Evaluating Research in Communicative Disorders

by Schiavetti, Nicholas; Metz, Dale Evan

• ISBN13: 9780205337729
• ISBN10: 0205337724
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

The Fourth Edition of Evaluating Research in Communicative Disorders explains and discusses how to read, understand, and evaluate research published in communicative disorders and sciences journals. This text is broken down into three parts. Part I introduces the basic principles for evaluating research, Part II contains a excerpts from journal articles and Part III presents two complete articles for student evaluation accompanied by an evaluation checklist to guide the student in the evaluation process. Numerous examples from current research to illustrate and clarify points made in the text. The book is richly illustrated with tables and figures and includes many study questions to guide students through primary sources in the research literature.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
PART I Basic Considerations in Evaluating Research	1	(202)
Overview	1	(2)
References	3	(2)
The Consumer of Research in Communicative Disorders	5	(18)
Research-Practice Relationships in Communicative Disorders	6	(2)
Knowledge Acquisition	8	(2)
Scientific Method	10	(2)
Theory Construction in Behavioral Science	12	(1)
Common Steps in Behavioral Science Research	13	(3)
Statement of the Problem	13	(1)
Method of Investigation	14	(1)
Results of Investigation	14	(1)
Conclusions	14	(2)
The Nature of Research in Communicative Disorders	16	(1)
Research Ethics	17	(1)
The Editorial Process in the Publication of a Research Article	18	(1)
Some Myths and a Caveat	19	(2)
Study Questions	21	(1)
References	22	(1)
Research Strategies in Communicative Disorders	23	(57)
Variables in Empirical Research	23	(6)
Independent and Dependent Variables	24	(3)
Active and Attribute Variables	27	(1)
Continuous and Categorical Variables	27	(2)
Experimental Research	29	(17)
Bivalent Experiments	31	(3)
Multivalent Experiments	34	(3)
Parametric Experiments	37	(9)
Descriptive Research	46	(22)
Comparative Research	48	(7)
Developmental Research	55	(6)
Correlational Research	61	(3)
Survey Research	64	(1)
Case Study and Retrospective Research	65	(3)
Combined Experimental and Descriptive Research	68	(7)
Study Questions	75	(2)
References	77	(3)
Research Design in Communicative Disorders	80	(26)
Meaning of Research Design	80	(1)
Purposes of Research Design	81	(1)
General Research Design Principles	82	(1)
Group Research Designs	82	(10)
Between-Subjects Designs	82	(7)
Within-Subjects Designs	89	(2)
Mixed Designs	91	(1)
Single-Subject Research Designs	92	(5)
External Validity Issues in Research Design	97	(6)
Study Questions	103	(1)
References	104	(2)
Measurement Issues in Communicative Disorders	106	(22)
Definition of Measurement	108	(1)
Levels of Measurement	109	(3)
Nominal Level of Measurement	109	(2)
Ordinal Level of Measurement	111	(1)
Interval Level of Measurement	111	(1)
Ratio Level of Measurement	112	(1)
Factors That Affect Quality of Measurement	112	(3)
Test Environment	113	(1)
Instrument Calibration	113	(1)
Instructions to Participants	113	(1)
Observer Bias	114	(1)
Reliability of Measurements	115	(6)
Stability	117	(1)
Equivalence	117	(1)
Internal Consistency	118	(3)
Validity of Measurements	121	(3)
Content Validity	121	(1)
Criterion Validity	122	(1)
Construct Validity	123	(1)
Study Questions	124	(2)
References	126	(2)
Evaluating Treatment Efficacy Research	128	(34)
Internal Validity and Factors That Affect It	132	(6)
History	133	(1)
Maturation	133	(1)
Testing or Test-Practice Effects	134	(1)
Instrumentation	135	(1)
Statistical Regression	136	(1)
Differential Subject-Selection	136	(1)
Mortality	137	(1)
Interaction of Factors	137	(1)
External Validity and Factors That Affect It	138	(3)
Subject-Selection	139	(1)
Reactive or Interactive Effects of Pretesting	140	(1)
Reactive Arrangements	140	(1)
Multiple-Treatment Interference	141	(1)
Evaluation of Some Experimental Designs for Studying Treatment Efficacy	141	(17)
Weak Designs	142	(3)
Stronger Designs	145	(8)
Meta-Analysis of Treatment Efficacy Research	153	(1)
Ethics of Using Control Groups in Treatment Efficacy Research	154	(2)
Protection of Human Participants in Research	156	(2)
Study Questions	158	(2)
References	160	(2)
Organization and Analysis of Data	162	(41)
Data Organization	163	(9)
Data Distributions	163	(1)
Tabular and Graphic Presentation	163	(6)
Summary Statistics	169	(3)
Data Analysis	172	(28)
Basic Concepts of Data Analysis	172	(7)
Methods for Analyzing Relationships	179	(9)
Methods for Analyzing Differences	188	(12)
Study Questions	200	(1)
References	201	(2)
PART II Evaluation of the Components of a Research Article	203	(188)
Overview	203	(1)
Reference	204	(1)
The Introduction Section of the Research Article	205	(19)
Title of the Article	205	(2)
The Abstract	207	(1)
General Statement of the Problem	208	(2)
The Rationale for the Study	210	(7)
Review of the Literature	217	(2)
Statement of Purpose, Research Questions, and Hypotheses	219	(3)
Miscellaneous Considerations	222	(1)
Evaluation Checklist	223	(1)
Reference	223	(1)
The Method Section	224	(77)
Participant	224	(8)
Sample Size	225	(3)
Criteria for Participant Selection	228	(4)
Materials	232	(27)
Hardware Instrumentation and Calibration	232	(6)
Reliability and Validity of Behavioral Instruments	238	(7)
Other Measurement Considerations	245	(14)
Procedures	259	(39)
Within-Subjects Experimental Design	260	(1)
Between-Subjects Experimental Design	260	(4)
Mixed (Between-Subjects and Within-Subjects) Design	264	(5)
Within-Subjects Time-Series Experiment	269	(4)
Between-Subjects Comparative Research	273	(9)
Developmental Research	282	(5)
Correlational Research	287	(4)
Retrospective Research	291	(1)
Survey Research	291	(3)
Case Study Research	294	(4)
Evaluation Checklist	298	(2)
References	300	(1)
The Results Section	301	(54)
Organization of Results	301	(15)
Frequency Distribution: Tabular and Graphic Presentations	301	(9)
Summary Statistics: Central Tendency and Variability	310	(6)
Some Characteristics of Clear Data Organization	316	(1)
Analysis of Data	317	(32)
Correlational Analysis	318	(14)
Analysis of Differences	332	(17)
Some Characteristics of Clear Data Analysis	349	(5)
Evaluation Checklist	354	(1)
The Discussion and Conclusions Section	355	(36)
Relation of Conclusions to Preceding Parts of the Article	355	(13)
The Research Problem	355	(2)
The Method of Investigation	357	(3)
The Results of the Investigation	360	(8)
Relationship of Results to Previous Research	368	(4)
Theoretical Implications of the Research	372	(3)
Practical Implications of the Research	375	(5)
Implications for Future Research	380	(10)
Evaluation Checklist	390	(1)
PART III Evaluation of the Complete Research Article: Two Examples	391	(6)
Overview	391	(1)
Evaluation Checklist	392	(5)
Example Article for Evaluation in Audiology: Auditory Temporal Order Perception in Younger and Older Adults	397	(13)
Peter J. Fitzgibbons
Sandra Gordon-Salant
Example Article for Evaluation in Speech-Language Pathology: Effects of Treatment on Linguistic and Social Skills in Toddlers with Delayed Language	410	(22)
Shari Brand Robertson
Susan Ellis Weismer
Appendix: Proclamation of the Association of American Medical Colleges and the National Health Council	432	(3)
Author Index	435	(8)
Subject Index	443