Investigating Psychology: key concepts, key studies, key approaches

by Nicola Brace (Editor), Jovan Byford

Drawing on a wide range of studies and some classic pieces of psychological research, Investigating Psychology provides an accessible and engaging introduction to the study of psychology. It focuses specifically on how psychologists go about doing their research, how their work relates to
real-life problems and social issues, and how psychology as a discipline has been influenced by broader political, historical and technological developments.

The book is divided into three parts, each with its own overarching theme. This structure facilitates the exploration, across the chapters within each part, of a number of broader issues in psychology.

Part 1: Why do people do harm to others?

Part 2: How do others influence who we are and what we do?

Part 3: How do we investigate psychological processes that we cannot directly observe, like attention, memory or language?

Each part consists of three individual chapters with at its core a classic piece of psychological research which relates to some real-life question of contemporary relevance. In considering the specific piece of research, each chapter (1) introduces in an accessible and concrete way a particular
method or approach, (2) examines the relevant historical, social and political conditions underpinning the study, and (3) considers the subsequent developments in the field and how the question addressed by the classic study has since been explored by psychologists.

The studies examined in the chapters have been carefully chosen to ensure that the book as whole introduces readers to different areas of psychology (social, cognitive, developmental, biological, individual differences, etc.) as well as to a range of research traditions (behaviourism, experimental
psychology, ethology, observation, etc.). The book also covers issues such as different types of evidence, methods and data, the complex nature of causation and the importance of ethics in psychological research.

Investigating Psychology will give its readers a better understanding of the diverse nature of psychology as an academic discipline, and of the different ways in which psychologists go about investigating new ideas about the human mind and behaviour.

Online Resource

For
- Figures from the book in electronic format;
- Links to related video content, for use in teaching
- Suggested activities to reinforce concepts covered in the text

For
- Online MCQs, to check understanding as you progress through the text
- Flashcard glossary, to help you master the key terminology

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction

440 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2012

About the author

BSc(HONS) Psychology
PhD Psychology

Founding member of the International Centre for Comparative Criminological Research.

She is one of the six Open University centres of research excellence, and part of the centre's Forensic Psychology Research Group.

She works closely with Dr Graham Pike, Dr Hayley Ness, Dr Jim Turner and Dr Gemma Briggs.

Chartered member of:
The British Psychological Society
The European Association of Psychology and Law
Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition

Reviews

[Tiago F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite impressed by this book. I've read a lot of introductory texts to psychology, and this definitely stands out. It's divided into 3 parts, and each part dives into a specific study or collection of studies into a given topic. The subdisciplines are quite broad, touching on individual differences, social psychology, developmental psychology, evolutionary psychology, neuroscience and cognitive science.

The first one dives into the research of authoritarian personality by Adorno, obedience studies by Milgram, and finishes with Bandura's work on social learning and aggression. The second touches on Skinner's behaviourism, Harlow's experiments on attachment in monkeys, and research on children's friendships. In the third and last part, it touches on the discoveries of Broca and Wernicke, plus experimental work on attention and eyewitness memory.

Not only are the studies and their conclusions discussed, but also important concepts along the way for anyone that wants to get into psychology, especially towards how the field progresses and its scientific basis.

I think it's a wonderful book. It does have some downsides, like being quite long (even though it doesn't actually cover that much) and I'd have personally swapped a few topics, but overall it's very good. It's perhaps not as exciting as a more typical pop-psychology book, but that's because it's more academic and concerned about learning rather than being enjoyable to read.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helpful and well written. Good for my studying.

[Caroline Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as part of studying DE100 with OU. Snapshot of key psychologists, exploring range of issues from what is love and attachment, to cognitive processes, to psychology of personality and individual differences.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my degree

[Emma]

Read for uni

[Bliss R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as part of my degree, a good introductory text with some interesting and engaging text.

[Szandra Dabkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the chapters were a bit of a challenge for me to get through, but I found it interesting altogether. Definitely being an important milestone in my study.

[Andy]

The book formed the base of my course 'DSE141 Discovering Psychology' with The Open University. A nice introduction to psychology and a bit of an eye opener into the amount of research and critical thinking required in this field of study.

[Olenka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Psychology introduction ! great book! I would recommend it to those who wants to learn about psychology more. Very easy to read with brilliant examples and researches.