Student Site for Chapter 1 of
Research design explained (8th ed.)

Review and improve your understanding of the material Quiz yourself See how this material can help you Have fun Get help
Visualize the material by looking at this concept map

 

Do this crossword puzzle

 

See how good detectives use scientific thinking

Test yourself on the key terms using one or more of these three quick matching tools The ability to read, write, and do research demonstrates the key skills that employers say they want.

To learn how to market the skills you will develop in this course, read  our Web Appendix: "Marketing Your Research Design Skills."

See how thinking like a scientist may make you happier (3-minute video).

See how understanding research methods can help you evaluate treatments for the Corona Virus.

Cartoon suggesting one difference between science with popular opinion

 

Bakery learns that constructs like love cannot be seen (maybe the bakery needs to find a good operational definition of love)

Help with answering the end-of-chapter exercises
Review the material by Take some practice quizzes. Avoid believing in myths: Test your skills with an interactive Sherlock Holmes mystery related to research methods.
Look at some of the thinking errors addressed in this chapter that interfere with the appreciation of science and reality (false cause, bandwagon, appeal to authority, anecdotal, personal incredulity, and middle ground. You can download a poster of these fallacies here.

Quick visual summary of the value of the scientific approach

See how experience can trick pigeons (and us) into being superstitious (33 second video)

Do some interactive end-of-chapter exercises (multiple-choice format) Avoid being fooled:  
Not sure about what objectivity is--or why scientists care about operational definitions? Then, see this one-page tutorial.

 

Look at the different levels of scientific thinking and decide your current level is and think about where you want it to be.

Can your scientific thinking evolve the way your thinking about spelling evolved?

Diagram that will help you determine whether a claim is scientific and help you turn an unscientific claim into a scientific one.

Study Chapter 1's slogans/ take-home lessons

Test your understanding of the scientific approach with this fun action maze.

 

Test your ability to determine factual statements from opinion statements (and compare your results to the average U.S. citizen)

See  how achieving the thinking goals for this chapter helps you avoid biases.

 

See  how most people avoid testing their beliefs--and why you should test your beliefs.  

 

See how people can find patterns and meaning in coincidences.

Chapter 1 Exercises


Back to Research Design Explained Student Home Page