Reviews of Introducing Psychological Research

Reviews

Jamie Davies at psychBLOG.co.uk

It's been 7 years since the last revision of Introducing Psychological Research (Banyard & Grayson) but what has this recent 3rd Edition brought us? The PsychBLOG review: Let's get inside. For students studying OCR AS Psychology this is a gem of a book. This book summarises most of the core studies (both current and new specification) concisely - although Savage-Rumbaugh (1986) is surprisingly absent. From start to finish you have psychology in a readable and witty style; talking of highly controlled social psychological studies Phil says: "[The studies] are often brilliantly controlled and scientifically rigorous but bear as much resemblance to social interaction as an Oxo cube does to a cow. Such studies can be described as impeccable trivia." As well as the core studies, there are also other `classic' (and not-so-classic) studies in psychology which could come in use for coursework, second-year modules, or just general interest to stretch and challenge the more able student. The book covers a good foundation of psychological perspectives from cognitive to comparative, and if that isn't enough, the chapter on methodology is probably one of the best I have ever read. (see the full review at http://books.psychblog.co.uk/introducing-psychological-research-banyard-grayson-3.php )

Dr. Richard Rowe, University of Sheffield, UK

The authors have done an excellent job of selecting a range of important psychological papers and summarising them in a highly accessible way. The focus on methodology in context will provide undergraduates the opportunity to understand how researchers successfully overcame challenges common to many empirical projects.

John Hegarty, THES

Aimed at a similar level of readership is Philip Banyard and Andrew Grayson's Introducing Psychological Research. Its 70 studies are set in context, described and discussed. The reader is aided by a full glossary, definitions for key words and phrases given with each study, questions, and helpfully suggested answers. One could be irritated or amused by the addition of a clever one-liner for each study ("Be a good boy and do as you are told" for Stanley Milgram's study of obedience; "Why did the antelope cross the road?" for an article by J. Deregowski on pictorial perception and culture), but these do ease the reader into the subject matter of each article. This second edition is enlarged by additional studies and a chapter on methodology. It will be a useful resource for many students, giving them easy access to a range of studies and the issues they raise. Compared to the similar book by Richard Gross, Key Studies in Psychology, this has twice as many studies, but in less detail. Both books do a great service in introducing students to reading research articles and giving them models for evaluating them (review of the 2nd edition).

James Tedeschi, University at Albany, State University of New York, US

The two authors have done a superb job of writing this book. The style is consistent throughout, is crystal clear in presenting complex ideas in simple language....and maintains a good sense of humour....Anyone who teaches introductory psychology should take a look at this book. It is a good idea excellently executed. If it is possible to teach beginning students to develop critical thinking about original research in psychology, I can think of no better way to do it (review of the 1st edition).

Who is this book for?

Now in its 3rd Edition, Introducing Psychological Research has received excellent reviews from psychologists in the UK and in the USA

Students studying psychology at university or college will find this textbook invaluable. Students who are doing psychology as a minor subject, or professionals who need to know some introductory psychology will also find this book to be a worthwhile investment. For example the book is used on courses in Health Studies, Education, Sociology, Criminology, Teacher Training and Social Work.