Research Methods and Statistics for the Social Sciences

Research Methods and Statistics for the Social Sciences: A Brief Introduction provides students with an accessible and practical handbook to research methods and their application within the social sciences. The text is designed to guide students seamlessly through the research process, from the development of a research idea through the creation of a complete, final research paper.

In opening chapters, students learn why research methods and statistics are critical within the discipline, basic concepts in quantitative research and statistics, and the foundation of statistics: mean, variance, and standard deviation. Dedicated chapters cover standardized scores, correlation research design, psychological assessments, and how to understand variables and speak to the validity of their research. Students learn how to conduct a simple experiment with both a between and a within-subjects design. They are introduced to complex approaches to experimental design and statistics, research with a factorial design, and chi-square analysis. The closing chapter reviews qualitative research and design. Formulas presented throughout the text are clearly linked to the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to furnish students with practical knowledge.

Featuring a highly accessible presentation of the material, Research Methods and Statistics for the Social Sciences is an ideal textbook for research-based courses in the social sciences.

Amber DeBono is an associate professor of psychology at Winston-Salem State University, where she teaches courses in introductory psychological sciences, research methods and statistics, social psychology, personality psychology, and death, dying, and bereavement. She holds a Ph.D. in social psychology from the University at Albany, State University of New York, and M.A. in general psychology from Hunter College, State University of New York. Dr. DeBono’s research interests include immoral behavior, religion, social exclusion, aggression, and self-regulation.