Students and beginning researchers often discover that their introductory statistics and methods courses—no matter how well taught—have not fully equipped them to plan and execute their own behavioral research studies. This indispensable book bridges the gap between coursework and conducting independent research. With clarity and wit, the author helps the reader build needed skills to:
• Formulate a precise, meaningful research question
• Understand the pros and cons of widely used research designs and analysis options
• Correctly interpret the outcomes of statistical tests
• Make informed measurement choices for a particular study
• Manage the practical aspects of data screening and preparation
• Craft a publishable article based on research results
• Deliver a polished, effective oral or poster presentation User-friendly features include annotated examples, cartoons, and recommended readings. Most chapters conclude with theoretical and computer-based exercises, complete with small data sets and an answer appendix so readers can check their work. --- from the publisher Reviews: "This is more than a textbook; it is a portable mentor! Kline brings his considerable knowledge and approachable style to the aid of advanced undergraduates and graduate students alike. The book addresses so many issues that fall through the cracks in our fragmented coursework, such as the general integration of design, measurement, and analysis. I would be remiss if I did not make this mandatory reading for all of my students." -Gregory R. Hancock, Professor and Chair, Department of Measurement, Statistics and Evaluation, University of Maryland, College Park "Kline has written the finest synthesis of getting started and finishing research for graduate students that I have read. It is comprehensive, integrative, and couched at a level that will engage students in the research process. I wish I'd had this book when I was first starting out." -William R. Shadish, Chair, Psychological Sciences Section, University of California, Merced "A book designed to improve the quality of behavioral and social science research and the way in which it is communicated. I would strongly recommend this text for use in both undergraduate and graduate research methods courses. It offers students a glimpse of many important issues in the field. In particular, the emphasis on, and presentation of, measurement and statistics reform should truly benefit students. This book is a valuable resource for anyone who intends to pursue a career in the behavioral or social sciences." -Chris L. S. Coryn, Director, Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Evaluation, The Evaluation Center, Western Michigan University "I appreciated the section on data screening-a crucial topic-and found the author's treatment of how to write each section of an empirical paper quite valuable. The APA style manual is not nearly as instructive. This text is the kind of book that you keep; it would serve as a handy reference." -Theresa DiDonato, doctoral candidate, Department of Psychology, Brown University
"Outstanding! Kline is masterful in helping to fill the sometimes cavernous gap between research coursework and applied practice. The focus on modern approaches, including emphasis on replication and effect sizes, represents a new (and needed) generation of research texts, which will benefit advanced undergraduate and graduate students alike in their research courses and seminars. The book honestly and artfully walks the fine line between applied accessibility and necessary depth of content." -Robin K. Henson, PhD, Department of Educational Psychology, University of North Texas Contents: I. Promise and Problems
1. Introduction
Not Ready for Prime Time
What Students Say They Need
Plan of the Book
Career Paths for Behavioral Scientists
Summary
Recommended Readings
2. The Good, the Bad, and (the Really) Ugly of Behavioral Science Research
The Good
The Bad
The (Really) Ugly
Why?
Summary
Recommended Readings
II. Concepts
3. The Research Trinity
Trinity Overview
Design
Measurement
Analysis
Internal Validity
Construct Validity
Conclusion Validity
External Validity and Sampling
Summary
Recommended Readings
Exercises
4. Design and Analysis
Chapter Overview
From Question to Design
Experimental Designs
Controlled Quasi-Experimental Designs
Nonequivalent-Group Designs
Regression-Discontinuity Designs
Other Quasi-Experimental Designs
Nonexperimental Designs
Resources for Learning More
Summary
Recommended Readings
Exercises
5. The Truth about Statistics
Study Strategy
A Dozen Truths about Statistics
What Statistical Significance Really Means
Misinterpretations of Statistical Significance
Why Are There So Many Myths?
Other Drawbacks of Statistical Tests
In Defense of Statistical Tests
Recommendations for Changing Times
Summary
Recommended Readings
Exercises
Appendix 5.1. Review of Statistics Fundamentals
6. Effect Size Estimation
Contexts for Estimating Effect Size
Families of Parametric Effect Sizes
Estimating Effect Size When Comparing Two Samples
Measures of Association for More Complex Designs
Effect Sizes for Dichotomous Outcomes
T-Shirt Effect Sizes, Importance, and Cautions
Approximate Confidence Intervals
Research Examples
Summary
Recommended Readings
Exercises
Appendix 6.1. Noncentrality Interval Estimation for Effect Sizes
7. Measurement
Chapter Scope
The Critical Yet Underappreciated Role of Measurement
Measurement Process Overview
Resources for Finding Measures
Adapting or Translating Tests
Evaluation of Score Reliability and Validity
Checklist for Evaluating Measures
Recent Developments in Test Theory
Summary
Recommended Readings
Exercises
III. Skills
8. Practical Data Analysis
Vision First, Then Simplicity
Managing Complex Analyses (Batch to the Future)
Data Screening
Summary
Recommended Readings
Exercises
9. Writing
Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
Writing as Learning
Getting Started
The Role of Style Guides
General Principles of Good Writing
Principles of Good Scientific Writing
Writing Sections of Empirical Studies
Effective Graphical Displays
Ready for the Big Time
Summary
Recommended Readings
Appendix 9.1. Example Results Section
10. Presentations
Challenges of Oral Presentations
Problems with PowerPoint Presentations
Principles for Creating Effective PowerPoint Presentations
Lessons from Multimedia Learning
Other PowerPoint Issues
Poster Presentations
Summary
Recommended Readings
Exercises
Appendix 10.1. Example Slides, Handout, and Poster
Suggested Answers to Exercises About the Author: Rex B. Kline is Associate Professor of Psychology at Concordia University in Montréal, Québec, Canada. Since earning a doctorate in psychology, his areas of research and writing have included the psychometric evaluation of cognitive abilities in children, child clinical assessment, structural equation modeling, statistics reform, and usability engineering in computer science. Dr. Kline has published four books, several chapters, and more than 40 articles in research journals. | 
