Understanding Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology

Helen Gavin was, before retiring in 2023, Subject Lead in Criminal Psychology at the University of Huddersfield, having previously been Head of Psychology at two universities. She taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses in this area, and now carries out research that focuses on deviant and homicidal sexual expression. She is currently collaborating with researchers and practitioners across the UK and in the USA, concerned with projects in female aggression, non-apprehended offenders, and issues concerning policing. She has supervised a number of research students, some of whom have investigated female aggression and psychopathy, the effect of childhood abuse, witchcraft and child homicide, sexual assault in hidden populations, traumatic incidents experienced by police officers, characteristics of homicide, sexual deviancy and disgust responses, and incarcerated sex offenders.Previous books include Women and the Abuse of Power (Emerald), Understanding Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology (Sage), The Essence of Cognitive Psychology (Prentice-Hall), and Sex Drugs and Rock & Roll: Psychological, Legal, and Cultural Examinations of Sex and Sexuality (ID-Net Press). She has also contributed chapters to over a dozen edited books, and published widely in forensic and medical journals. Helen feels that studying criminal psychology can make one lose a sense of perspective, so she also studies cultural issues such as music and fairy tales, both of which, she has discovered, have a dark side.

• PART ONE: FIRST EXPLORATIONSThe Range of ResearchEthics in ResearchSome Shocking CasesSome Basic Concepts in Psychological ResearchPART TWO: BEGINNING QUANTITATIVE RESEARCHUsing Numbers to Describe BehaviourInferential StatisticsWhy and What?Simple Experimental DesignsBeing WatchedSingle Factorial DesignsThe Levels of Processing ExperimentsSurvey ResearchWho is afraid of Crime?Correlational DesignsThe Poor Relation?PART THREE: COMPLEX QUANTITATIVE DESIGNSFactorial Designs with More than One FactorA Closer Look at MemoryMultivariate StatisticsComplex Correlational Designs and AnalysisStats Can Be MurderPART FOUR: BEGINNING QUALITATIVE RESEARCHTheory in Qualitative ResearchDesigning Qualitative ResearchPART FIVE: COMPLEX QUALITATIVE RESEARCHInterviews and Focus GroupsParticipant ObservationGirls, Gangs and AggressionThematic AnalysisDiscourse AnalysisPower and ControlEvaluation ResearchPART SIX: COMMUNICATION OF RESEARCHCommunicating Research

′This text covers more than most research methods and statistics texts in terms of its breadth …Not only will students understand a range of methods and analytical techniques, they will understand why and how these have been used in relation to key psychological studies. By putting key studies at the heart of this book it demonstrates the importance of understanding methods and analysis in order to fully appreciate and understand psychology′ - Dr Paul Redford, University of West of England′Understanding Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology provides an excellent introduction for any student new to psychology and psychological research. Each chapter clearly and systematically covers a key area, ranging from research ethics through quantitative methods to complex designs and qualitative analysis. I highly recommend this book to anybody who would like a good understanding of basic research methods and statistics in psychology and related disciplines′ - Dr David Popplewell, University of Oxford