Becoming a behavioral science researcher
Subtitle: a guide to producing research that matters
By: Rex B. Kline.
Publisher: Guilford Press
Published: 2009
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 367
ISBN-13: 9781593858377; 9781593858384
Subjects: Psychology -- Research
Description: "Students and beginning researchers often discover that their introductory statistics and methods courses have not fully equipped them to plan and execute their own behavioral research studies. This book bridges the gap between coursework and conducting independent research. The author helps the reader build needed skills to formulate a precise, meaningful research question; understand the pros and cons of widely used research designs and analysis options; correctly interpret the outcomes of statistical tests; make informed measurement choices for a particular study; manage the practical aspects of data screening and preparation; and craft effective journal articles, oral presentations, and posters. Including annotated examples and recommended readings, most chapters feature theoretical and computer-based exercises, complete with an answer appendix so readers can check their work."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
Table of contents: title: Promise and problems; title: Introduction; title: Not ready for prime time; title: What students say they need; title: Plan of the book; title: Career paths for behavioral scientists; title: The good, the bad, and (the really) ugly of behavioral science research; title: The good; title: The bad; title: The (really) ugly; title: Why?; title: Concepts; title: The research trinity; title: Trinity overview; title: Design; title: Measurement; title: Analysis; title: Internal validity; title: Construct validity; title: Conclusion validity; title: External validity and sampling; title: Design and analysis; title: Chapter overview; title: From question to design; title: Experimental designs; title: Controlled quasi-experimental designs; title: Nonequivalent-group designs; title: Regression-discontinuity designs; title: Other quasi-experimental designs; title: Nonexperimental designs; title: Resources for learning more; title: The truth about statistics; title: Study strategy; title: A dozen truths about statistics; title: What statistical significance really means; title: Misinterpretations of statistical significance; title: Why are there so many myths?; title: Other drawbacks of statistical tests; title: In defense of statistical tests; title: Recommendations for changing times; title: Appendix: Review of statistics fundamentals; title: Effect size estimation; title: Contexts for estimating effect size; title: Families of parametric effect sizes; title: Estimating effect size when comparing two samples; title: Measures of association for more complex designs; title: Effect sizes for dichotomous outcomes; title: T-shirt effect sizes, importance, and cautions; title: Approximate confidence intervals; title: Research examples; title: Appendix: Noncentrality interval estimation for effect sizes; title: Measurement; title: Chapter scope; title: The critical yet underappreciated role of measurement; title: Measurement process overview; title: Resources for finding measures; title: Adapting or translating tests; title: Evaluation of score reliability and validity; title: Checklist for evaluating measures; title: Recent developments in test theory; title: Skills; title: Practical data analysis; title: Vision first, then simplicity; title: Managing complex analyses (batch to the future); title: Data screening; title: Writing; title: Plagiarism and academic integrity; title: Writing as learning; title: Getting started; title: The role of style guides; title: General principles of good writing; title: Principles of good scientific writing; title: Writing sections of empirical studies; title: Effective graphical displays; title: Ready for the big time; title: Appendix: Example results section; title: Presentations; title: Challenges of oral presentations; title: Problems with powerpoint presentations; title: Principles for creating effective powerpoint presentations; title: Lessons from multimedia learning; title: Other powerpoint issues; title: Poster presentations.