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Research Methods for Clinical Therapists

Applied Project Design and Analysis

  • 5th Edition - August 7, 2009
  • Latest edition
  • Author: Carolyn M. Hicks
  • Language: English

Struggling to do a project or dissertation, evaluate published research or conduct your own research? Help is at hand with this 5th edition of Research Methods for Clinical Th… Read more

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Description

Struggling to do a project or dissertation, evaluate published research or conduct your own research? Help is at hand with this 5th edition of Research Methods for Clinical Therapists, which explains, in a clear and simple manner, how to evaluate existing research and how to conduct your own research.

Aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as the practising health care professional, the focus of the text is the design and analysis of experimental studies. These are vital to the effectiveness studies that are central to the work of the healthcare professional. Specific examples from different areas of healthcare are used to explain the core research concepts and relate them to clinical situations. Statistical theory and jargon are kept to a minimum.

Key features

  • 'Key concept' boxes to explain technical research terms
  • Activities and exercises (with answers provided in an appendix) to reinforce learning
  • Sample critique of a published research article
  • Comprehensive coverage of the key components of a robust research study
  • Explanation of basic mathematical concepts

Table of contents

SECTION 1 Basic principles of research


1. Introduction

2. Research design and statistics: some basic concepts

3. Questionnaires, surveys and sampling

4. The nature of the data

5. Techniques of descriptive statistics

6. Testing hypotheses

7. Designing your study

8. Sources of error in research

9. Matching the research design to the statistical test

10.Putting the theory into practice

11.Writing up the research for publication

12.Reading published research critically

SECTION 2 Statistical tests


13.Non-parametric tests for same- and matched-subject designs

14.Parametric tests for same- and matched-subject designs

15. Non-parametric tests for different- (unrelated-) subject designs

16.Parametric tests for different- (unrelated-) subject designs

17.Non-parametric and parametric tests for correlational designs

18.Estimation

SECTION 3 Research applications


19.Attitude scales

20.Repertory grid analysis

21.Using statistics in diagnostic and screening tests: receiver operating characteristics

22.Capturing expert opinion: the Delphi technique

23.Capturing the user voice: Thurstone’s paired comparison technique

24.Capturing the clinician’s view: reliability measures

25.Undertaking systematic reviews

Appendices
Appendix 1 Basic mathematical principles
Appendix 2 Statistical probability tables
Appendix 3 Answers to activities
Appendix 4 A sample critique of a published article

Glossary
References, further reading and information sources
Index

Product details

  • Edition: 5
  • Latest edition
  • Published: September 18, 2009
  • Language: English

About the author

CH

Carolyn M. Hicks

Affiliations and expertise
Professor of Health Care Psychology, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK