Critical Thinking About Research
Psychology and Related Fields
2nd Edition
Published on 18. September 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
541 pages
978-1-4338-2710-5 (ISBN)
Description
To become informed consumers of research, students need to thoughtfully evaluate the research they read rather than accept it without question. This second edition of a classic text gives students what they need to apply critical reasoning when reading behavioral science research.
This second edition updates the original text with recent developments in research methods, including a new chapter on meta-analyses. Part I gives a thorough overview of the steps in a research project. It focuses on how to assess whether the conclusions drawn in a behavioral science report are warranted by the methods used in the research. Topics include research hypotheses, sampling, experimental design, data analysis, interpretation of results, and ethics. Part II allows readers to practice critical thinking with a series of fictitious journal articles containing built-in flaws in method and interpretation. Clever and engaging, each article is accompanied by a commentary that points out the errors of procedure and logic that have been deliberately embedded in the article. This combination of instruction and practical application will promote active learning and critical thinking in students studying the behavioral sciences.
This second edition updates the original text with recent developments in research methods, including a new chapter on meta-analyses. Part I gives a thorough overview of the steps in a research project. It focuses on how to assess whether the conclusions drawn in a behavioral science report are warranted by the methods used in the research. Topics include research hypotheses, sampling, experimental design, data analysis, interpretation of results, and ethics. Part II allows readers to practice critical thinking with a series of fictitious journal articles containing built-in flaws in method and interpretation. Clever and engaging, each article is accompanied by a commentary that points out the errors of procedure and logic that have been deliberately embedded in the article. This combination of instruction and practical application will promote active learning and critical thinking in students studying the behavioral sciences.
Reviews / Votes
amp ldquo This volume provides a valuable background for the skills students must develop to be good consumers and producers of research. amp rdquo -Choice This volume provides a valuable background for the skills students must develop to be good consumers and producers of research.(Choice) When it comes to research methods, research design, and critical thinking about psychological research, this volume is truly the only game in town. It is encyclopedic and addresses almost every topic that might be included in a research methods course at either the advanced undergraduate or graduate level. The 7 practice articles provide an exceptional pedagogical tool for fostering discussion of how abstract principles unfold in a research context.
- Mark Appelbaum, PhD, Emeritus Professor, Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego This is THE book for every student or smart consumer of scientific research who wants to hone their skills at evaluating research. In exceptionally clear language, the authors teach the basic principles of research methods and show readers how to identify the truth value of research findings. Engaging examples of research articles - and critiques of them - allow readers to apply and test their new knowledge.
- Wendy Wood, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Business, University of Southern California, Los Angeles This is an excellent book for teaching college students - or anyone else, for that matter - how to be smart when it comes to interpreting other people's research. It is well thought out and filled with useful examples that illustrate how fuzzy thinking can lead to incorrect conclusions.
- Lawrence Kutner, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
More details
Edition
Second Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Washington DC
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
New edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 259 mm
Width: 177 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
611 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4338-2710-5 (9781433827105)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Julian Meltzoff, PhD, earned his doctorate in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. From 979 to 99 he was professor of psychology and director of research at the California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego. He taught graduate courses in the design and critique of research, conducted doctoral research seminars, and supervised the school amp rsquo s dissertation process. Prior to 979, Dr. Meltzoff served for an extended period as chief psychologist in Veterans Affairs facilities in Pennsylvania and New York. Dr. Meltzoff was engaged in doing research, writing about research, and consulting on research throughout his clinical, administrative, and academic career. He is the coauthor of The Day Treatment Center: Principles, Application, and Evaluation ( 9 ) and Research in Psychotherapy ( 97 ), as well as numerous journal articles and book chapters. He passed away in December 2 5 at age 94.
Harris Cooper, PhD, is the Hugo L. Blomquist Distinguished Professor of Psychology amp amp Neuroscience at Duke University. He is the author of several books, including Research Synthesis and Meta-Analysis: A Step-by-Step Approach (2 7) Ethical Choices in Research: Managing Data, Writing Reports, and Publishing Results in the Social Sciences (2 ) and Reporting Research in Psychology: How to Meet Journal Article Reporting Standards (2 ). He served as editor of the Psychological Bulletin and Archives of Scientific Psychology, and as department chair at Duke University and the University of Missouri amp ndash Columbia.
Harris Cooper, PhD, is the Hugo L. Blomquist Distinguished Professor of Psychology amp amp Neuroscience at Duke University. He is the author of several books, including Research Synthesis and Meta-Analysis: A Step-by-Step Approach (2 7) Ethical Choices in Research: Managing Data, Writing Reports, and Publishing Results in the Social Sciences (2 ) and Reporting Research in Psychology: How to Meet Journal Article Reporting Standards (2 ). He served as editor of the Psychological Bulletin and Archives of Scientific Psychology, and as department chair at Duke University and the University of Missouri amp ndash Columbia.
Content
Forward
Introduction. Why Psychologists and Professionals in Related Fields Need to be Critical Thinkers
Overview of the Chapters
Who Will Find This Book Useful?
Part I. Principles of Critical Thinking
. Seeking Trustworthy Knowledge
2. Research Questions and Hypotheses
3. Research Variables and Strategies
4. The Sample
5. Confounding Variables and Their Control
. Research Designs and Threats to Internal Validity
7. Manipulation and Measurement Validity
8. Data Analysis, Discussion, and Conclusions
9. Inferences, Conclusions, and the Research Report
. Research Syntheses and Meta-Analysis
. Research Ethics
Part II. Critical Thinking Using Practice Articles
Practice Article . Use of Counselor amp ldquo Street Talk amp rdquo to Stimulate Self-Disclosure of Inner-City Youths
Practice Article 2. Treatment of Flying Phobia: Comparative Efficacy of Two Behavioral Methods
Practice Article 3. The Effect of Divorce on Sons amp rsquo Aggression
Practice Article 4. Dyslexia in Fifth-Grade Girls: Personality and Perceptual Factors
Practice Article 5. Time Estimation: Effect of Depression and Pleasantness or Unpleasantness of an Experience
Practice Article . Bossiness in Firstborn Girls
Practice Article 7. Effect of Context Upon Accuracy of Recall of Affective Experiences
Practice Article 8. The Effects of Medication and Cognitive Behavior Therapy on Insomnia
Practice Article 9. Midlife Crises of Men at Age 5
Practice Article . Effect of Job Stress and Stress Management on Low Back Pain
Practice Article . Evaluation of Health Maintenance Organizations
Practice Article 2. Effects of Jury Selection Consultation on Trial Outcome
Practice Article 3. Contingency Reinforcement in the Treatment of Talking Aloud to Self: A Single-Case Study
Practice Article 4. The Effect of Race of Examiner on IQ Scores of American Indians
Practice Article 5. Social Effects of Tax Deadline
Practice Article . Comparative Effectiveness of Teacher Management Styles in a Fifth-Grade Classroom
Practice Article 7. Age Differences in Gullibility: A Meta-Analysis
Epilogue
Glossary
References
Index
About the Authors
Introduction. Why Psychologists and Professionals in Related Fields Need to be Critical Thinkers
Overview of the Chapters
Who Will Find This Book Useful?
Part I. Principles of Critical Thinking
. Seeking Trustworthy Knowledge
2. Research Questions and Hypotheses
3. Research Variables and Strategies
4. The Sample
5. Confounding Variables and Their Control
. Research Designs and Threats to Internal Validity
7. Manipulation and Measurement Validity
8. Data Analysis, Discussion, and Conclusions
9. Inferences, Conclusions, and the Research Report
. Research Syntheses and Meta-Analysis
. Research Ethics
Part II. Critical Thinking Using Practice Articles
Practice Article . Use of Counselor amp ldquo Street Talk amp rdquo to Stimulate Self-Disclosure of Inner-City Youths
Practice Article 2. Treatment of Flying Phobia: Comparative Efficacy of Two Behavioral Methods
Practice Article 3. The Effect of Divorce on Sons amp rsquo Aggression
Practice Article 4. Dyslexia in Fifth-Grade Girls: Personality and Perceptual Factors
Practice Article 5. Time Estimation: Effect of Depression and Pleasantness or Unpleasantness of an Experience
Practice Article . Bossiness in Firstborn Girls
Practice Article 7. Effect of Context Upon Accuracy of Recall of Affective Experiences
Practice Article 8. The Effects of Medication and Cognitive Behavior Therapy on Insomnia
Practice Article 9. Midlife Crises of Men at Age 5
Practice Article . Effect of Job Stress and Stress Management on Low Back Pain
Practice Article . Evaluation of Health Maintenance Organizations
Practice Article 2. Effects of Jury Selection Consultation on Trial Outcome
Practice Article 3. Contingency Reinforcement in the Treatment of Talking Aloud to Self: A Single-Case Study
Practice Article 4. The Effect of Race of Examiner on IQ Scores of American Indians
Practice Article 5. Social Effects of Tax Deadline
Practice Article . Comparative Effectiveness of Teacher Management Styles in a Fifth-Grade Classroom
Practice Article 7. Age Differences in Gullibility: A Meta-Analysis
Epilogue
Glossary
References
Index
About the Authors