Reading and Understanding Research PDF
Preview Reading and Understanding Research
Reading and Understanding Research 3rd edition 2 Reading and Understanding Research 3rd edition Lawrence F. Locke The University of Massachusetts at Amherst Stephen J. Silverman Teachers College, Columbia University Waneen Wyrick Spirduso The University of Texas at Austin 3 Copyright © 2010 by SAGE Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information: SAGE Publications, Inc. SAGE Publications India Pvt. Ltd. 2455 Teller Road B 1/I 1 Mohan Cooperative Thousand Oaks, Industrial Area California 91320 Mathura Road, E-mail: [email protected] New Delhi 110 044 India SAGE Publications Ltd. SAGE Publications Asia-Pacific 1 Oliver’s Yard Pte. Ltd. 55 City Road 33 Pekin Street #02-01 London EC1Y 1SP Far East Square United Kingdom Singapore 048763 Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Locke, Lawrence F. Reading and understanding research/Lawrence F. Locke, Stephen J. Silverman, Waneen Wyrick Spirduso.—3rd ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4129-7574-2 (pbk.) 1. Research. 2. Research—Methodology. 3. Reading. I. Silverman, Stephen J. II. Spirduso, Waneen Wyrick. III. Title. Q180.A1L63 2010001. 4’2—dc22 2009007953 Printed on acid-free paper 09 10 11 12 13 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Acquiring Editor: Vicki Knight Associate Editor: Sean Connelly Editorial Assistant: Lauren Habib Production Editor: Sarah K. Quesenberry Copy Editor: Melinda Masson Proofreader: Annette Pagliaro Sweeney Typesetter: C&M Digitals (P) Ltd. Cover Designer: Candice Harman Marketing Manager: Stephanie Adams 4 BRIEF CONTENTS Preface About the Authors PART I. THE NATURE AND USES OF RESEARCH REPORTS 1. The Research Report 2. When to Believe What You Read: The Sources of Credibility 3. How to Select and Read Research Reports 4. The Use, Misuse, and Misunderstanding of Research 5. Types of Research: An Overview of Variety PART II. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH 6. Quantitative Research Designs 7. Staying Organized When Reading a Quantitative Report 8. Explaining as a Tool for Learning to Read Reports 9. Reading Reports of Quantitative Research—Critically: Things to Notice and Questions to Ask 141 PART III. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH 10. The Paradigms for Qualitative Research 11. Staying Organized When Reading a Qualitative Report 12. Reading Reports of Qualitative Research—Critically: Things the Reader Should Expect PART IV. READING RESEARCH REVIEWS 13. Staying Organized When Reading Research Reviews Appendix A: Annotated Bibliography of Supplementary References Appendix B: Statistics: A Beginner’s Guide References Name Index Subject Index 5 6 DETAILED CONTENTS Preface About the Authors PART I. THE NATURE AND USES OF RESEARCH REPORTS 1. The Research Report Finding Valuables in Research Reports Reading Reports: When to Do It Reading Research: When to Consider Using Alternative Sources Reading Research: What Can You Find Besides Findings? What Is a Research Report? Research Reports: A Middle-Ground Definition What Fits Under the Umbrella? About Publications Criterial Characteristics: What Has to Be in a Report? 2. When to Believe What You Read: The Sources of Credibility Who Does Research, and Where Do They Do It? Who Does Research? Where Do Researchers Do Their Work? Believing What You Read in Research: The Foundations of Trust The Review Process for Presenting and Publishing Research Journal Selectivity Reputation of the Author(s) Source of Funding Sponsorship by a Research or Professional Organization Reasons to Suspend Trust in a Research Report Technical Problems Sampling Lack of Replication Conflicts Carelessness Errors and Poor Scholarship Summary Can Any Research Report Be Perfect? 3. How to Select and Read Research Reports 7 Getting Started: Selecting Research Reports Looking for the Right Read Reading Research Cooperatively How to Read Research Reports Researchers as Writers: Style and Substance Researchers as Workers: The Matter of Respect The Reader as Consumer: Burdens to Leave Behind Reading Research as Puzzle Solving Communication in Reports: It Takes Two to Tango Graphic Tools: Most Travelers Need a Map On Getting Hung Up: Do Not Get Stuck on the Wrong Things The Limits of Respect: Healthy Skepticism 4. The Use, Misuse, and Misunderstanding of Research Problems With Reports Problems With Research Summary Note 5. Types of Research: An Overview of Variety Generic Issues in Research Types of Research PART II. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH 6. Quantitative Research Designs Statistics in Quantitative Research Types of Quantitative Research Descriptive Research Correlational Research Quasi-experimental/Experimental Research Single-Subject Research Meta-analysis 7. Staying Organized When Reading a Quantitative Report Reading and Recording From Quantitative Research Reports Doing the 12-Step Example of a Completed Quantitative 12-Step Form With Flowcharts 8. Explaining as a Tool for Learning to Read Reports Teaching Is the Best Way to Learn How to Give an Explanation: Rules of the Game Formats for the Explanation: Pairs, Teams, and Solos How to Give an Explanation: Handy Hints From Hard Experience 8 The Bad Explanation: Five Fatal Flaws The Purpose of Explaining 9. Reading Reports of Quantitative Research—Critically: Things to Notice and Questions to Ask Introduction: The Five Basic Questions What Is the Report About? How Does the Study Fit Into What Is Already Known? How Was the Study Done? What Was Found? What Do the Results Mean? Summary PART III. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH 10. The Paradigms for Qualitative Research Interpretive Research Generic Studies Phenomenological Studies Ethnographic Studies Grounded Theory Studies Critical Research Mixed Methods Research Concluding Comments About Types of Research 11. Staying Organized When Reading a Qualitative Report Identifying Qualitative Research Reports A 12-Step Guide for Understanding Qualitative Research Reports Example of a Completed Qualitative 12-Step Form With Flowcharts 12. Reading Reports of Qualitative Research—Critically: Things the Reader Should Expect Expectations for Qualitative Reports: The Generic and General Standards Expectations for Qualitative Reports: The Specific and Individual Standards Expectations for Qualitative Studies: A Critical Look Behind the Report The Machinery of Time The Machinery of Subjectivity The Machinery of What Does Not Fit The Machinery of Relationships The Machinery of Context PART IV. READING RESEARCH REVIEWS 13. Staying Organized When Reading Research Reviews A 12-Step Map for Reading Reviews Navigating Through Reviews With Your 12-Step Map 9 Example of a Completed 12-Step Form for Reading Research Reviews Concluding Remarks Appendix A: Annotated Bibliography of Supplementary References Appendix B: Statistics: A Beginner’s Guide Descriptive Statistics Statistical Probability Differences Between Means Association Statistics and Correlation Closing Comments References Name Index Subject Index 10
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