Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences

Gregory J. Privitera is a professor of psychology at St. Bonaventure University where he is a recipient of its highest teaching honor, The Award for Professional Excellence in Teaching, and its highest honor for scholarship, The Award for Professional Excellence in Research and Publication. Dr. Privitera received his PhD in behavioral neuroscience in the field of psychology at the State University of New York at Buffalo and continued with his postdoctoral research at Arizona State University. He is a nationally award-winning author and research scholar. His textbooks span across diverse topics in psychology and the behavioral sciences, including an introductory psychology text, four statistics texts, two research methods texts, and multiple other texts bridging knowledge creation across health, health care, and analytics. In addition, Dr. Privitera has authored more than three dozen peer-reviewed papers aimed at advancing our understanding of health and informing policy in health care. His research has earned recognition by the American Psychological Association, and in media to include Oprah’s Magazine, Time Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal. He mentors a variety of undergraduate research projects at St. Bonaventure University, where dozens of students, many of whom have gone on to earn graduate and doctoral degrees at various institutions, have coauthored and presented research work. In addition to his teaching, research, and advisement, Dr. Privitera is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, is an identical twin, and is married with two daughters, Grace Ann and Charlotte Jane, and two sons, Aiden Andrew and Luca James.  

About the Author
Acknowledgments
Preface
To the Student—How to Use SPSS With This Book
SECTION I • SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY
Chapter 1 • Introduction to Scientific Thinking
Chapter 2 • Generating Testable Ideas
Chapter 3 • Research Ethics
SECTION II • DEFINING AND MEASURING VARIABLES, SELECTING SAMPLES, AND CHOOSING AN APPROPRIATE RESEARCH DESIGN
Chapter 4 • Identifying Scientific Variables
Chapter 5 • Sampling From Populations
Chapter 6 • Choosing a Research Design
SECTION III • NONEXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGNS
Chapter 7 • Naturalistic, Qualitative, and Existing Data Research Designs
Chapter 8 • Survey and Correlational Research Designs
SECTION IV • QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGNS
Chapter 9 • Quasi-Experimental and Single-Case Experimental Designs
Chapter 10 • Between-Subjects Experimental Designs
Chapter 11 • Within-Subjects Experimental Designs
Chapter 12 • Factorial Experimental Designs
SECTION V • ANALYZING, INTERPRETING, AND COMMUNICATING RESEARCH DATA
Chapter 13 • Analysis and Interpretation: Exposition of Data
Chapter 14 • Analysis and Interpretation: Making Decisions About Data
Chapter 15 • Communicating Research: Preparing Manuscripts, Posters, and Talks
Appendix A: APA-Style Writing, Sample Manuscript, and Posters
Appendix B: Instructions for Randomizing and Counterbalancing
Appendix C: SPSS General Instructions Guide and Statistical Tables
Glossary
References
Index