Key Topics in Quantitative Research

Paul Christiansen

$63.95 $54.52

Paperback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

QTY:

English

Routledge
15 September 2025

Research methods: general; Psychological methodology

Series: BPS Key Topics in Psychology

This book gives an overview of the key topics in quantitative methods. Written by an academic who has specialised in quantitative methods in Psychology across a range of sub disciplines, it highlights how crucial understanding quantitative methods is to understanding research in psychology and beyond.

First, it briefly considers the history of quantitative methods in psychology citing some key figures in both psychology and statistics. Following this it will describe how we apply models of scientific investigation to psychology to generate reliable knowledge. It will then go on to consider key models we use in quantitative research, from experimental designs to quasi-experimental and correlational designs. Next it introduces sampling theory, and its role in understanding who our findings apply to. The final theoretical consideration is a concise description of null hypothesis significance testing and how we can use it to make inferences about psychological phenomena. In the next part of the book there will be a focus on some core methods. Starting with a discussion of we sample participants before exploring statistics in detail. Next, the book looks at how robust quantitative research can impact other fields and policy through improving ecological validity and reliability. Finally, the book gets to grips with key challenges in the future of quantitative research with a discussion of the replication crisis and solutions to it and then exploring how we can improve inclusivity.

This book is an essential text for all students of quantitative methodology.

By: Paul Christiansen
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 138mm,
ISBN: 9781032612386
ISBN 10: 103261238X
Series: BPS Key Topics in Psychology
Pages: 242
Publication Date: 15 September 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Section 1 Key Foundations 1.1: Introduction 1.2: Key early figures in quantitative methods 1.3: Understanding psychological phenomena through numbers 1.4: The types of numerical data we encounter and their properties Section 2 Key Theories: An overview of the key theories and models relevant to the topic 2.1: Experimental models 2.2: Quasi experimental models 2.3: Correlational models 2.4: Sampling theory 2.5: Null hypothesis significance testing Section 3 Key Methodologies: which research techniques are typically used for research on this topic 3.1: Sampling methods 3.2: Testing associations 3.3: Comparing differences Section 4 Key Impacts on Research or Practice and Policy: What wider impact has this topic had on the field/other fields/practice/policy 4.1: Robust quantitative methods and ecological validity of studies 4.2: Robust quantitative methods and reliability of studies Section 5 Key Emerging Areas: Where is the research headed 5.1: Reproducibility crisis 5.2: Increasing reproducibility 5.3: Inclusivity in research

Paul Christiansen is a professor in statistics at the Department of Psychology in University of Liverpool. He is interested in research integrity with a particular focus on accurate measurement (psychometrics). He works across a range of fields in Psychology (appetite and obesity, addiction, forensic and health psychology) as well as medical research.