Research Methods and Statistics

Macmillan Insights in Psychology

by Ian Walker

How do you design a research project? What is the difference in method between qualitative and quantitative research? How should psychologists go about considering the ethics of research methodology? For the 'students who ask questions', this concise text provides an informative introduction to the methods of psychological research, offering an overview of the primary stages in research. From learning how to construct the initial aims and criterion of a study to presenting the final resulting data into tables and graphs, this book aims to guide psychologists through the tools that make psychological research and the understanding of its resulting data possible. Written with enthusiasm and lucidity, Walker guides readers through the appropriate methods for undertaking research, explaining the discerning features of the core types of research, the primary measurements of statistics such as the chi-squared , t and Mann-Whitney U tests and brings an apt consideration of what makes a psychological study ethical. Whether desiring to learn about how to empirically record and measure the psychological experience of an individual or the behavioural factors of an entire population, Research Methods and Statistics is the introductory short-text for learning how to undertake successful research.

This title stands as part of the Insights series edited by Nigel Holt and Rob Lewis, containing versatile, quick guides to the cornerstone theories, main topics and theoretical perspectives of their subjects and are useful for pre-undergraduate students looking to find incisive introductions to subjects that they may be considering for undergraduate study or those looking for helpful preparatory reading for undergraduate modules in the prospective subject. Also useful for undergraduate psychology-students who feel that they could benefit from some background reading in this often less-understood area of psychology.

200 pages, Paperback

First published August 20, 2010

Reviews

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious and entertaining way to grasp the essentials of statistics! I will be recommending this book to anyone struggling in undergraduate courses or wanting a lighthearted refresher of statistical concepts.

[Jessy Fisk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good entry level book. It even has bad jokes. Makes things really simple to understand, and is for people who have a literary mind rather than mathematical so I found it really useful. My only whine about it is it's a bit too simplistic for degree level, I would have liked a chapter on how to read statistical findings in papers because the language he uses is brilliant. Although, I guess when he teaches me in semester 2 (i think?) that might help :B

[Chris Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Put of the many research methods books I bought this was the only one that I could read.

[Ugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was recently appointed editor of a healthcare journal, and although I did maths at A level, I avoided practical work while studying biochemistry at university, and so I felt a need to brush up on my basic statistics. I spent a long time browsing in the statistics section of Foyles, but even the introductory titles looked much too heavy going, with far too much emphasis on how to actually carry out statistical analyses for my needs. I'd pretty much given up and decided to opt for the Very Short Introduction to Statistics - which has fairly average reviews on Amazon - when I wandered into the Psychology section and happened upon this.
The eye-catching cover no doubt helped me spot it, and indeed the book itself is a lovely thing. The cover, the print, the organisation of the contents, the tables and graphs - all are wonderful. It's simply a delightful volume, and I fell in love with it immediately.
And the content itself happily also proved to be excellent. The concepts are very clearly explained, often in more than one way and always with very useful examples. The book is aimed at research novices, i.e. A level and undergraduate students, and for me it hits the mark perfectly. The writing style is engaging and amusing (without being annoying, as is often the case when people try to target youngish readers) as well as informative and authoritative. I came away thinking that Ian Walker must be not only a very good scientist but also a great teacher. Credit is no doubt also due to the editors.
The only complaint I have is that I would have liked a bit more detail on qualitative research methods, which I'll be encountering a lot - here they're only briefly dealt with. If those had been given just a little more attention then I could probably have started and ended my stats reseach right here. As it is I'll probably have to seek out a second book that deals specifically with that subject.
There surely aren't many books on statistics that you can sit and read from cover to cover. That's exactly what I did here, and the experience was about as enjoyable as it could possibly have been. This book was almost perfect for my requirements, and I'm very glad that I stumbled across it. I might even go read a few of Ian's own research papers for some examples of how it ought to be done!

[Richard Tait · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good intro. As enjoyable a read as a stats book will ever be.