Includes index.

Understanding the research process and getting started -- Why is research necessary and what are some of its benefits? -- Generally, what is the process through which a research topic is identified and do I have to be an experienced researcher to select a topic of interest to me? -- What is the "scientific method" and how can I apply that to my own research? -- There are different types of research models that one might use : can you give me a general overview and how they might compare? -- What's the best research model for my purposes? -- What's the difference between basic and applied research? -- What is qualitative research and what are some examples? -- What are hypotheses and how do they fit into the scientific method? -- What do good research hypotheses do? -- Besides looking at the reputation of a journal where a study is published as one criterion for a good study, are there other things that I can look to? -- I hear so much about different studies' from the newspaper, from professional bulletins and even from my boss : what am I supposed to believe and how can I judge if the results of a study are useful? -- What are some of the best ways to find information online and where are some of the best places? -- What role might social media play in both my efforts as a researcher as well as a consumer? -- Reviewing and writing about your research question -- What is a review of the literature and why is it important? -- How does a review of the literature have an impact on my research question and the hypothesis i propose? -- How do I know when my literature review is finished? : couldn't it go on forever? -- What are the three main types of sources of information and what part does each play in creating a literature review -- What steps should I take in writing my review of literature? -- What are some of the best electronic resources available and how do I learn to use them? -- Introductory ideas about ethics -- What are some of the more general and important principles of ethical research? -- What is informed consent and what does it consist of? -- What special attention should I give to the ethical concerns when children or special populations are involved and what should the parents or legal guardian know? -- What are some examples of the most serious ethical lapses? -- What is an institutional review board or IRB and how does it work? -- What are the important elements of an IRB application? -- Research methods : knowing the language, knowing the ideas -- Why do all these questions and answers on research methods have any relevance for me? -- I have so many ideas I want to study. how can I decide on which is best? -- What is the scientific method and how does it work? -- What is a null hypothesis and why is it important? -- What is a research hypothesis and what are the different types? -- What's similar, and what's different, about a null and research hypothesis? -- How can I create a good research hypothesis? -- What's the "gold standard" of research methods? -- Can you help me understand which method best fits which type of question being asked? -- What are the different types of variables and what are they used for? -- What is an independent variable and how is it used in the research process? -- What is a dependent variable and what does the researcher need to be careful about when selecting and using dependent variables? -- What is the relationship between independent and dependent variables? -- In an experiment, how does the notion of a control and experimental group fit into the scientific method? -- Sampling ideas and issues -- What's the difference between a sample and a population and why are samples important? -- What is the purpose of sampling and what might go wrong during the process? -- What is sampling error and why is it important? -- What are some of the different types of sampling? -- What is random sampling and why is it so useful? -- How does stratified random sampling work and when should I use it? -- How can I be sure that the sample of participants, who are part of a study, accurately represent a larger group of people for whom those results would be important? -- I've heard quite a bit about the importance of sample size : what's that all about? -- How big a sample is big enough? -- How important is big? -- Describing data using descriptive techniques -- What are descriptive statistics and how are they are used? -- What are measures of central tendency and how are they computed? -- How do I decide whether to use the mean, mode or median as a measure of central tendency? -- What are the most often used measures of variability and how are they computed? -- How do i use the mean and the standard deviation to describe a set of data? -- What is a normal curve and what are its characteristics? -- If a distribution of scores is not normal (or not bell shaped) how can the ideas that inference is based on be applied? -- What does it mean when a distribution is skewed? -- I'm looking for a visual way to describe data : what are some of my choices? -- What is a standard score and why is it important? -- What are some of the more common standard scores and how are they used? -- All about testing and measuring -- There's a particular outcome that i want to measure but I have no idea where I can find out whether there are existing measures or not : where do I look to find suggestions as to what dependent variable I should use? -- What are the different levels of measurement and how are they used? -- What is reliability? -- What are some of the different types of reliability and when are they used? -- How are reliability coefficients interpreted? -- What are some of the different types of validity and when are they used? -- What is criterion validity and how do the two types of criterion validity, concurrent and predictive, differ? -- What is the difference between a norm-referenced and a criterion-referenced test? -- What is construct validity and why is the especially appropriate for establishing the validity of psychological tests? -- How are different types of validity established? -- How do reliability and validity work together? -- How can I find out if a test is reliable and valid? -- What are some of the different types of tests and how are they used? -- When it comes to measuring attitude, what is the difference between a likert and a thurstone scale? -- What is item analysis and how is it use.