Preface Chapter 1. Why Research at all? The History of Research Good, Yet Critical, Science Research Distinctions Critical Thinking Exercises Chapter 2. The Stages of Research: A General Overview Step One: Selecting a Research Topic Step Two: Identifying a Testable Research Question Step Three: Finding Research Step Four: The Literature Review Step Five: Research Design Step Six: Data Collection and Variable Coding Step Seven: Data Analysis Step Eight: Reporting of Results Step Nine: Conclusion and Limitations Final Suggestions Critical Thinking Exercises Chapter 3. Research Ethics The Quest for a Perfect Study Common Ethical Principles Human Research Protection Program Institutional Review Boards Ethical Guidelines Other Ethical Notes The (Ever-Increasing) Role of the IRB Ethically Questionable Studies Final Thoughts Critical Thinking Exercises Chapter 4. Validity and Reliability: Threats to Research Integrity Validity and Reliability Types of Validity Other Research Threats Critical Thinking Exercises Chapter 5. Qualitative Research Strategies Historical Synopsis of Qualitative Research Requisite Qualitative Research Tools Field Research Other Types of Qualitative Research Factors Influencing the Qualitative Data Collection Process Summary Critical Thinking Exercises Chapter 6. Research Designs and Survey Research Operationalization and Coding Composite Measures Choosing a Research Design Experimental Research Experimental, Quasi-Experimental, and Pre-Experimental Designs Other Research Strategies Survey Research Summary Critical Thinking Exercises Chapter 7. Mixed Methods Illustrations of Mixed Methods Mixed Methods for Program Evaluation Steps to Mixed Methods Research Critical Summary of the Mixed Methods Approach Summary Critical Thinking Exercises Chapter 8.

Sampling Strategies Probability or Nonprobability Samples? Critical Thinking Exercises Chapter 9. Elementary and Intermediate Quantitative Data Analysis Basic Quantitative Analysis Univariate and Descriptive Statistics Intermediate Data Handling: Bivariate and Multivariate Statistical Analysis Bivariate Statistics Frequency Distributions Multivariate Statistics Summary Discussion Questions Chapter 10. Qualitative Data Analysis Critique of Causality Traditional Qualitative Analysis Contemporary Statistical Qualitative Analysis Mixed Methods Analysis Critical Thinking Exercises Chapter 11. Beyond Research: An Aid to Writing Success Plagiarism Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) Effective Writing Practices Becoming a More Professional Writer Writing Tip Summation Critical Thinking Exercises Glossary References Index.