Evaluating Research Methods in Psychology: A Case Study Approach

Using a series of over 40 case studies, this valuable text illustrates the processes and pitfalls involved in evaluating psychological research.

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  Invites students to consider whether the conclusion drawn at the end of each case is correct, or whether the results could have an alternative explanation.
  

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  Cross-referencing between sections is made easy by page references that link the case studies and explanations.
  

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  Cases reflect the range of research methods taught at undergraduate level and include qualitative research.
  

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  Gives students an understanding of methodological problems.
  

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  Equips students to critically evaluate published research.

The author and publishers have made every effort to be fair to the authors of the research described in this book. Like all sciences, psychology is forged in the fire of criticism and refinement, and we hope that the original researchers will understand that any criticism is made with the utmost respect. If you are an author of one of the pieces of research mentioned in the book and would like to respond to the critique presented, please e-mail your comments to Andrew McAleer at Andrew.McAleer@oxon.blackwellpublishing.com.

George Dunbar is Lecturer in Psychology at Warwick University. He is the author of Data Analysis for Psychology (1998) and has over 15 years’ experience of teaching research methods and statistics to psychology students.