Methods Toward a Science of Behavior and Experience

In this revision of his best-selling text, William Ray takes a broad, "philosophy of science" approach, introducing students to the basics of doing science and to the spirit that motivates scientists. Acclaimed in the field for its clarity, comprehensiveness, and accuracy, the text helps students see how scientists get their ideas for their studies and how ideas are turned into testable hypotheses. Ray is noted for his ability to present difficult concepts in a clear, straightforward fashion and for his excellent use of examples and graphs to make concepts easy to understand. For example, he not only illustrates the concept of interaction effect with research examples, he also graphically represents numerous possible outcomes.

William J. Ray is professor of psychology at Pennsylvania State University, where he was the director of the Clinical Training Program from 1991 to 1997. His research focus lies at the interface of clinical psychology and psychophysiology (particularly EEG), as related to anxiety, dissociation, emotionality, and motoric processes. Part of this work has been basic in nature, as reflected in trying to understand what basic psychophysiological measures can tell us, as well as how they can be applied. Current work in the lab focuses on anxiety, lapse of awareness, dissociation, and hypnosis, as well as the use of nonlinear dynamical techniques referred to as chaos. He has published extensively throughout his career, with well over 100 journal publications, presentations and scholarly text publications. He has reviewed for more than 30 journals and numerous government agencies. He was on the accreditation committee for the APA, including its executive board (1995-2000).