Practical Guide To Behavioral Research : Tools and Techniques (5TH 02 Edition)

This new edition of Robert Sommer and Barbara Sommer's successful book A Practical Guide to Behavioral Research continues to emphasize a hands-on, multimethod, and interdisciplinary approach to behavioral research in psychology, sociology, and anthropology. It expands the fourth edition's coverage of computer-related research methods and employs an international perspective, presenting general principles and their practical applications. Like previous editions, A Practical Guide to Behavioral Research, 5/e, covers the four major approaches to behavioral research (experimentation, observation, questionnaire, interview) and examines other important methods, including attitude and rating scales, the case study, semantic differential, unobtrusive measures, and the use of personal documents. It provides particularly strong treatment of observational approaches, behavior and cognitive mapping, electronic searches and Internet research, and action research. This revision includes two new chapters stimulated by student interest: Chapter 14, "Action Research," addresses the gap between doing research and having it applied; Chapter 15, "The Big Fuzzies," describes techniques for researching important concepts that are difficult to define and measure.

Written in an accessible, colloquial style, this popular book encourages students to actually do research instead of just learning the concepts and language. Clear descriptions and concrete examples of abstract concepts demystify research and help students think about research procedures in a variety of settings, not just in the laboratory. Ideal for undergraduates in research methods classes, A Practical Guide to Behavioral Research, 5/e, is an invaluable reference for students of communications, education, nursing, design, and business. It is also a useful resource for readers who need reliable information or anyone interested in behavioral studies.

The authors maintain a useful companion website at http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/Sommerr/pg5/.

'The fifth edition of this popular research methods book emphasizes a hands-on, multimethod, interdisciplinary approach to behavioral research. In this book, research is seen not as a remote activity of a white-coat priesthood, but as an approach that can be used by people in many fields to solve immediate problems and increase understanding of human behavior. Numerous examples from different nations are provided throughout.'

The fifth edition of this popular research methods book emphasizes a hands-on, multimethod, interdisciplinary approach to behavioral research. In this book, research is seen not as a remote activity of a white-coat priesthood, but as an approach that can be used by people in many fields to solve immediate problems and increase understanding of human behavior. Numerous examples from different nations are provided throughout.

Preface

1. Multimethod Approach

2. Ethics in Behaviorial Research

3. Search the Technical Literature

4. Observation

5. Mapping and Trace Measures

6. Experimentation

7. Simulation

8. Interview

9. The Questionnaire

10. Attitude and Rating Scales

11. Content Analysis

12. Personal Documents and Archival Measures

13. Case Study

14. Action Research

15. The Big Fuzzies: Research on Difficult-to-Define Concepts

16. Standardized Tests and Inventories

17. Sampling

18. Descriptive Statistics

19. Inferential Statistics

20. Writing and Reviewing a Research Report

21. After the Report

22. Concluding Notes

Appendix A - E

Glossary

Name Index

Subject Index