Review of 'Research Methods in Psychology: investigating human behavior' Paul G. Nestor & Russell K. Schutt, 2011. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 502 pages, ISBN 978 1 4129 6049, US $88.00 (paperback)

Abstract

It is not easy to make a research methods textbook interesting to students, but 'Research Methods in Psychology: Investigating human behavior' by Nestor and Schutt does that about as well as possible by including as examples studies with findings that students are likely to find both surprising and personally relevant. For instance, in describing certain statistics, the book recounts a study that found that spending money on others tends to make us happier than spending it on ourselves. The book covers the usual topics for a research methods textbook, such as the nature of the scientific method; how to develop research ideas and find relevant literature; various research methods; how statistical analysis supports research analysis; how to write a research report; and how to analyse critically a research article. The book also covers topics that may be of special interest to some instructors: pseudoscience, small N research designs, survey research, and qualitative research methods.