Introducing Psychological Research - 3rd Edition by Philip Banyard & Andrew Grayson (Paperback)

About the Book

A revised and updated edition of this introductory textbook that summarizes the important research studies carried out across key areas such as social and cognitive which have shaped psychology as a discipline.

Book Synopsis

Crucially, the foundations of good psychology, in both practice and knowledge, are the ability to understand and carry out effective methods in psychological research. Subsequently, this title aims to introduce students to a thorough history of the key psychological studies across the sub-disciplines of social, developmental, cognitive and biological psychology as well as neuroscience. Research case-studies are described and critiqued encouraging students to critically think about the wider implications of how research is conducted and the subsequent findings that they produce. The pivotal case studies covered have been specifically chosen to illustrate how psychological methods in research have evolved over the history of the discipline and to showcase as broad an overview as possible of the various ways in which research may be conducted; including controlled experiments, in-depth interviewing and literature searches.

The book is essential for undergraduate students looking for a comprehensive and clearly written guide to both the classic and contemporary studies that have informed the research methods in the discipline of psychology today. This book has been written to provide clear and well-explained summaries that encourage critical reflection and discussion of the material learnt, making this an apt introduction for students wishing to learn about the valid methods of carrying out empirical research.

From the Back Cover

Most important psychological research is presented in the form of research papers. Students of psychology have long faced the problem of tracking down original research articles, which are generally scattered in hard-to-find journals (where they are usually rendered in tedious academic fashion) or presented in watered-down form in textbooks. In Introducing Psychological Research, Philip Banyard and Andrew Grayson have resolved this dilemma once and for all by providing detailed summaries and background information for sixty-four of the most influential studies in psychology. The collection includes pioneering work by Stanley Milgram, Philip Zimbardo, Henry Tajfel, B. F. Skinner, Niko Tinbergen, Sandra Bem, Carol Gilligan, Sigmund Freud, Albert Bandura, and many others. Among the ground-breaking trials highlighted are Piaget's cognitive approach, the jigsaw technique, the prison simulation, the Robber's Cave, and the Minimal Group Studies.

About the Author

PHILIP BANYARD is Associate Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Nottingham Trent University, UK, and was Chief Examiner for the OCR A level in Psychology. He has written numerous articles for teachers and students of psychology, and has been teaching introductory level psychology for many years.

ANDREW GRAYSON is Senior Lecturer in Psychology in the Centre for Human Development and Learning at the Open University, UK. He has taught developmental psychology, introductory psychology and research methods at degree level for over twelve years.
PHILIP BANYARD is Associate Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Nottingham Trent University, UK, and was Chief Examiner for the OCR A level in Psychology. He has written numerous articles for teachers and students of psychology, and has been teaching introductory level psychology for many years.

ANDREW GRAYSON is Senior Lecturer in Psychology in the Centre for Human Development and Learning at the Open University, UK. He has taught developmental psychology, introductory psychology and research methods at degree level for over twelve years.