Providing both a theoretical understanding of research issues and a nuts-and-bolts guide, this book presents the critical issues in psychological research in a clear and easy-to-read manner. Presented within the critical context of validity and reliability the author addresses all the steps of the research process: from formulating a hypothesis, to specifying variables, to creating a research design, to collecting and analyzing data, to drawing conclusions, to reporting the results. A companion website (www.sagepub.com//cherulnik) for professors and students contains additional supporting materials.