Research Methods in Psychology: Your Essential Guide

Fresh, friendly and accessible, this book makes psychology research methods come alive.

Calmly steering readers through the research process, it covers all stages – from theory, generating research topics and being an ethical researcher to data collection, analysis and writing up – without overwhelming jargon.

It also:

• Covers qualitative and quantitative methods equally, supporting readers to choose the best approach for their project;
• Spotlights contemporary research on body positivity, social media, K-Pop and more, as well as critically revisiting canonical studies;
• Celebrates diversity and inclusivity, encouraging students to consider positionality, act ethically, and be reflexive;
• Showcases real student projects on topics such as mental health, immigration, and consent, inspiring readers about the possibilities of their research.

Taking the fear out of research methods, this is the perfect guidebook for undergraduate psychology students embarking on their own research journey or finessing their research methods knowledge.

Deborah Earnshaw is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK. Prior to joining BCU, she was an Associate Lecturer at the University of Derby, where she completed her PhD in 2018, Master of Research degree in 2015 and BSc. Psychology degree in 2012. Her PhD thesis explored the ways in which British men described and experienced their masculinity, using photovoice and phenomenology. At BCU, Debbie leads the Qualitative Research Methods module and teaches on the Parapsychology module and has been a Course Lead for the UG programmes since 2021. Debbie has contributed as peer reviewer for numerous journals and publishers, including Sage and Oxford University Press, alongside publishing research articles. She is a strong advocate for qualitative research methods and for encouraging the use of creative methods in research where possible.

Samuel Parker is a Senior Lecturer in Social Psychology at the University of the West of England, UWE Bristol. Prior to this he worked as Lecturer in Psychology and Course Leader at Birmingham City University and before this in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University where he also completed his PhD in 2018. His thesis looked at the ways in which refugees and asylum seekers in Wales discursively constructed accounts of integration. Sam also holds an MSc in Psychological Research Methods and Diploma in Psychology (Conversion for Postgraduates) from the Open University. At UWE Sam teaches Social Psychology and Qualitative Research Methods across a number of different modules and is the co-Module Leader for the first year Introduction to Psychology module and the final year Human Sexuality module. He has published over 20 peer-reviewed articles and is an Associate Editor for Psychology Teaching Review.

Charlotte Brookfield is a Reader at Cardiff University’s School of Social Sciences. Charlotte is based in the Cardiff Q-Step Centre of Excellence in Quantitative Methods Teaching and Learning. The Centre is one of eighteen across the UK which aim to enhance the quantitative research methods training experience for social science students. The pedagogic activities of the Centre have influenced Charlotte’s research interests and in particular, she is interested in exploring the extent to which British sociology engages with quantitative approaches and the possible factors that may contribute toward sociology students’ resistance to study and use quantitative techniques.

Charlotte teaches on a range of research methods and substantive modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Specifically, she convenes the Real World Research Placement module, where students are afforded the opportunity to put into practice the quantitative skills they have acquired in lectures in a local work organisation. Organisations involved in this module include the Welsh Government, the Welsh Blood Service and the Welsh Wheelchair Basketball Association. It was through leading this module that Charlotte came to realise the necessity for social science students and graduates to have a greater familiarity with Microsoft Excel.

In her spare time, Charlotte enjoys baking and crafting.