Contents

ContentsPreface xiPART IGeneral Issues 11 Introduction 2THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY 3SCIENCE IN CONTEXT 6Historical Context 6Social and Cultural Context 10Moral Context 13THINKING LIKE A RESEARCHER 15Evaluating Research Findings Reportedin the Media 17Getting Started Doing Research 18SUMMARY 23KEY CONCEPTS 24REVIEW QUESTIONS 24CHALLENGE QUESTIONS 25ANSWER TO STRETCHING EXERCISE 25ANSWER TO CHALLENGE QUESTION 1 252 The Scientific Method 27SCIENTIFIC AND EVERYDAY APPROACHES TOKNOWLEDGE 28General Approach and Attitude 29Observation 30Reporting 33Concepts 34Instruments 36Measurement 37Hypotheses 38GOALS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD 40Description 40Prediction 44Explanation 46Application 48SCIENTIFIC THEORY CONSTRUCTION ANDTESTING 49SUMMARY 53KEY CONCEPTS 54REVIEW QUESTIONS 54CHALLENGE QUESTIONS 55ANSWER TO STRETCHING EXERCISE 56ANSWER TO CHALLENGE QUESTION 1 563. Ethical Issues in theConduct of PsychologicalResearch 57INTRODUCTION 58ETHICAL ISSUES TO CONSIDER BEFORE BEGINNINGRESEARCH 59THE RISK/BENEFIT RATIO 62Determining Risk 63Minimal Risk 64Dealing with Risk 65INFORMED CONSENT 66DECEPTION IN PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 72DEBRIEFING 76RESEARCH WITH ANIMALS 78REPORTING OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 81STEPS FOR ETHICAL COMPLIANCE 84SUMMARY 85KEY CONCEPTS 86REVIEW QUESTIONS 86CHALLENGE QUESTIONS 87PART IIDescriptive Methods 914 Observation 92OVERVIEW 93SAMPLING BEHAVIOR 94Time Sampling 94Situation Sampling 95OBSERVATIONAL METHODS 96DIRECT OBSERVATIONAL METHODS 97Observation without Intervention 97Observation with Intervention 100iv