Reading and Understanding Research 3rd Revised edition

The third edition of this research guide for students, novice researchers and professionals in the social sciences has been revised to include separate sections for qualitative and quantitative research and additional examples retrieved from a wider range of disciplines. Locke (education and physical education, U. of Massachusetts at Amherst), Silverman (education, Teachers College, Columbia U.) and Spirduso (kinesiology and health education, U. of Texas at Austin) explain how various types of research designs should be selected, read and reviewed on a critical basis. The authors also provide appendices that review such statistical fundamentals as descriptive statistics, probability, differences between means and association statistics and correlation. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Ideal for students, novice researchers, or professionals, this indispensable resource serves as a road map for readers who need to analyze and apply research findings. It helps them think critically about the credibility of what they are reading by showing them how to identify problems and develop constructive questions.Key FeaturesAssumes no prior knowledge of research proceduresProvides readers with a step-by-step format for decoding the complex language and formats used in reports and reviewsIncludes the most common formats for both quantitative and qualitative inquiryOffers both illustrative examples and powerful training exercisesGives specific attention to strategies for critically appraising reported researchPresents completely updated references as well as an annotated bibliographyIntended AudienceThis text is appropriate for both upper-level undergraduate and graduate students across the social sciences enrolled in introductory research courses as well as students in professional preparation programs.