Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The new edition of Experimental Methodology retains an approach that details the research process and focuses on methodology. Each chapter considers a specific step in the research process, with opening vignettes providing examples of the relevance of the chapter contents. Key features include a new section on informed consent with an example of an informed consent form and a new sample research report - a 1992 publication on nightmares. New and expanded sections include survey methodology and ethical issues such as scientific misconduct, informed consent and the ethics of animal research.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Preface (p. ix)
• Chapter 1 What Is Science? (p. 1)
• Learning Objectives (p. 1)
• Introduction (p. 3)
• Methods of Acquiring Knowledge (p. 4)
• Science (p. 10)
• Advantage of the Scientific Method (p. 13)
• Characteristics of the Scientific Approach (p. 13)
• Objectives of Science (p. 18)
• Basic Assumptions Underlying Science (p. 20)
• Method versus Technique (p. 22)
• The Role of Theory in Science (p. 24)
• The Role of the Scientist in Science (p. 25)
• Summary (p. 27)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 28)
• Chapter 2 Nonexperimental Research Approaches (p. 30)
• Learning Objectives (p. 30)
• Introduction (p. 32)
• Nonexperimental Quantitative Research (p. 33)
• Qualitative Research (p. 50)
• Summary (p. 58)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 59)
• Chapter 3 The Experimental Research Approach (p. 60)
• Learning Objectives (p. 60)
• Introduction (p. 61)
• Causation (p. 62)
• The Psychological Experiment (p. 66)
• Experimental Research Settings (p. 72)
• Summary (p. 74)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 75)
• Chapter 4 Problem Identification and Hypothesis Formation (p. 76)
• Learning Objectives (p. 76)
• Introduction (p. 78)
• Sources of Research Ideas (p. 78)
• Gender Bias in Research Ideas (p. 82)
• Ideas Not Capable of Scientific Investigation (p. 83)
• Review of the Literature (p. 83)
• Feasibility of the Study (p. 93)
• Formulating the Research Problem (p. 94)
• Formulating Hypotheses (p. 95)
• Summary (p. 98)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 98)
• Chapter 5 Ethics (p. 100)
• Learning Objectives (p. 100)
• Introduction (p. 102)
• Research Ethics: What Are They? (p. 103)
• Ethical Dilemmas (p. 108)
• Development of the APA Code of Ethics (p. 113)
• Ethical Principles (p. 114)
• Issues Raised by the Code of Ethics (p. 123)
• Ethics of Animal Research (p. 134)
• Summary (p. 141)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 142)
• Chapter 6 Variables Used in Experimentation (p. 143)
• Learning Objectives (p. 143)
• Introduction (p. 144)
• Types of Variables (p. 145)
• The Independent Variable (p. 146)
• The Dependent Variable (p. 160)
• Summary (p. 168)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 169)
• Chapter 7 Control in Experimentation (p. 170)
• Learning Objectives (p. 170)
• Introduction (p. 171)
• Control of Extraneous Variables (p. 173)
• Extraneous Variables to Be Controlled (p. 174)
• Research Participant and Experimenter Effects to Be Controlled (p. 181)
• Sequencing Effect to Be Controlled (p. 191)
• Additional Extraneous Variables to Be Held Constant (p. 192)
• Summary (p. 193)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 194)
• Chapter 8 Techniques for Achieving Constancy (p. 195)
• Learning Objectives (p. 195)
• Introduction (p. 197)
• Randomization (p. 197)
• Matching (p. 203)
• Counterbalancing (p. 212)
• Control of Participant Effects (p. 218)
• Control of Experimenter Effects (p. 223)
• Likelihood of Achieving Control (p. 228)
• Summary (p. 228)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 230)
• Chapter 9 Experimental Research Design (p. 231)
• Learning Objectives (p. 231)
• Introduction (p. 233)
• Faulty Research Design (p. 234)
• Requirements of True Research Designs (p. 238)
• Pretesting Participants (p. 240)
• True Research Designs (p. 242)
• Choice of a Research Design (p. 256)
• Summary (p. 258)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 259)
• Chapter 10 Quasi-Experimental Designs (p. 260)
• Learning Objectives (p. 260)
• Introduction (p. 262)
• Nonequivalent Control Group Design (p. 263)
• Time-Series Design (p. 271)
• Summary (p. 276)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 276)
• Chapter 11 Single-Case Research Designs (p. 260)
• Learning Objectives (p. 277)
• Introduction (p. 279)
• Single-Case Designs (p. 281)
• A-B-A Design (p. 282)
• Interaction Design (p. 286)
• Multiple-Baseline Design (p. 290)
• Changing-Criterion Design (p. 294)
• Methodological Considerations in Using Single-Case Designs (p. 296)
• Criteria for Evaluating Change (p. 299)
• Rival Hypotheses (p. 301)
• Summary (p. 302)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 303)
• Chapter 12 Data Collection (p. 304)
• Learning Objectives (p. 304)
• Introduction (p. 306)
• Research Participants (p. 306)
• Sample Size (p. 309)
• Apparatus (p. 311)
• Instructions (p. 314)
• Scheduling of Research Participants (p. 314)
• Procedure (p. 315)
• Institutional Approval (p. 317)
• Data Collection (p. 318)
• Consent to Participate (p. 318)
• Debriefing, or Postexperimental Interview (p. 320)
• Summary (p. 323)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 324)
• Chapter 13 Hypothesis Testing (p. 325)
• Learning Objectives (p. 325)
• Introduction (p. 327)
• Testing the Hypothesis (p. 328)
• The Mean (p. 329)
• Standard Deviation (p. 330)
• Selection of a Statistical Test (p. 332)
• Independent Samples t-Test (p. 334)
• Significance Level (p. 335)
• Analysis of Variance (p. 338)
• Potential Errors in the Statistical Decision-Making Process (p. 354)
• Summary (p. 356)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 357)
• Chapter 14 External Validity (p. 358)
• Learning Objectives (p. 358)
• Introduction (p. 360)
• Population Validity (p. 360)
• Ecological Validity (p. 364)
• Temporal Validity (p. 367)
• Relationship Between Internal and External Validity (p. 370)
• Cautions in Evaluating the External Validity of Experiments (p. 371)
• Summary (p. 374)
• Key Terms and Concepts (p. 375)
• Chapter 15 The Research Report (p. 376)
• Learning Objectives (p. 376)
• Introduction (p. 377)
• The APA Format (p. 379)
• Preparation of the Research Report (p. 407)
• Appendixes (p. 419)
• References (p. 425)
• Index (p. 445)