The Research Methods course is not only at the heart of the psychology major, it also helps students develop an invaluable set of scientific skills, applicable to the laboratory, the workplace, and beyond. In their groundbreaking First Edition of Discovering the Scientist Within, authors Gary Lewandowski, Natalie Ciarocco, and David Strohmetz present the concepts of research methodology to maximize readers' familiarity with every step of the research process. For the first time ever in a methods text, each design chapter follows a single study form ideation to writing for publication, so readers experience key decision points—formulating a hypothesis, adhering to ethical codes, selecting measures, ensuring validity analyzing data, and more—in the context of each unique design. This approach builds mastery of each step of the scientific process and shows readers how psychological methods are applied to a variety of unexpected and fascinating topics, such as whether joining sorority or a fraternity is a good idea, the benefits of watching reality TV shows, and the efficacy of pick-uplines.
The narrative works hand-in-hand with an innovative pedagogical program designed to build and assess readers' base knowledge and scientific reasoning skills. Foremost among the pedagogical elements is the Web-based feature Research in Action, which allows readers to step into the shoes of a psychological scientist and practice making the decisions that guide the design and execution of a study. Authors Lewandowski, Ciarocco, and Strohmetz designed Research in Action as the perfect way to assess readers' understanding of when to use a particular design and its associated manipulations, measures, and protocols.