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Understanding Research: Becoming a Competent and Critical Consumer
W. Paul Jones, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Jeffrey Kottler, California State University, Fullerton

ISBN-10: 0131198440
ISBN-13: 9780131198449

Publisher: Merrill
Copyright: 2006
Format: Paper; 240 pp
Published: 02/17/2005

Suggested retail price: $35.33
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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.

  • Beginning with Chapter Two, every chapter in the text emulates a standard published research report. 

o         Readers will learn how to read and evaluate research questions, hypotheses, and the literature review (Chapter Two).

o         Readers will learn how to effectively evaluate the appropriateness of the sample used in the study (Chapter Three).

o         Readers will firstly apply principles of logic to evaluate research design and measurement tools (Chapter Four).

o         Readers learn how to discern results of a research report, including the statistics involved (Chapter Five).

o         Readers then evaluate the summarization of the researchers' findings (Chapter Six).

  •  The final chapter gives readers the opportunity to apply what they have learned in a "do-it-yourself" fashion.  Chapter Seven is a full exercise on research practice and evaluation allowing readers to try their hand at two different approaches to the research process.

 

  • Reflective Exercises and An Exercise for Review located throughout the text--allow readers to think critically about the subject and apply what they are learning. See a few examples on pages 40, 56, 110.  Answers to the Reflective Exercises are found at the back of every chapter. 

 

  • Three sample research studies can be found at the end of the text. 

o      Appendix A is a comparative study of three methods used to present ethics to practicum students earning their master’s degrees in mental health.

o      Appendix B is a case study outlining a research project that asks, “Can schools be vehicles for improving race relations?”

o      Appendix C outlines a study involving college-age students that looks at the relationship to procrastination and efficacy expectations, feelings of anxiety, and gender.

 

Chapter 1  What is Research and Why You Should Care?

Chapter 2  What is the Question and Why is it Important?  Evaluating the Introduction of a Research Report

Chapter 3  Who Answered the Question?  Evaluating the Participant Sample

Chapter 4  Could They Answer the Question?  Evaluating the Procedures and Instrumentation

Chapter 5  What Was the (Simple) Answer Please?  Evaluating the Results Section

Chapter 6  So, Now What?  Evaluating the Discussion Section

Chapter 7  Not the Last Chapter

Appendix A. Teaching Ethics to Mental Health Practica Students at the Master's Level: A Comparative Study.

Appendix B. Segregated Classrooms, Integrated Intent: How One School Responded to the Challenge of Developing Positive Interethnic Relations.

Appendix C. Procrastination in College Students: The Role of Self Efficacy and Anxiety.

Bibliography.

Index. 

 

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