The Practical Researcher

In The Practical Researcher, Dana S. Dunn's student-friendly writing style and personal tone provide readers with a practical and engaging introduction to research methods in psychology. Using basic theory, solid research practices, and step-by-step techniques, the author leads students through the process of conducting a project from start to finish. The importance of learning to search, read, and critique the psychological literature, as well as writing clearly about it, are emphasized throughout. Boxed features called "Research Foundations" present key issues faced by researchers, allowing students to ponder various controversies, while numerous examples, practical tips, and applied material bring the process of doing research to life. Packed with useful decision trees, tables, checklists, and illustrations, this clear and precise book will equip students with the tools they need to carry out their research successfully. FEATURES Step-by-step approach leads students through the process of developing and conducting a research project (solo or in a group) from start to finish, from generating a topic to writing an APA style report "Doing Research" decision trees open each chapter and guide students through the active learning exercises that inform the research process Research Foundations boxes explore common issues encountered by researchers and use examples to bring research to life Practical tools and tips for doing research appear throughout such as writing an experimental script, operationalizing independent and dependent variables, and creating manipulation checks, among many others Over 40 Active Learning Exercises help students build practical skills such as creating a project timeline, developing a peer research contract, using a random numbers table, and reporting results in poster or paper form, among many others Generating Research Ideas section provides easy to follow guidelines for developing ideas by using freewriting, keeping a research notebook, or brainstorming research ideas alone or as a research team Critical thinking is emphasized when searching, reading, and writing about psychological literature