Methods for Behavioral Research: A Systematic Approach

Methods for Behavioral Research introduces psychology students to research methods. The author′s principal goal is to present methods in a way that will lend coherence to the material. He does this by providing a meaningful framework based on Campbell and Stanley′s "threats to validity" and by organizing the book around the chronology of the research process, treating it as a sequence of steps:

• Formulating a hypothesis

• Specifying the variables

• Creating a research design

• Collecting the data

• Analyzing the data

• Drawing conclusions and reporting the results

In addition, in his approach and via boxed features, the author encourages and models a process of critical thinking for students. The abundant study aids will help students summarize each chapter visually, and provide review questions, and exercises.

Paul D. Cherulnik, Ph.D., has taught psychology at a number of colleges and universities for over 30 years. This is his third book. The others include a previous research methods book and a collection of case studies of the application of behavioral research in design fields such as architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture. He has also published over two dozen research papers, most dealing with relationships between physical appearance and social behavior. Recently, he has been developing and validating a scale that measures people’s beliefs about the Culture of Honor.