Research Methods: Are You Equipped?
Edition: 3
Copyright: 2026
Pages: 310
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$85.00 USD
There are a myriad of research methods in psychology textbooks available...
However, few, if any, of the textbooks approach the research methods course with the purpose of preparing students to become educated consumers of research. Consequently, there is a large gap in the market between the textbooks that are available and this instructional methodology that many professors utilize. Research Methods: Are You Equipped? prepares students to become educated consumers of research.
Research Methods: Are You Equipped?:
- Focuses on having students see how research methods can apply to all areas of their lives. To accomplish this, “Are you Equipped” boxes at the beginning and end of each chapter present readers with examples from everyday life or classic research examples from the field of psychology. The reader is then asked to critically evaluate each by demonstrating his/her own knowledge of research methodology. These vignettes serve as both an introduction to a new topic and a method to evaluate comprehension of concepts presented.
- Features a student-oriented presentation that applies research methods to all areas of the reader’s life. The text presents information the reader will find useful and in a non-intimidating style.
- Provides students with the tools needed to conduct research. You Try It! exercises provide the reader with hands-on practice with the course material.
- Prepares undergraduate psychology majors by incorporating APA’s guidelines in each chapter. In addition, to entire chapter discusses why APA-style is used in the field and how it is executed in a manuscript.
Preface
Part I: Introduction to Research Methods
Chapter 1: Psychology as a Science
Are You Equipped?
Research Methods and You
Sources of Information
Importance of Being an Educated Consumer
Disconnect between Media and Psychological Research
Recommendations
Section Summary
Science versus Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience
Science
Section Summary
What You Can Expect?
Are You Equipped Now?
Chapter Summary
APA Learning Goals Linkage
Chapter 2: Goals and Methods of Psychology
Are You Equipped?
Introduction
Goals of Psychological Research
You Try It!
Section Summary
Use of the Scientific Method—Steps and Importance
Section Summary
The Research Process
Section Summary
Are You Equipped Now?
Chapter Summary
APA Learning Goals Linkage
Chapter 3: Ethics
Are You Equipped?
Consumers of Research
Institutional Review Board
You Try It!
Section Summary
APA’s Ethics Code
Sample Consent to Participate in Research Form
You Try It!
You Try It!
Section Summary
Are You Equipped?
Chapter Summary
APA Learning Goals Linkage
Part II: Nonexperimental Research Methods and Variables
Chapter 4: Nonexperimental Research Methods
Are You Equipped?
Differentiating among Methods
Introduction to Correlational Methods
You Try It!
Section Summary
Nonexperimental Methods
You Try It!
You Try It!
You Try It!
Section Summary
Factors to Consider with Nonexperimental Designs
Converging Research Methods
Are You Equipped Now?
Chapter Summary
APA Learning Goals Linkage
Chapter 5: Variables, Reliability, and Validity
Are You Equipped?
Introduction
Variables—Independent and Dependent
You Try It!
Subject Variables
You Try It!
Treatment Conditions
You Try It!
Section Summary
Reliability and Validity
Reliability
Validity
Internal, External, and Construct Validity
Section Summary
Are You Equipped Now?
Chapter Summary
APA Learning Goals Linkage
Part III: Experimental Research Methods
Chapter 6: Hypothesis Testing
Are You Equipped?
Formulating a Research Question
Getting Your Research Idea
Conducting Searches
Starting a Search
Section Summary
Generating Hypotheses
You Try It!
Testing the Hypothesis
Section Summary
Are You Equipped Now?
Chapter Summary
APA Learning Goals Linkage
Chapter 7: Selection of Variables, Operational Definitions, and Measurement Issues
Are You Equipped?
Selecting the Levels of the Independent Variables
You Try It!
Section Summary
Measuring the Dependent Variable and Number of Dependent Variables
You Try It!
You Try It!
Section Summary
Operational Definitions
Section Summary
Types of Scales
You Try It!
Are You Equipped Now?
Chapter Summary
APA Learning Goals Linkage
Chapter 8: Selection and Assignment of Participants
Are You Equipped?
Population versus Sample
Probability Sampling Procedures
You Try It!
Section Summary
Nonprobability Sampling Procedures
You Try It!
Section Summary
Random Assignment to Conditions
You Try It!
Section Summary
Determining Sample Size
Power
Section Summary
Are You Equipped Now?
Chapter Summary
APA Learning Goals Linkage
Chapter 9: Controls and Threats to Internal Validity
Are You Equipped?
Control
Section Summary
Threats to Internal Validity
You Try It!
You Try It!
Minimizing Threats
Section Summary
Are You Equipped Now?
Chapter Summary
APA Learning Goals Linkage
Part IV: Types of Designs
Chapter 10: Between-Subjects Designs
Are You Equipped?
Introduction to Between-Subjects Designs
You Try It!
A Classic Research Example
You Try It!
Contemporary Research Examples
Section Summary
Factors to Consider
You Try It!
Section Summary
Ways to Minimize Disadvantages
Are You Equipped Now?
Chapter Summary
APA Learning Goals Linkage
Chapter 11: Within-Subjects Designs
Are You Equipped?
Introduction to Within-Subjects Designs
Examples from Chapter 7
You Try It!
A Classic Research Example
You Try It!
Contemporary Research Examples
You Try It!
Section Summary
Factors to Consider
Ways to Minimize Disadvantages
You Try It!
Section Summary
Matched-Subjects Design
Are You Equipped Now?
Chapter Summary
APA Learning Goals Linkage
Chapter 12: Factorial Designs
Are You Equipped?
Introduction to Factorial Designs
Between-Subjects Factorial Designs
You Try It!
Within-Subjects Factorial Designs
You Try It!
Mixed-Subjects Factorial Designs
You Try It!
Section Summary
Results of Factorial Designs
Main Effects
Interactions
Section Summary
Are You Equipped Now?
Chapter Summary
APA Learning Goals Linkage
Chapter 13: Single-Case Designs
Are You Equipped?
An Introduction to Single-Case Designs
You Try It!
Section Summary
Why Use Single-Case Designs?
You Try It!
Section Summary
Conducting Single-Case Designs
AB Designs (Pretest–Posttest)
ABA Designs (Reversal Designs)
Multiple Baselines
You Try It!
Section Summary
Limitations of Single-Case Designs
Are You Equipped Now?
Chapter Summary
APA Learning Goals Linkage
Part V: Hypothesis Testing Continued and Interpreting Results
Chapter 14: Hypothesis Testing Revisited and Interpreting Results
Are You Equipped?
Examining the Results—Rejecting the Null or Failing to Reject the Null Hypothesis
The Cheerleader Effect Revisited
You Try It!
Type I And Type II Errors
The Role of Replication
Section Summary
Introduction to Interpreting Statistical Results
Drawing Conclusions from Descriptive Statistics
Conclusions from Inferential Statistics
You Try It!
Statistical Significance versus Practical Significance
Section Summary
Are You Equipped Now?
Chapter Summary
APA Learning Goals Linkage
Chapter 15: APA Style: Seventh Edition
Are You Equipped?
An Introduction to APA-Style Writing
The Title Page
Abstract
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion
Tables and Figures
Resources
You Try It!
Section Summary
References
Within-Text Citations
Reference List
Typical Sources
You Try It!
Section Summary
Are You Equipped Now?
Chapter Summary
APA Learning Goals Linkage
References
Glossary
I have taken many classes and read many textbooks and too many of the authors seem to be more worried about making a statement about how intelligent they are than educating students. Research Methods: Are You Equipped? is written in a format that makes it easy to understand the information while still showing the author’s knowledge in the field. It was particularly refreshing to read where the author’s personal experiences of work, both successes and mistakes, along with using examples with her family. It made the reading much more relatable than just throwing out facts.
Michael Palmer, Student, Fort Hays State University
You have provided such wonderful chapter outlines and PowerPoints to guide my learning along. These along with the practice exams have helped a great deal with truly remembering the content.
Karah Ludwig
This textbook is super awesome. I really appreciated how this book was written in its entirety. With all the real life scenarios / examples and definitions written in layman terms throughout the chapters, it really made the subjects much easier for me to grasp. As a student, I really thought that having the summaries at the end of each section was very helpful as well. This book made truly the subject a lot more interesting. I highly recommend this book.
Champagne Clark