From an expert team in the research methods field, RESEARCH METHODS: THE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE BASE, 2nd Edition, is written specifically for undergraduates. The book streamlines and clarifies explanations of fundamental, yet difficult, concepts in a familiar, engaging style. Students learn about the relationship between theory and practice, which helps them become better researchers and better consumers of research.

Part I: FOUNDATIONS.
1. Introduction.
2. Ethics.
3. Qualitative Approaches to Research.
Part II: SAMPLING.
4. Sampling.
Part III: MEASUREMENT.
5. Introduction to Measurement.
6. Scales, Tests, and Indexes.
7. Survey Research.
Part IV: DESIGN.
8. Introduction to Design.
9. Experimental Design.
10. Quasi-Experimental Design.
Part V: ANALYSIS AND REPORTING.
11. Introduction to Data Analysis: Foundations of Data Analysis. 12. Inferential Analysis.
13. Communicating Research.
Appendix.

From an expert team in the research methods field, RESEARCH METHODS: THE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE BASE, 2nd Edition, is written specifically for undergraduates. The book streamlines and clarifies explanations of fundamental, yet difficult, concepts in a familiar, engaging style. Students learn about the relationship between theory and practice, which helps them become better researchers and better consumers of research. This edition has been reorganized and streamlined so that content is more tightly knit and flows seamlessly from "broad" to "specific" topics. A new chapter on ethics in research includes a detailed history as well as discussion of the key principles and practices that all researchers need to know. A new section on oral presentation includes guidelines for giving a talk as well as a sample conference poster. A new appendix features a sample paper that is consistent with current standards of analysis and reporting, including the APA 6th Edition and the recently announced requirements of the American Psychological Society (Cumming, 2013). These include standards and requirements regarding Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews, statistical power, CONSORT-type flow diagrams, effect sizes, and confidence intervals. End-of-chapter quizzes are revised and expanded with new questions. All-new photos and illustrations complement the narrative. This brief text is easily covered in a semester or quarter. Geared to a broad readership in applied social research, it can be used in any standard research methods courses in a wide range of fields. Designed to be accessible to students who are new to research methods, the book's informal writing style reflects the authors' deliberate attempt to make often-daunting material more approachable for many readers.