Book excerpt: 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.