Practical Problems in Research Methods

Each of the 53 cases presents a practical problem faced by a researcher and the solution he or she selected.

The questions encourage students to evaluate the researcher’s solution and consider alternatives.

All cases are drawn from the published literature. Your students will evaluate real problems faced by practicing researchers.

All major topics in research methods are covered. Here are samples from the seven major sections of the book:

Sampling: Sampling Hispanic Adults by Telephone

Measurement: Social Desirability

Operational Definitions: Defining “Physical Abuse” of Children

Procedures: Controlling the Distribution of a Questionnaire

Experimental and Causal-Comparative Design: Forming Comparison Groups in Classroom Research on Reading

Ethical Considerations: Prescreening Adolescents for Stress

Interpretation of Results: Health Risk Behaviors of Adolescents

The extensive instructor’s guide provides discussion points as well as samples of students’ answers obtained in the field tests.

This supplementary book makes dry textbook principles come alive! Students learn that research is a dynamic process—that for many problems there are competing solutions, each with its own advantages and drawbacks.

The 35 short cases are ideal for classroom discussions. The 18 longer ones make great homework assignments.