Foundations of MATLAB Programming for Behavioral Sciences
With Applications

A textbook providing fundamental MATLAB programming skills for students in the behavioral sciences.

Maxwell Mansolf (Author)

9781009350273, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 August 2025

240 pages
28 x 19 x 2.1 cm, 0.745 kg

'In this very useful book, Professor Mansolf explains a wide range of MATLAB applications: from basic syntax to data structures; from graphing to computational modeling. A recommended text for anyone in the psychological sciences who wants to build a strong foundation in programming.' Alicia Izquierdo, University of California

This textbook introduces the fundamentals of MATLAB for behavioral sciences in a concise and accessible way. Written for those with or without computer programming experience, it works progressively from fundamentals to applied topics, culminating in in-depth projects. Part I covers programming basics, ensuring a firm foundation of knowledge moving forward. Difficult topics, such as data structures and program flow, are then explained with examples from the behavioral sciences. Part II introduces projects for students to apply their learning directly to real-world problems in computational modelling, data analysis, and experiment design, with an exploration of Psychtoolbox. Accompanied by online code and datasets, extension materials, and additional projects, with test banks, lecture slides, and a manual for instructors, this textbook represents a complete toolbox for both students and instructors.

Preface
To the Student
Part I. MATLAB Programming: 1. Basic MATLAB
2. Data Structures and Indexing
3. Functions
4. Logical Values
5. Conditionals and Loops
6. Problem Solving with Conditionals and Loops
7. Text
8. Other Data Structures
9. Loading and Saving Data
10. User-Defined Functions
11. Graphing in MATLAB
Part II. Applications of MATLAB Programming in Behavioral Sciences: 12. Computational Modeling
13. Data Analysis
14. Computerized Experiments
Glossary
Index.

Subject Areas: Psychological methodology [JMB]