Research Design in Clinical Psychology

'Dr. Kazdin's Research Design in Clinical Psychology (6th edition) is the perfect textbook to help students develop skills in and appreciation for sound research design. Research Methods is often the course that students dread, finding the material dry and inaccessible, but Dr. Kazdin's approach to balancing scientific rigor with humor will make the material come alive for students. He provides numerous examples to guide students in understanding why certain methods are needed and when they are appropriate.' Arielle Baskin-Sommers, Yale University

'A wonderful approach to research design, successfully leading students and faculty to focus upon those underlying critical questions. An important subject which can be overwhelming for many becomes alive and intriguing, if not fascinating. This sixth edition utilizes visionary real-life examples to bring home underlying and often complex concepts.' Pat DeLeon, University of Hawaii

'This invaluable text approaches methodology as a 'way of thinking' to help students see the challenge and excitement of designing solid, useful psychological research. Rather than marching through a checklist of research designs, Kazdin provides a principle-based approach to help students understand the rationale and reasoning behind selection of specific empirical approaches. No one approach is centered, as Kazdin recognizes the value of using different lenses to study the complexity of human behavior. Thank you, Dr. Kazdin, for this updated, useful resource.' J. Gayle Beck, University of Memphis

'Science is a way of knowing how the world and the people in it work, free of the biases, distortions, and prejudices so prevalent today. In this, the sixth edition of Research Design in Clinical Psychology by Alan Kazdin, one finds the most comprehensive, lucid, and useful description of the various scientific methods applicable in clinical psychology in a well-written, well-organized, and easy-to-digest presentation. From the initial step of developing an idea, through randomized controlled trials, single case experimental designs, as well as observational and qualitative methods, and accompanied by review questions and key comments, students and established researchers alike will find everything they need to engage in meaningful research. There is good reason this book has become the gold standard.' David H. Barlow, Boston University

'Research Design in Clinical Psychology is required reading for anyone interested in conducting clinical research. I learned how to design research studies using this book and I still use it to this day as a reference to guide my work and that of my students and trainees. It's comprehensive, incredibly clear, and the updates in this new edition make this a must-have book.' Matthew K. Nock, Harvard University

'Alan Kazdin is one of the great minds of our generation. His intellectual and empirical leadership has placed him at the summit of clinical psychological scie...

Alan E. Kazdin is Sterling Professor of Psychology and Child Psychiatry (Emeritus) at Yale University. Kazdin's research has focused on treatment development and assessment of clinical dysfunction. His 850+ publications include 50 books that focus on methodology and research design, interventions for children and adolescents, behavioral and cognitive-behavioral treatment, parenting and child rearing, and interpersonal violence. He has received several awards, including Outstanding Lifetime Contributions to Psychology and a Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology (American Psychological Association) and the Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Science of Psychology (American Psychological Foundation). In 2008, he was President of the American Psychological Association.

Preface; About the author; 1. Introduction; 2. Drawing valid inferences I: internal and external validity; 3. Drawing valid inferences II: construct and data-evaluation validity; 4. Ideas that begin the research process: sources and guiding concepts; 5. Experimental research: group designs; 6. Control and comparison groups in experiments; 7. Observational research: case-control and cohort designs; 8. Single-case experimental research designs; 9. Qualitative and mixed methods research; 10. Assessment: selecting measures for research; 11. Assessment: types of measures and their use; 12. Special topics of assessment; 13. Data evaluation: null hypothesis significance testing; 14. Data evaluation: presenting and analyzing the data; 15. Data interpretation: cautions, 'negative results' and replication; 16. Ethical issues and guidelines for research; 17. Scientific integrity; 18. Communication of research findings; 19. Closing comments: guidelines for a well (and quickly) designed study; Glossary; References; Name index; Subject index.