Understanding Research:A Consumer's Guide (with MyEducationLab)

Description

Features

Helps students learn to read and evaluate research articles

• Tips for Reading Research suggest practical advice for applying text concepts to actual research studies. For examples, see pages 304 and 335.
• Eight, annotated research articles are included.  The articles are framed with text that focuses readers' attention on the main points of the major sections of the article. For examples, see pages 197, 267, 315, and 345. 
• Evaluation checklists are provided in each chapter containing criteria for evaluating the quality of published research. For examples, see pages 195, 265, 313, and 343.

Includes extensive activities and examples to engage students with the content

• What Do You Think? exercises with Check Your Understanding feedback help students engage with and apply text content as they are reading. For examples, see pages 184, 191, 260, and 312.
• The MyEducationalResearchLab website is integrated with the text and provides instructors assignable Activities and Applications for each chapter, and gives students interactive practice in evaluating research through Building Research Skills exercises. For examples, see pages 182, 189, 256, and 312. 
• Tips for Applying Research offer advice for applying chapter content. For examples, see pages 189 and 263. 
• Practicing Your Skills application questions help students apply chapter content to published research reports. Feedback for the questions is available in the appendix. For examples, see pages 196, 266, 314, and 344.
• Extensive examples from recently published research articles illustrate the topics discussed. For examples, see pages 264 and 305.

Provides a balanced coverage of diverse approaches to research

• Four major approaches to research are described, compared and illustrated by annotated, full-text research articles: quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, and action research.  For examples, see chapters 7, 10, 12, and 13. 

Table of Contents

PART I -- An Introduction to Research                                                                    

Chapter 1 -- The Process of Research: Learning How Research Is Done                     

The Quantitative Parent Involvement Study                                                                           

The Qualitative Parent Role Study                                                                                        

Chapter 2 -- Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to Research                             

PART II -- UNDERSTANDING THE INTRODUCTIONS TO RESEARCH REPORTS    

Chapter 3 -- The Research Problem: Identifying Why a Study Is Important                

The Qualitative New Teacher Study                                                                                     

Chapter 4 -- The Literature Review: Examining the Background for a Study              

Chapter 5 -- The Purpose: Identifying the Intent of a Study                                        

The Quantitative Goal Orientation Study                                                                             

PART III -- UNDERSTANDING THE METHODS AND RESULTS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH REPORTS                                                                                                                                   

Chapter 6 -- Quantitative Research Designs: Recognizing the Overall Plan for a Study

Chapter 7 -- Quantitative Data Collection: Identifying How Information Is Gathered

The Quantitative Youth Literacy Study                                                                               

Chapter 8 -- Quantitative Data Analysis and Results: Examining What Was Found in a Study 

PART IV -- UNDERSTANDING THE METHODS AND RESULTS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH REPORTS                                                                                                                                   

Chapter 9 -- Qualitative Research Designs: Recognizing the Overall Plan for a Study

Chapter 10 -- Qualitative Data Collection: Identifying How Information Is Gathered

The Qualitative Classroom Management Study                                                                   

Chapter 11 -- Qualitative Data Analysis and Results: Examining What Was Found in a Study 

PART V -- UNDERSTANDING REPORTS THAT COMBINE QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH                                                                                                                               

Chapter 12 -- Mixed Methods Research                                                                      

The Mixed Methods Learning Environment Study                                                               

Chapter 13 -- Action Research Designs: Research for Solving Practical Problems   

The Action Research Internet Skills Study                                                                          

PART VI -- UNDERSTANDING THE CONCLUSIONS TO RESEARCH REPORTS      

Chapter 14 -- Interpreting Research                                                          

Back Cover

Understanding Research: a Consumer's Guide is the first text that places its focus squarely on the needs of the research consumer.  This text helps develop in readers the skills, knowledge and strategies needed to read and interpret research reports and to evaluate the quality of such reports.

Praise for Understanding Research:

“The author[s] ha[ve] developed powerful and elegant ways to present and organize key research concepts in a way that I believe would allow complex ideas to be readily accessible to the beginning student of research.  I think it is a remarkable presentation; the author[s] address concepts that I have found from experience to be difficult for new research students to grasp, and present them clearly, coherently and comprehensibly.”

Nancy Mansberger

Western Michigan University

“This manuscript uses example articles in a more integrated way, with articles serving as instructional illustrations and the basis for student exercises throughout the book.”

Pamela F. Murphy

Virginia Tech

“The figures that guide the reader to take responsibility for critiquing published studies are a plus.  I don't see any weaknesses.  In fact, I'm already wishing I could try out this text next fall.”

            Pamela H. Baker

George Mason University