Research Methods and Statistics

Thinking critically about research and data analysis

Beins and McCarthy present a seamless introduction to statistics and research methods, identifying different research areas and how one approaches them statistically.

The text is designed for a one- or two-semester combined course in Statistics and Research Methods/Experimental Psychology. It helps students develop critical thinking skills about research and data analysis they see in the news and to evaluate claims people make based on that research.

Teaching & Learning Experience

• Improve Critical Thinking – The entire text helps students develop critical thinking skills about research and data analysis they see in the news and to evaluate claims people make about research.
• Support Instructors – MyTest, PowerPoints, and an instructor’s manual offer additional support for instructors.

Barney Beins is Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Department at Ithaca College. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and his doctorate from City University of New York.  He is a Fellow of APA, and was president of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology in 2004; he served as its secretary from 1992 to 1994. He was Director of Precollege and Undergraduate Education at APA from 2000 to 2002.  He has served on APA’s Board of Educational Affairs and on the Board of Directors for the Eastern Psychological Association.

He wrote (with Agatha Beins) Effective Writing in Psychology: Papers, Posters, and Presentations and has co-edited the Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology and five other volumes on various aspects of the teaching of psychology. He has written over 125 journal articles, book chapters, encyclopedia entries, and newsletter articles and has given over 150 conference presentations. His undergraduates have presented over 75 paper and posters at research conferences.

He founded the Northeastern Conference for Teachers of Psychology in 1994. He also participated in the St. Mary’s Conference in 1991, in the Psychology Partnerships Project in 1999, and was on the Steering Committee for the second National Conference on Undergraduate Education in 2008.

He served as inaugural editor for the “Computers in Psychology” section of Teaching of Psychology from 1987 to 1996, and as an Associate Editor. He is a member of the American Psychological Society, Sigma Xi, Psi Chi, the American Statistical Association, the Eastern Psychological Association, the New England Psychological Association.

Maureen McCarthy is Professor of Psychology in the Department at Kennesaw State University. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, and her doctorate from Oklahoma State University. She is a Fellow of APA and APS. She served as President of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology in 2008. She is a member of the Division 35 - the Society for the Psychology of Women and Division 5 – Evaluation, Measurement, and Statistics.  She also served as Associate Executive Director of Precollege and Undergraduate Education at APA from 2003 to 2005.  While serving in this role she successfully obtained a National Science Foundation grant for the Online Psychology Laboratory. This project continues to provide important resources for psychology faculty and students nationally and internationally.

She has authored and co-authored numerous publications including the American Psychologist article “Quality Benchmarks in Undergraduate Psychology Programs. An extension of this work―Using Quality Benchmarks for Assessing and Developing Undergraduate Programs―offers comprehensive approach to program assessment and evaluation to help programs and departments in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences use assessment data to improve undergraduate education. Maureen has written many journal articles, book chapters, and newsletter articles, and has delivered numerous conference presentations. Maureen has edited many works and currently serves as a reviewer for a section of Teaching of Psychology. Maureen currently serves as a member of the Advanced Placement Psychology Test Development Committee and the Social Studies Academic Advisory Committee for the College Board.