Product Description

Key Studies in Psychology, 5th edition provides summaries of 40 key studies that have shaped the course of psychology, covering both the classic core studies and more recent contemporary studies. Concise, user-friendly and comprehensive, the new edition of this bestselling textbook is ideal for students of psychology at all levels.

Before each summary, the Background/Context features put each study into a clear theoretical or practical context, and explain the aims, hypotheses, methods and design. After each summary, a full Evaluation is provided, focusing on major theoretical and methodological issues, subsequent reserach and applications and implications. Each summary is also followed by useful Exercise questions, to encourage the student to think critically about methodological, theoretical, and ethical features of the study. Full answers to all Exercise questions are also provided in an Appendix.

All the classic core studies are covered, alongside a number of newer studies, which cover topics such as the effects of abortion on young women, adolescent's brains, anorexia nervosa, and nurses' understanding of the concept of care. These very recent studies are highly relevant to everyday life, making this text ideal for the study of Applied Psychology.

Fully updated and modernised, this brand new edition of Key Studies in Psychology is essential reading for Psychology students at all levels.

Richard Gross is the bestselling author of Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour, among many other texts.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #267363 in Books
• Published on: 2007-12-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 550 pages

From the Author
As the Introduction points out, the major reason for writing the book was to do what it is impossible to do in a general textbook. The place for a detailed discussion of the major theories is the general textbook, not here. Key Studies and general texts are meant to complement each other. It was not written as a 'stand-alone' text.
At the same time, each key study is preceded by a Background and context section. This is meant to help the reader place the study in its appropriate theoretical context, and the Evaluation of each study includes consideration of relevant theoretical issues.

About the Author
Richard Gross, born last millennium, London, younger of two brothers. Graduated from Nottingham Uni (Psychology & Philosophy), Masters Degree from Leicester Uni (Sociology of Education & Mass Communications). Began teaching 1973. Success of first book, Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour (1987), made it possible to leave full-time teaching and focus on writing. Collaboration with Rob McIlveen from mid-1990s. Other professional activities include speaking at student conferences and working with AEB/AQA. Lives near Oxford but still supports Spurs. Married, two daughters.

Customer Reviews

Copious detail but lack of theoretical elucidation
We are currently using this book as our text for our Psychology AS-level class. the descriptions of the case studies are comprehensive and provide an excellent amount of detailed information. The introduction and evaluation sections are also useful. The only drawback is that although there are frequent allusions to the various major theories such as those of Piaget Social learning theory, Pavlov's operan conditioning theory etc. , there is no disntict explanation of those theories, making it challenging to understand completely. Nevertheless, it is a good book to get a grasp on the case studies, and could be usedin combination with Flannagan and Esyenck's Psychology for AS/A level.

Brilliantly detailed but maybe not for a teenager...
I'm currently studying AS level psychology with the exam board OCR. This enourmous text book by Richard Gross is an ideal companion for the course I am currently studying... if you can be bothered. This book is fantastic and full of detail. I know this having read excerpts dished out by my psychology tutor. We were told to buy the text book for reference and 'light reading' at home. This, however, is anything but light reading! I'm not saying this book isn't good or useful because it is, really, it is. However, the amount of detail needed for AS psychology is only a small amount in comparison and I have found that my Gross text book has been sat on my shelf unread for a year now. I spent almost £20 on this text book for my studies yet it was very unneccesary.
My advice to any students in my situation out there: Don't buy the book... there are other means of discovering the information you need such as FREE websites like www.holah.co.uk which covers every study in Gross' book for free, granted they are in less detail, but there is enough to get you the top grades on the course! Trust me, I've been through it!
Nevertheless, if you must get this book then i suggest you buy it second hand, I'm sure there are alot of AS psychology students out there with an unread Gross book on their hands who are willing to sell for cheap. I'm one of them!

This is a worth while book if you are truly interested in the 'Key Studies in Psychology'. However, if you are simply a student in search of a good grade, use a website - it won't cost you £20.