Quantitative and Statistical Research Methods: From Hypothesis to Results [Paperback]

Quantitative and Statistical Research Methods

This user-friendly textbook teaches students to understand and apply procedural steps in completing quantitative studies. It explains statistics while progressing through the steps of the hypothesis-testing process from hypothesis to results. The research problems used in the book reflect statistical applications related to interesting and important topics. In addition, the book provides a Research Analysis and Interpretation Guide to help students analyze research articles.

Designed as a hands-on resource, each chapter covers a single research problem and offers directions for implementing the research method from start to finish. Readers will learn how to:

• Pinpoint research questions and hypotheses
• Identify, classify, and operationally define the study variables
• Choose appropriate research designs
• Conduct power analysis
• Select an appropriate statistic for the problem
• Use a data set
• Conduct data screening and analyses using SPSS
• Interpret the statistics
• Write the results related to the problem

Quantitative and Statistical Research Methods allows students to immediately, independently, and successfully apply quantitative methods to their own research projects.

Tables and Figures ix

Preface xvii

The Authors xix

Chapter 1 Introduction and Overview 1

Review of Foundational Research Concepts 3

Review of Foundational Statistical Information 6

The Normal Distribution 14

Chapter 2 Logical Steps of Conducting Quantitative Research: Hypothesis-Testing Process 29