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How to Design and Report Experiments
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How to Design and Report Experiments

First Edition


January 2003 | 384 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
How to Design and Report Experiments is the perfect textbook and guide to the often bewildering world of experimental design and statistics. It provides a complete map of the entire process beginning with how to get ideas about research, how to refine your research question and the actual design of the experiment, leading on to statistical procedure and assistance with writing up of results.

While many books look at the fundamentals of doing successful experiments and include good coverage of statistical techniques, this book very importantly considers the process in chronological order with specific attention given to effective design in the context of likely methods needed and expected results. Without full assessment of these aspects, the experience and results may not end up being as positive as one might have hoped. Ample coverage is then also provided of statistical data analysis, a hazardous journey in itself, and the reporting of findings, with numerous examples and helpful tips of common downfalls throughout.

Combining light humour, empathy with solid practical guidance to ensure a positive experience overall, How to Design and Report Experiments will be essential reading for students in psychology and those in cognate disciplines with an experimental focus or content in research methods courses.

 
PART ONE: DESIGNING AN EXPERIMENT
 
Before You Begin
 
Planning an Experiment
 
Experimental Designs
 
PART TWO: ANALYZING AND INTERPRETING DATA
 
Descriptive Statistics
 
Inferential Statistics
 
Parametric Tests
 
Non-Parametric Tests
 
Choosing a Statistical Test
 
PART THREE: WRITING UP YOUR RESEARCH
 
A Quick Guide to Writing a Psychology Lab-Report
 
General Points When Writing a Report
 
Answering the Question 'Why?'
The Introduction Section

 
 
Answering the Question 'How?'
The Method Section

 
 
Answering the Question 'What Did I Find?'
The Results Section

 
 
Answering the Question 'So What?'
The Discussion Section

 
 
Title, Abstract, Reference and Formatting
 
Example of an Experimental Write-up

Absolutely essential book for first year undergraduates learning how to design experiments and write up their work. This book serves as a very useful 'must have' companion all the way through any psychology degree. Highly recommended!

Mrs Annabelle Scarlet
Department of Psychology, Sussex University
September 9, 2013

Looks very promising as a readable guide to improving research design and writing.

Mr Patrick Meehan
Education , Canterbury Christ Church University
September 5, 2013

The book is well laid out with clear sections and practical, sensible advice for students in the field of Psychology. Although it is fairly detailed, the subdivisions make it easy to find the most relevant points at different parts of the research process which is appealing. I am sure it will provide valuable assistance at all stages of the project from design, data collection and writing up. The format presented in the book matches exactly what we would expect from written reports and so should be a useful guide enabling students to produce the best written work possible.

Dr Alison Lane
Department of Psychology, Durham University
July 31, 2013

A simple, step-by-step guide to designing and reporting experiments.

Dr Alison Benbow
Social Psychology, FernUniversität in Hagen
July 1, 2013

Provides essential information for all those students conducting experimental research.

Mr Marc Potter
Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality, Blackpool and the Fylde College
June 20, 2013

Really good book. Have recommended it for all my super visees dealing with experimental designs. Also have suggested it to other people for their dissertation students.

Mr Chrysostomos Apostolidis
Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University
May 14, 2013

I will be adopting this book for my 2014 Research Methodology Course. This is the most relevant and easy to follow book that I have used. Its is very clear in its instruction. I use the book this the other book by Andy Field (Discovering Statistics Using SPSS). It a good good to use both at undergraduate an postgraduate levels.

Mr Sizwe Zondo
Dept of Psychology, Rhodes University
April 8, 2013

This book elaborates on some of the shorter points in Fiel's Discovering statistics and is a good supplement if you need more insight in experimental design.

Miss Sabine Reich
School, University of Mannheim
January 16, 2013

A lot of the info doubles with the Discovering Statistics Book, but some chapters will be useful for my students in empirical classes.

Miss Sabine Reich
School, University of Mannheim
November 27, 2012

A very valuable piece of work that combines statistical methodology and research design. I do recommand that book to my students. The language is very funny and makes it very readable.

Mr Jamel Khenfer
Marketing , Paul Cezanne University Aix-Marseille III
July 1, 2012