Becoming a Behavioral Science Researcher, Second Edition: A Guide to Producing Research That Matters

"This book is perfect for upper-level undergraduate or graduate-level thesis students. Kline takes the next step in treating psychology as a science. He argues for thoughtful, rigorous, and transparent research, because it will make our knowledge base more reproducible. He argues for effect size estimation taking precedence over significance testing, because a mature science asks not 'Yes or no?,' but rather 'How much?' I know of no other intermediate-level text that places front and center the need to register and replicate research, to prepare reports using disciplinary guidelines, and to share data. It is wonderful to see these developments making their way into a text meant to teach the fundamentals of research design and analysis. This is truly a new book for a new time."--Harris M. Cooper, PhD, Hugo L. Blomquist Professor, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University

“An outstanding book is now even better! In the decade since the first edition, we’ve seen the replication crisis and, in reply, the rise of open science. Researchers now need a deep understanding of preregistration, replication, the new statistics, the dangers of p hacking, and much, much more. Kline once again speaks with great authority and clarity in providing the ideal guide for beginning researchers finding their way in a rapidly changing research world. Every graduate student and postdoc in psychology needs this book as a constant companion. It will also be of great value for education and other social and behavioral sciences."--Geoff Cumming, DPhil, Professor Emeritus, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

“This book is different in that it bridges the gap between how research methods are traditionally taught and how they are put into practice. As such, it can help researchers apply the concepts they are learning about. I applaud the updated coverage of qualitative studies and the practical information about what researchers should know about significance testing. This information fills in concepts that are sometimes missing in graduate research education.”--Julie Peterson Combs, EdD, Department of Educational Leadership, Sam Houston State University

“Kline’s writing is excellent and entertaining. In the second edition, the chapter on research crises is excellent and much needed, and the open-science chapter provides great database resources for students. I use this book as a supplemental text in my classes and recommend it to colleagues."--Craig D. Marker, PhD, Department of Clinical Psychology, Mercer University

“This excellent resource supports students' evolving understanding of the planning, implementation, and analysis of independent research. For example, the chapter on analysis leads readers through a step-by-step process of thinking about their data. I recommend Kline’s book for both class use and independent honors, master’s thesis, and dissertation guidance. It is a 'must read' for my students at all levels."--Diana P. F. Montague, PhD, Department of Psychology, La Salle University

Rex B. Kline, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at Concordia University in Montréal, Quebec, Canada. Since earning a doctorate in clinical psychology, he has conducted research on the psychometric evaluation of cognitive abilities, behavioral and scholastic assessment of children, structural equation modeling, training of researchers, statistics reform in the behavioral sciences, and usability engineering in computer science. Dr. Kline has published a number of chapters and journal articles in these areas. His books include Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling, Fourth Edition, and Becoming a Behavioral Science Researcher, Second Edition.