Click 'Additional Materials' for downloadable sample
aoeThe authors have hit another home run. This terrific text provides the layperson and graduate students a wonderful entree into the research process. In eight carefully crafted and readable chapters, the reader is supported via excellent examples, group exercises, and supplemental readings to significantly improve their abilities to read, understand, and critique qualitative and quantitative research reports and research reviews.a
aMary O'Sullivan, Associate Dean, College of Education, Ohio State University
aoeThis is the best book I know of on how to read and use published research. It is pervaded by common sense, a nontechnical and user-friendly approach, and an insightful treatment of key issues that other books rarely address, such as the important things you can get from research reports besides aresults.a This edition provides greater coverage of qualitative and mixed methods research, and an expanded, annotated bibliography. While it is aimed primarily at consumers of research, a great deal of the content will also be useful to those doing research.a
a Joseph Maxwell, George Mason University
The book that has helped demystify qualitative and quantitative research articles for thousands of readers has now been fully updated and revised.
Reading and Understanding Research, Second Edition is based on the notion that helping to demystify the process of consuming research will not only make for better students, but will help make for better research. The authors presume no special background in research, and begin by introducing and framing the notion of reading research within a wider social context. Next they offer insight on when to seek out research, locating and selecting the right reports, and how to help evaluate research for trustworthiness. A step-by-step reading of reports from qualitative and quantitative studies follows, and the final chapters examine in greater detail the different types of research to be encountered and how to examine the research more critically. This book is ideal for a novice researcher (and those that teach them!).
New to the Second Edition:
• A new chapter on the utilization of research
a Expanded coverage of qualitative methods
a Updated resource lists
a More coverage of the twelve steps for understanding different types of research
