Designing Experiments for the Social Sciences

How to Plan, Create, and Execute Research Using Experiments
Renita Coleman
Designing Experiments for the Social Sciences
September 2018 | 408 pages | Sage US
Create Flyer

If you’re in North America, please visit our Sage College Publishing website to purchase or sample this book:

Go to College Publishing Website

Description

 “This book is a must for learning about the experimental design–from forming a research question to interpreting the results this text covers it all.”

–Sarah El Sayed, University of Texas at Arlington

Designing Experiments for the Social Sciences: How to Plan, Create, and Execute Research Using Experiments is a practical, applied text for courses in experimental design. The text assumes that students have just a basic knowledge of the scientific method, and no statistics background is required. With its focus on how to effectively design experiments, rather than how to analyze them, the book concentrates on the stage where researchers are making decisions about procedural aspects of the experiment before interventions and treatments are given.

Renita Coleman walks readers step-by-step on how to plan and execute experiments from the beginning by discussing choosing and collecting a sample, creating the stimuli and questionnaire, doing a manipulation check or pre-test, analyzing the data, and understanding and interpreting the results. Guidelines for deciding which elements are best used in the creation of a particular kind of experiment are also given. This title offers rich pedagogy, ethical considerations, and examples pertinent to all social science disciplines.


 
 


Contents

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Author

  • 1. Discovering Cause and Effect
  • Causation
  • Experiments Compared to Other Methods
  • Basic Criteria for Experiments
  • Elements of Experiments
  • Starting a Study of Your Own
  • 2. Ethics and Famous Experiments in History
  • The Scurvy Studies
  • The Contributions of Charles Peirce
  • Ronald Fisher’s Plots and Tea
  • B. F. Skinner: Small Samples, High Tech
  • Stanley Milgram Shocks the World
  • Philip Zimbardo: Raising Consciences in a Stanford Basement
  • Conclusion
  • 3. Theory, Literature, and Hypotheses
  • The Literature Review
  • Hypotheses and Research Questions
  • 4. Types of Experiments
  • Campbell and Stanley’s Typology of Experiments
  • Quasi Experiments
  • Natural Experiments
  • Field Experiments
  • 5. Internal and External Validity
  • Ecological and External Validity
  • Generalizability
  • Cause and Effect
  • Logical Inference
  • Replication
  • Internal Validity
  • 6. Factorial Designs
  • Single-Factor Designs
  • Factorial Designs
  • How Subjects Are Used in Designs
  • Control Groups
  • 7. Random Assignment
  • The Purpose of Random Assignment
  • Operationalizing Random Assignment
  • Reporting Random Assignment
  • Balanced and Unbalanced Designs
  • Checking That Random Assignment Was Effective
  • Blocking, Matching, and Other Strategies
  • Random Assignment of Other Things
  • Random Assignment Resistance
  • 8. Sampling and Effect Sizes
  • Student Samples
  • Amazon’s Mechanical Turk
  • Other Subject Sources
  • Recruiting
  • Incentives
  • Sample Size and Power
  • 9. Stimuli and Manipulation Checks
  • Examples of Stimuli
  • Advice on Creating Stimuli
  • Manipulation Checks
  • Reporting the Stimuli and Manipulation Checks
  • 10. Instruments and Measures
  • Instruments
  • Measurement Issues
  • 11. The Institutional Review Board and Conducting Ethical Experiments
  • Institutional Review Boards
  • Ethical Issues in Experiments
  • Protecting Subjects
  • Researcher Issues
  • Pilot Studies

Glossary

Glossary

Index

Index

Description

 “This book is a must for learning about the experimental design–from forming a research question to interpreting the results this text covers it all.”

–Sarah El Sayed, University of Texas at Arlington

Designing Experiments for the Social Sciences: How to Plan, Create, and Execute Research Using Experiments is a practical, applied text for courses in experimental design. The text assumes that students have just a basic knowledge of the scientific method, and no statistics background is required. With its focus on how to effectively design experiments, rather than how to analyze them, the book concentrates on the stage where researchers are making decisions about procedural aspects of the experiment before interventions and treatments are given.

Renita Coleman walks readers step-by-step on how to plan and execute experiments from the beginning by discussing choosing and collecting a sample, creating the stimuli and questionnaire, doing a manipulation check or pre-test, analyzing the data, and understanding and interpreting the results. Guidelines for deciding which elements are best used in the creation of a particular kind of experiment are also given. This title offers rich pedagogy, ethical considerations, and examples pertinent to all social science disciplines.


 
 


Contents

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Author

  • 1. Discovering Cause and Effect
  • Causation
  • Experiments Compared to Other Methods
  • Basic Criteria for Experiments
  • Elements of Experiments
  • Starting a Study of Your Own
  • 2. Ethics and Famous Experiments in History
  • The Scurvy Studies
  • The Contributions of Charles Peirce
  • Ronald Fisher’s Plots and Tea
  • B. F. Skinner: Small Samples, High Tech
  • Stanley Milgram Shocks the World
  • Philip Zimbardo: Raising Consciences in a Stanford Basement
  • Conclusion
  • 3. Theory, Literature, and Hypotheses
  • The Literature Review
  • Hypotheses and Research Questions
  • 4. Types of Experiments
  • Campbell and Stanley’s Typology of Experiments
  • Quasi Experiments
  • Natural Experiments
  • Field Experiments
  • 5. Internal and External Validity
  • Ecological and External Validity
  • Generalizability
  • Cause and Effect
  • Logical Inference
  • Replication
  • Internal Validity
  • 6. Factorial Designs
  • Single-Factor Designs
  • Factorial Designs
  • How Subjects Are Used in Designs
  • Control Groups
  • 7. Random Assignment
  • The Purpose of Random Assignment
  • Operationalizing Random Assignment
  • Reporting Random Assignment
  • Balanced and Unbalanced Designs
  • Checking That Random Assignment Was Effective
  • Blocking, Matching, and Other Strategies
  • Random Assignment of Other Things
  • Random Assignment Resistance
  • 8. Sampling and Effect Sizes
  • Student Samples
  • Amazon’s Mechanical Turk
  • Other Subject Sources
  • Recruiting
  • Incentives
  • Sample Size and Power
  • 9. Stimuli and Manipulation Checks
  • Examples of Stimuli
  • Advice on Creating Stimuli
  • Manipulation Checks
  • Reporting the Stimuli and Manipulation Checks
  • 10. Instruments and Measures
  • Instruments
  • Measurement Issues
  • 11. The Institutional Review Board and Conducting Ethical Experiments
  • Institutional Review Boards
  • Ethical Issues in Experiments
  • Protecting Subjects
  • Researcher Issues
  • Pilot Studies

Glossary

Glossary

Index

Index

SAGE Publishing Logo

Designing Experiments for the Social Sciences

How to Plan, Create, and Execute Research Using Experiments

Renita Coleman
Cancel Print

September 2018 | 408 pages | Sage US

Format Published Date ISBN Price

 “This book is a must for learning about the experimental design–from forming a research question to interpreting the results this text covers it all.”

–Sarah El Sayed, University of Texas at Arlington

Designing Experiments for the Social Sciences: How to Plan, Create, and Execute Research Using Experiments is a practical, applied text for courses in experimental design. The text assumes that students have just a basic knowledge of the scientific method, and no statistics background is required. With its focus on how to effectively design experiments, rather than how to analyze them, the book concentrates on the stage where researchers are making decisions about procedural aspects of the experiment before interventions and treatments are given.

Renita Coleman walks readers step-by-step on how to plan and execute experiments from the beginning by discussing choosing and collecting a sample, creating the stimuli and questionnaire, doing a manipulation check or pre-test, analyzing the data, and understanding and interpreting the results. Guidelines for deciding which elements are best used in the creation of a particular kind of experiment are also given. This title offers rich pedagogy, ethical considerations, and examples pertinent to all social science disciplines.


 
 



Table Of Contents:

  • Preface
  • Acknowledgments
  • About the Author
  • 1. Discovering Cause and Effect
  • Causation
  • Experiments Compared to Other Methods
  • Basic Criteria for Experiments
  • Elements of Experiments
  • Starting a Study of Your Own
  • 2. Ethics and Famous Experiments in History
  • The Scurvy Studies
  • The Contributions of Charles Peirce
  • Ronald Fisher’s Plots and Tea
  • B. F. Skinner: Small Samples, High Tech
  • Stanley Milgram Shocks the World
  • Philip Zimbardo: Raising Consciences in a Stanford Basement
  • Conclusion
  • 3. Theory, Literature, and Hypotheses
  • The Literature Review
  • Hypotheses and Research Questions
  • 4. Types of Experiments
  • Campbell and Stanley’s Typology of Experiments
  • Quasi Experiments
  • Natural Experiments
  • Field Experiments
  • 5. Internal and External Validity
  • Ecological and External Validity
  • Generalizability
  • Cause and Effect
  • Logical Inference
  • Replication
  • Internal Validity
  • 6. Factorial Designs
  • Single-Factor Designs
  • Factorial Designs
  • How Subjects Are Used in Designs
  • Control Groups
  • 7. Random Assignment
  • The Purpose of Random Assignment
  • Operationalizing Random Assignment
  • Reporting Random Assignment
  • Balanced and Unbalanced Designs
  • Checking That Random Assignment Was Effective
  • Blocking, Matching, and Other Strategies
  • Random Assignment of Other Things
  • Random Assignment Resistance
  • 8. Sampling and Effect Sizes
  • Student Samples
  • Amazon’s Mechanical Turk
  • Other Subject Sources
  • Recruiting
  • Incentives
  • Sample Size and Power
  • 9. Stimuli and Manipulation Checks
  • Examples of Stimuli
  • Advice on Creating Stimuli
  • Manipulation Checks
  • Reporting the Stimuli and Manipulation Checks
  • 10. Instruments and Measures
  • Instruments
  • Measurement Issues
  • 11. The Institutional Review Board and Conducting Ethical Experiments
  • Institutional Review Boards
  • Ethical Issues in Experiments
  • Protecting Subjects
  • Researcher Issues
  • Pilot Studies
  • Glossary
  • Index

Recent Product Reviews:

“This book offers many examples and hands-on instruction that can help students learn how to conduct experiments.”
Francis O. Adeola, University of New Orleans
“This book is a must for learning about the experimental design–from forming a research question to interpreting the results, this text covers it all.”
Sarah El Sayed, University of Texas at Arlington
“This text provides students with an excellent explanation of experimental methodology: not just descriptions of elements of the experiment method, but understanding of where those elements came from, how and why they work together, and how students can become scholars.”
Kyle J. Holody, Coastal Carolina University
“This is a comprehensive text on experiments, clearly and engagingly written, with many excellent examples. Renita Coleman has included everything the student will need to develop, design, and execute a methodologically-sound experiment.”
Glenn Leshner, University of Oklahoma
“This textbook is detailed and well organized, with each topic progressing logically to build on foundational knowledge. Students will find it easy to master research concepts, and practice using the exercises and examples provided. The ‘Study Spotlight’ scenarios and practical examples are effective tools to demonstrate research designs, and the ‘Test Your Knowledge Quizzes’ reinforce student learning.”
Janet Reid-Hector, Rutgers University

Recommendations