Understanding Research Becoming a Competent and Critical Consumer

by Jones, W. Paul; Kottler, Jeffrey

• ISBN13: 9780131198449
• ISBN10: 0131198440
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-02-17
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Understanding Research: Becoming A Compotent and Critical Consumer, first edition, teaches students how to read research articles and can be used as a core text in an introduction to educational research course or any course that focuses on teaching students how to read research articles. It can also be used as a supplementary text in courses that cover both producing and consuming research. This is the only text available that focuses primarily on teaching students how to read research articles.

Table of Contents

What Is Research and Why Should You Care?	2	(16)
Research in the Social Sciences	5	(4)
What Is It?	5	(1)
Why Is It Important?	5	(2)
Where Do I Find It?	7	(2)
Two Views of the World: Quantitative and Qualitative	9	(3)
Deciphering a Research Report: Parts of the Whole	12	(2)
The Skeptical Mindset	14	(2)
Summary and Closing Thoughts	16	(1)
Answer for Reflective Exercise	17	(1)
What Is the Question and Why Is It Important? Evaluating the Introduction of a Research Report	18	(30)
Introducing the Introduction	20	(1)
What to Look for in the Introduction	21	(2)
Evaluating the Introduction	23	(6)
Evaluating the Context and Significance	23	(3)
Evaluating the Literature Review	26	(2)
Evaluating the Objectives of the Study	28	(1)
Identifying the Research Strategy: Quantitative, Qualitative, or Mixed Methods	29	(1)
Special Considerations in Quantitative Studies	29	(6)
Linear Approach	30	(1)
Evaluating the Context and Significance	31	(1)
Evaluating the Literature Review	31	(1)
Evaluating the Objectives of the Study	32	(3)
Special Considerations in Qualitative Studies	35	(4)
Holistic versus Linear	35	(1)
Evaluating the Context and Significance	36	(1)
Evaluating the Literature Review	37	(1)
Evaluating the Research Questions	38	(1)
Summary and Closing Thoughts	39	(1)
An Exercise for Review	40	(8)
Template for Evaluating the Introduction	41	(1)
Selected Content for Evaluation	41	(5)
Examples of Evaluation	46	(2)
Who Answered the Question? Evaluating the Participant Sample	48	(28)
Primary Topics in the Method Section	50	(1)
Definitions	51	(3)
Target Population	51	(1)
Research Sample	52	(1)
Accessible Population	52	(1)
Inanimate Research Sample	52	(2)
The First Question	54	(1)
What Do You Need to Know?	55	(1)
Evaluation Tool One: What Is the Target Population?	55	(1)
Evaluation Tool Two: Who Participated in the Study?	56	(2)
Evaluation Tool Three: Where Were the Participants?	58	(1)
Evaluation Tool Four: When Were the Data Gathered?	58	(1)
Evaluation Tool Five: How Was the Sample Selected?	59	(9)
Lower-Risk Sampling Procedures	61	(3)
Higher-Risk Sampling Procedures	64	(4)
Evaluation Tool Six: Why Was This Sample Selected?	68	(1)
Summary and Closing Thoughts	69	(1)
An Exercise for Review	70	(3)
Template for Evaluating the Participants	71	(1)
Selected Content for Evaluation	71	(1)
Example of Evaluation	72	(1)
Answers for Reflective Exercises	73	(3)
Could They Answer the Question? Evaluating the Procedures and Instrumentation	76	(24)
Research Designs	79	(1)
Answering the Key Question	80	(1)
Evaluating the Procedures: Sufficient Information?	81	(1)
Evaluating the Procedures: Appropriate for the Question?	82	(1)
Qualitative Procedures	82	(8)
Overview of the Approach	82	(2)
Evaluating Procedures in a Qualitative Study	84	(6)
Evaluating the Instruments	90	(4)
Reliability and Validity	91	(1)
Qualitative Instruments	91	(1)
Quantitative Instruments	92	(2)
Summary and Closing Thoughts	94	(1)
An Exercise for Review	95	(4)
Template for Evaluating Procedures and Instrumentation	95	(1)
Selected Content for Evaluation	95	(3)
Example of Evaluation	98	(1)
Answer for Reflective Exercise	99	(1)
What Was the (Simple) Answer, Please? Evaluating the Results Section	100	(32)
What to Look for in the Results Section	103	(4)
Qualitative Features	104	(2)
Quantitative Features	106	(1)
Breaking the Code	107	(21)
Descriptive Statistics	108	(6)
Inferential Statistics	114	(14)
Summary and Closing Thoughts	128	(2)
An Exercise for Review	130	(1)
Answer for Reflective Exercise	131	(1)
So, Now What? Evaluating the Discussion Section	132	(14)
How Prior Beliefs May Influence Your Evaluation	135	(1)
A Rose by Any Other Name: Recognizing Significance	136	(4)
Statistical Significance	137	(1)
Practical Significance	137	(1)
Theoretical Significance	138	(2)
Summary of Findings	140	(1)
Conclusions	140	(1)
Implications of Findings	141	(1)
Limitations of the Study	142	(1)
Need for Further Research	143	(1)
Template for Evaluation	143	(1)
Summary and Closing Thoughts	144	(2)
Not the Last Chapter	146	(31)
One More Thing	147	(1)
Before We Leave	148	(1)
An Exercise for Review	149	(28)
Template for Evaluating the Research Report	149	(1)
Selected Content for Evaluation	150	(27)
Appendix A Teaching Ethics to Mental Health Practica Students at the Master's Level: A Comparative Study	177	(8)
Marty Sapp
Appendix B Segregated Classrooms, Integrated Intent: How One School Responded to the Challenge of Developing Positive Interethnic Relations	185	(20)
Rosemary C. Henze
Appendix C Procrastination in College Students: The Role of Self-Efficacy and Anxiety	205	(12)
Laurel A. Haycock
Patricia McCarthy
Carol L. Skay
Bibliography	217	(2)
Index	219