EVALUATING RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY
For Romy
EVALUATING
RESEARCH
METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY A CASE STUDY APPROACH
GEORGE DUNBAR
© 2005 by George Dunbar A BPS Blackwell book BLACKWELL PUBLISHING 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148-5020, USA 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK 550 Swanston Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia The right of George Dunbar to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher. First published 2005 by The British Psychological Society and Blackwell Publishing Ltd 1
2005
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Dunbar, George (George L.) Evaluating research methods in psychology : a case study approach / George Dunbar. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-1-4051-2074-6 (hard cover : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-4051-2074-6 (hard cover : alk. paper) ISBN-13: 978-1-4051-2075-3 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-4051-2075-4 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Psychology – Research – Methodology. 2. Psychology – Research – Case studies. I. Title. BF76.5.D85 2005 150'.72–dc22 2004029159 A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library. Set in 10.5/12.5pt Photina by Graphicraft Ltd., Hong Kong Printed and bound in the United Kingdom by TJ International, Padstow, Cornwall The publisher’s policy is to use permanent paper from mills that operate a sustainable forestry policy, and which has been manufactured from pulp processed using acid-free and elementary chlorine-free practices. Furthermore, the publisher ensures that the text paper and cover board used have met acceptable environmental accreditation standards. For further information on BPS Blackwell, visit our website: www.bpsblackwell.co.uk The British Psychological Society’s free Research Digest e-mail service rounds up the latest research and relates it to your syllabus in a user-friendly way. To subscribe go to www.researchdigest.org.uk or send a blank e-mail to
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