After reinforcing foundations in methodology, statistics, and writing in the first section of the book, emerging researchers work through a series of questions to construct their research report. The final section contains sample papers generated by undergraduates illustrating three major forms of quantitative research--primary data collection, secondary data analysis, and content analysis.
"The Teaching Writing series publishes user-friendly writing guides penned by authors with publishing records in their subject matter. Infused with multidisciplinary examples, humor, and a healthy dose of irreverence, Fallon helps emerging researchers successfully navigate the intellectual and emotional challenges of writing quantitative research reports. After reinforcing foundations in methodology, statistics, and writing in the first section of the book, emerging researchers work through a series of questions to construct their research report. The final section contains sample papers generated by undergraduates illustrating three major forms of quantitative research – primary data collection, secondary data analysis, and content analysis. Writing up Quantitative Research in the Social and Behavioral Sciences is appropriate for research methods classes in communication, criminology or criminal justice, economics, education, political science, psychological science, social work, and sociology. Individual students and novice researchers can also read the book as a supplement to any course or research experience that requires writing up quantitative data. “Fallon brings much-needed accessibility to the daunting world of quantitative methods. Filled with contemporary references to pop culture ... key concepts are creatively introduced.” – Diana Cohen, Associate Professor of Political Science, Central Connecticut State University “This book covers the ‘how to’ of writing research projects in a highly engaging manner. Graduate students who are preparing to work on their master’s thesis will get a lot out of this book.” – Damon Mitchell, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Central Connecticut State University “Writing up Quantitative Research in the Social and Behavioral Sciences is not your typical book. It is a MUST HAVE handbook for students in the social and behavioral sciences ...” – Carolyn Fallahi, Professor of Psychological Science, Central Connecticut State University “Kudos to Fallon for writing a very thorough and readable foundational text for beginning researchers!” – Linda Behrendt, Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, Indiana State University Marianne Fallon, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychological Science at Central Connecticut State University and has taught undergraduate Research Methods for over 10 years. A recipient of the Connecticut State University Trustees Teaching Award, she has mentored many emerging researchers, several of whom have won local and regional research awards and have published their research."div
Writing Empirical Research Reports: A Basic Guide for Students of the Social and Behavioral Sciences, Ninth Edition, offers clear and practical guidance on how to write research proposals, reports, theses, and dissertations. The book describes the types of information that should be included, how this information should be expressed, and where various types of information should be placed within a research report. The organization is designed to walk students through all the elements required when writing an original research report for a class, for a thesis/dissertation, or for publication. Most guidelines are illustrated with examples from actual (and recent) research reports published in peer-reviewed journals across the social and behavioral sciences. The new edition includes fully updated examples and chapter exercises, expanded material on qualitative methods, significant new material on research ethics, and new content on online research including social media. Accompanied by online resources for students and instructors, Writing Empirical Research Reports is ideal for use in research methods courses, thesis/dissertation preparation courses, research seminars where writing a research report is a culminating activity, and any graduate-level seminar in which the instructor covers the vital components necessary to prepare a research manuscript for submission for publication.
This book introduces a reader to a broad range of research methods used by behavioural scientists. It attempts to provide an understanding of how quantitative research is conducted, analyzed, and used in such a way that it will remain with users until they themselves have to deal with the realities of research. It gives users the necessary theory that makes the practical aspects of research methodology comprehensible. For instance, chapters on the philosophy of science and on measurement theory give the foundation for understanding why control is necessary in experimentation, which in turn underlies the importance of random assignment.
A comprehensive introduction to research methods and best practices for designing,conducting, interpreting, and reporting findings This text is designed to develop in students a passion for conducting research and an understanding of the practical value of systematic information- gathering and decision-making. It features step-by-step coverage of the research process including research design, statistical considerations, and guidance on writing up and presenting results. Recognized leaders in the field—authors Bart Weathington, Christopher Cunningham, and David Pittenger—present: Introductions to multiple research designs—including single-participant, multi-group, longitudinal, correlational, and experimental designs—accompanied by examples Bibliographic research and methods for appropriate sampling Identifying, developing, and evaluating reliable and valid approaches to measurement The issues and steps common to all single-factor and multifactor studies, as well as single-subject and nonexperimental methods How to summarize research in writing that conforms to the editorial guidelines of the American Psychological Association A comprehensive review of research methods and the statistical concepts that support them, Research Methods for the Behavioral and Social Sciences offers the best techniques for studying behavior and social phenomena.
• Prepares students to conduct their first empirical research study, with quantitative and qualitative methods covered in detail. Common features as well as differences between the two research approaches are explored. • While theoretical material is included, the emphasis is on providing practical, easy-to-follow advice on how to conduct a first research project. • Unlike most texts with hypothetical examples, this text—with real examples written by a variety of published researchers—makes research methods come alive. Students see how research methods are used to explore important, contemporary problems. • Factual Questions at the end of each chapter help students review key concepts covered in the chapters. • Questions for Discussion encourage students to consider specific techniques and strategies that they might use while conducting their research.
A Research Primer for the Social and Behavioral Sciences provides an introductory but comprehensive overview of the research process that primarily concerns human subjects. This book discusses the methods of acquiring knowledge, importance of a well-chosen problem, review of the literature, and relationship between theory-building and hypothesis-testing. The common sources of invalidity in practice, non-experimental research types, Stevens' classification of scales, and estimation based on probabilistic sampling are also elaborated. This text likewise covers the role of computer in research, techniques for analysis of data, univariate and bivariate statistics, and assumptions underlying analysis of variance. Other topics include the canonical correlation analysis, non-parametric analysis of variance, deterministic problem analysis techniques, and common errors in presentation of findings. This publication is intended for novice investigators in the broad category of social and behavioral sciences.
"I wholeheartedly invite counselor trainees and counselors into this journey of growing the research component of their professional identity... Flynn and his colleagues prepare counselor trainees and counselors for this journey well and guide them carefully toward researcher competency. In an approachable and developmentally appropriate manner, they highlight for the profession the value of research and how it can be conducted." - Danica G. Hays, PhD American Counseling Fellow Professor and Executive Associate Dean University of Nevada, Las Vegas Research Design for the Behavioral Sciences fills an important gap for the helping professions by offering a blueprint for advanced concepts and an applied approach to understanding quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research design. This graduate-level text seamlessly weaves together the philosophy, science, and practical application of the most common methodological frameworks in practice. Advanced research design concepts are presented through clear and in-depth blueprints, applied case studies, myriad examples, and helpful learning activities. Written in detailed yet accessible language, this text describes the foundations of behavioral science research. The authors explore research-based philosophical integration, along with the technical application of every tradition. Through this philosophical and pragmatic approach, students will be able to attain a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of behavioral science research. This text provides students with the opportunity to reach a greater level of research efficacy though the inclusion of methodological procedures, data analysis methods, reliability/validity standards, ethics, and directions on how to increase the rigor of each approach to research. Instructor resources include an instructor's manual, learning activities, test bank, and PowerPoints. Purchase includes digital access for use on most mobile devices and computers. Key Features: Provides clear, detailed, and contextually accurate examples of writing, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods procedures Reviews the paradigmatic hierarchy of each research tradition along with key analytic features in detail Delivers instructions for enhancing the methodological rigor of each approach Analyzes methodology-specific multicultural issues Demonstrates the application of a wide range of research methodologies with case studies Reviews the trends and history in research for counseling, psychology, social work, and marriage and family therapy Offers comprehensive instructor resources including manual, learning activities, test bank, and PowerPoint slides
A comprehensive introduction to research methods and best practices for designing,conducting, interpreting, and reporting findings This text is designed to develop in students a passion for conducting research and an understanding of the practical value of systematic information- gathering and decision-making. It features step-by-step coverage of the research process including research design, statistical considerations, and guidance on writing up and presenting results. Recognized leaders in the field—authors Bart Weathington, Christopher Cunningham, and David Pittenger—present: Introductions to multiple research designs—including single-participant, multi-group, longitudinal, correlational, and experimental designs—accompanied by examples Bibliographic research and methods for appropriate sampling Identifying, developing, and evaluating reliable and valid approaches to measurement The issues and steps common to all single-factor and multifactor studies, as well as single-subject and nonexperimental methods How to summarize research in writing that conforms to the editorial guidelines of the American Psychological Association A comprehensive review of research methods and the statistical concepts that support them, Research Methods for the Behavioral and Social Sciences offers the best techniques for studying behavior and social phenomena.
Guides readers through the quantitative data analysis process including contextualizing data within a research situation, connecting data to the appropriate statistical tests, and drawing valid conclusions Introduction to Quantitative Data Analysis in the Behavioral and Social Sciences presents a clear and accessible introduction to the basics of quantitative data analysis and focuses on how to use statistical tests as a key tool for analyzing research data. The book presents the entire data analysis process as a cyclical, multiphase process and addresses the processes of exploratory analysis, decision-making for performing parametric or nonparametric analysis, and practical significance determination. In addition, the author details how data analysis is used to reveal the underlying patterns and relationships between the variables and connects those trends to the data’s contextual situation. Filling the gap in quantitative data analysis literature, this book teaches the methods and thought processes behind data analysis, rather than how to perform the study itself or how to perform individual statistical tests. With a clear and conversational style, readers are provided with a better understanding of the overall structure and methodology behind performing a data analysis as well as the needed techniques to make informed, meaningful decisions during data analysis. The book features numerous data analysis examples in order to emphasize the decision and thought processes that are best followed, and self-contained sections throughout separate the statistical data analysis from the detailed discussion of the concepts allowing readers to reference a specific section of the book for immediate solutions to problems and/or applications. Introduction to Quantitative Data Analysis in the Behavioral and Social Sciences also features coverage of the following: • The overall methodology and research mind-set for how to approach quantitative data analysis and how to use statistics tests as part of research data analysis • A comprehensive understanding of the data, its connection to a research situation, and the most appropriate statistical tests for the data • Numerous data analysis problems and worked-out examples to illustrate the decision and thought processes that reveal underlying patterns and trends • Detailed examples of the main concepts to aid readers in gaining the needed skills to perform a full analysis of research problems • A conversational tone to effectively introduce readers to the basics of how to perform data analysis as well as make meaningful decisions during data analysis Introduction to Quantitative Data Analysis in the Behavioral and Social Sciences is an ideal textbook for upper-undergraduate and graduate-level research method courses in the behavioral and social sciences, statistics, and engineering. This book is also an appropriate reference for practitioners who require a review of quantitative research methods. Michael J. Albers, Ph.D., is Professor in the Department of English at East Carolina University. His research interests include information design with a focus on answering real-world questions, the presentation of complex information, and human–information interaction. Dr. Albers received his Ph.D. in Technical Communication and Rhetoric from Texas Tech University.
