders, is the root of the problem. When Drew is benched, and the sideline commentary from Mr. Borders doesn't stop, Mac decides to take matters into his own hands. Will the Predators miss out on the conference final with their sharpshooter riding the pine? And what happens when Mac uses his investigative reporting to call Mr. Borders' behavior into question? Stewart "Mac" McKenzie is THE sports expert at Coyote Canyon Middle School. While he scores big on the court with his wheelchair basketball team, his love for all sports is equally epic. There isn't a stat he doesn't know, a player's name he doesn't recognize, a big game he hasn't seen.

When the Predators' starting quarterback, Ryan Mitchell, gets sacked at the end of a game, Mac seems to be the only one concerned about the hit . . . at first. And even though Mac does not report his off-the-record talk with Ryan, Mac--and his reporting--has a lot to do with Ryan being sidelined with a concussion. When Ryan's starting spot gets bumped by a replacement, Ryan is furious with Mac. What will it take to get Ryan back in the game? And what will Mac do when he finds out? Stewart "Mac" McKenzie is THE sports expert at Coyote Canyon Middle School. While he scores big on the court with his wheelchair basketball team, his love for all sports is equally epic. There isn't a stat he doesn't know, a player's name he doesn't recognize, a big game he hasn't seen.

Mac loves uncovering stories, but ever since the arrival of new student Roe Danner, there's one story he just can't figure out. The introverted tennis prodigy may make herself known on the court, but off the court, she's a total mystery. And before long, Roe's playing starts sparking rumors too. Even though she's right-handed, she plays with her left. And instead of sticking to the baseline, she charges the net. She even replaces her state-of-the-art graphite racket with an old wooden one. It's up to Mac to discover the truth behind Roe's odd antics. If he can do that, he might be able to stop the rumors and help bring Roe the fan support she needs. Stewart "Mac" McKenzie is THE sports expert at Coyote Canyon Middle School. While he scores big on the court with his wheelchair basketball team, his love for all sports is equally epic. There isn't a stat he doesn't know, a player's name he doesn't recognize, a big game he hasn't seen.

Mac loves uncovering stories, but ever since the arrival of new student Roe Danner, there's one story he just can't figure out. The introverted tennis prodigy may make herself known on the court, but off the court, she's a total mystery. And before long, Roe's playing starts sparking rumors too. Even though she's right-handed, she plays with her left. And instead of sticking to the baseline, she charges the net. She even replaces her state-of-the-art graphite racket with an old wooden one. It's up to Mac to discover the truth behind Roe's odd antics. If he can do that, he might be able to stop the rumors and help bring Roe the fan support she needs. Stewart "Mac" McKenzie is THE sports expert at Coyote Canyon Middle School. While he scores big on the court with his wheelchair basketball team, his love for all sports is equally epic. There isn't a stat he doesn't know, a player's name he doesn't recognize, a big game he hasn't seen.

The Predators are on a hot streak, but their star shooter is in a slump. Drew Borders isn't putting up the numbers, and no one--except Mac--wants to go on record as to why. It's obvious to Mac that Drew's overly critical and loud father, powerful attorney Larry Borders, is the root of the problem. When Drew is benched, and the sideline commentary from Mr. Borders doesn't stop, Mac decides to take matters into his own hands. Will the Predators miss out on the conference final with their sharpshooter riding the pine? And what happens when Mac uses his investigative reporting to call Mr. Borders' behavior into question? Stewart "Mac" McKenzie is THE sports expert at Coyote Canyon Middle School. While he scores big on the court with his wheelchair basketball team, his love for all sports is equally epic. There isn't a stat he doesn't know, a player's name he doesn't recognize, a big game he hasn't seen.

Track and field season has arrived, and Mac is ready to report. Between last year's returning stars and standout newcomer Aleesha Ramos, the Predators are poised for an even better year at the state championships. That is, until practice ends, and meets begin. When the bleachers fill, Aleesha's sprinting is unremarkable. While the other sprinters warm up, Aleesha looks down. During races, she clips hurdles and loses speed. And afterward, she simply disappears. Mac is determined to find out why. Can Mac find out the cause behind the sprinter's poor performance? Or will the Predators lose their chance at a championship win? Stewart "Mac" McKenzie is THE sports expert at Coyote Canyon Middle School, and its best sports reporter. While he scores big on the court with his wheelchair basketball team, his love for all sports is equally epic. There isn't a stat he doesn't know, a player's name he doesn't recognize, a big game he hasn't seen.

When the Predators' starting quarterback, Ryan Mitchell, gets sacked at the end of a game, Mac seems to be the only one concerned about the hit . . . at first. And even though Mac does not report his off-the-record talk with Ryan, Mac--and his reporting--has a lot to do with Ryan being sidelined with a concussion. When Ryan's starting spot gets bumped by a replacement, Ryan is furious with Mac. What will it take to get Ryan back in the game? And what will Mac do when he finds out? Stewart "Mac" McKenzie is THE sports expert at Coyote Canyon Middle School. While he scores big on the court with his wheelchair basketball team, his love for all sports is equally epic. There isn't a stat he doesn't know, a player's name he doesn't recognize, a big game he hasn't seen.