A Practical Guide to Behavioral Research

Book excerpt: Ideal for students in research methods courses and for readers seeking a clear guide to conducting behavioral studies, the fourth edition of A Practical Guide to Behavioral Research provides an accessible introduction to the techniques and tools of behavioral research used in psychology, sociology, and anthropology, as well as in business, education, design, and program evaluation. It offers a multi-method, hands-on, interdisciplinary approach including observation, interviewing, questionnaire construction, experimentation, content analyses, case studies, and the use of personal documents and archival measures. Students are encouraged to learn by using statistical techniques rather than just reading about them. This revision includes a new chapter describing the research opportunities provided by using the Internet in behavioral research, and new material on the use of computers in running research studies and in data analysis. It also expands coverage of case studies and qualitative research, and introduces the role of the camera in behavioral research. Details on conference presentations and on writing technical reports and journal articles are included. This edition also features more information on work being done outside of North America. Lively and straightforward, the fourth edition of A Practical Guide to Behavioral Research is an indispensable tool for teachers in need of an excellent textbook, and an invaluable reference for anyone interested in behavioral studies