Reading and Understanding Research
- Lawrence F. Locke - University of Massachusetts at Amherst, USA
- Stephen J. Silverman - Teachers College, Columbia University, USA
- Waneen Wyrick Spirduso - The University of Texas at Austin, USA
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 Features
- Assumes no prior knowledge of research procedures
- Provides readers with a step-by-step format for decoding the complex language and formats used in reports and reviews
- Includes the most common formats for both quantitative and qualitative inquiry
- Offers both illustrative examples and powerful training exercises
- Gives specific attention to strategies for critically appraising reported research
- Presents completely updated references as well as an annotated bibliography
Intended Audience
This 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.
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required text
Liked the changes from the 2nd edition. Students in the course found the text useful and keep it as a reference.
accessible, flexible, clear writing, well suited for the specific application in our introductory graduate course
Prorfessor has already adopted this text and book orders have been placed.
I have made this book a recommended text for introduction to research course for undergraduates. It gives clear outline of how to read research papers, and it is extremely comprehensive. I made it recommended instead of required because some students may find it out of their reach. If the course were geared to honors-level undergraduates, I would have made it required, but these are ordinary undergraduates who are only taking the course because it is required.
This will be a great text for students beginning graduate school. It will be helpful to them as they write papers and read research papers for class discussion.
Book is exactly the right level for our master's program that serves practitioners who need to understand research (but not necessarily conduct it).
This text will be used in my summer 2014 methods class. It really allows for students to understand research in a meaningful way.
Very good introductory book for teaching students how to read research. I use it for an interdisciplinary class for first year master's students. They each enter the class with a range of academic experiences and backgrounds. This book is a good place to start.
This is a useful and essential book for graduate students who want to have a solid understanding of research and dissemination of results. I use this book as a complementary textbook for my Educational research course.
Sample Materials & Chapters
Chapter 1 - The Research Report
Chapter 4 - The Use, Misuse, and Misunderstanding of Research