Beginning Behavioral Research: Conceptual Primer - Hardcover

Rosnow, Ralph L.; Rosenthal, Robert

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0131147307 ISBN 13: 9780131147300

Publisher: Prentice Hall, 2005

Synopsis

This successful introduction to behavioral research methods—written by two leaders in the field—provides step-by-step guidance through the processes of planning an empirical study, analyzing and interpreting data, and reporting findings and conclusions. It encourages readers to be analytical and critical, not only in interpreting research findings, but also in investigating what is behind the claims and conclusions in news reports of scientific results. While the primary emphasis is on behavioral and social research, a strong effort is made to connect these disciplines with the empirical reasoning used in other fields in order to underscore the unity of science. The volume examines behavioral research and scientific method, creative ideas and working hypotheses, ethical considerations and guidelines, observation and measurement, design and implementation, describing data and making inferences, and statistical tests. For those interested in an introduction to research methods.

About this title

From the Publisher

Focused on students as potential educated consumers of scientific research (rather than as professional producers of research), this text walks them step-by-step through the process of designing and conducting an empirical study, analyzing and interpreting the data, and reporting the findings and conclusions -- and in the process, encourages and prepares them to be analytical and critical in interpreting research findings -- whatever their source.

From the Back Cover

This introduction to behavioral research—written by two leaders in the field—was originally conceived as an undergraduate text for students who, as part of an introductory course in research methods, are required to plan an empirical study, analyze and interpret data, and report findings and conclusions. It encourages students to be analytical and critical, not only in interpreting research findings, but in seeing what is behind the claims and conclusions in news reports of scientific results. While the primary emphasis is on behavioral and social research, a strong effort is made to connect these disciplines with the empirical reasoning used in other fields in order to underscore the unity of science. The Third Edition has retained much of what made its predecessors so successful, while incorporating a wide variety of pedagogical devices and expanding and/or updating coverage throughout the text.

Edition details

• Publisher: Prentice Hall
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0131147307
• ISBN 13: 9780131147300
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 5
• Number of pages: 464