Evaluating research : methodology for people who need to read research

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Title:

Author:

Dane, Francis C., 1952- author.

ISBN:

9781544396439

Personal Author:

Dane, Francis C., 1952- author.

Edition:

Third edition.

Physical Description:

xviii, 339 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm

General Note:

Previous edition: published as by Francis C. Dane, 2011.

Contents:

Introduction. Overview ; Introduction ; Definitions ; Goals of Research ; Exploration ; Description ; Prediction ; Explanation ; Action ; Evaluation of Research ; Who ; What ; Where ; When ; Why ; How ; Ethics of Consuming Research ; Ethical Principles of Research ; Respect for Persons ; Beneficence ; Justice ; Trust ; Scientific Integrity ; Summary ; Exercises -- The Scientific Approach. Overview ; Introduction ; A Philosophy of Science ; When Is Something True? ; How Can We Tell Which Theory Is Better? ; How Can We Put What We Know Into Practice? ; Why Do We Do It the Way We Do? ; Science and Nonscience Compared ; Observation ; Logical Analysis ; Research Reports ; Definitive Studies ; Determinism ; Summary ; Exercises -- Reading a Research Report. Overview ; Introduction ; Research Report Organization ; Introduction ; General Context ; Literature Review ; Hypothesis or Purpose Statement ; The Method Section ; Participants ; Sampling ; Materials and Measures ; Research Design ; Manipulations ; Data Analyses ; The Results Section ; Preliminary Results ; Main Results ; The Discussion Section ; Other Sections ; Abstract ; References ; Digital Appendix ; Summary ; Exercises -- Accessing Research. Overview ; Introduction ; Choosing a Topic ; Operationalization ; Finding Research ; Published Sources ; Key Topics ; Key Authors ; Key Studies ; Unpublished Studies ; Maintaining Records ; Summary ; Exercises -- Sampling. Overview ; Introduction ; Sampling Distributions ; Population Versus Sample ; Random Selection ; Standard Error ; Confidence Intervals ; Sample Size ; Probability Sampling ; Simple Random Sampling ; Systematic Random Sampling ; Stratified Random Sampling ; Cluster Sampling ; Nonprobability Sampling ; Convenience Sampling ; Purposive Sampling ; Quota Sampling ; Snowball Sampling ; Representative Samples ; Summary ; Exercises -- Measurement. Overview ; Introduction ; Dimensionality ; Measurement Levels ; Nominal Measurement ; Ordinal Measurement ; Interval Measurement ; Ratio Measurement ; Reliability ; Interrater Reliability ; Test-Retest Reliability ; Alternate-Forms Reliability ; Split-Half Reliability ; Item-Total Reliability ; Validity ; Face Validity ; Concurrent Validity ; Predictive Validity ; Construct Validity ; Epistemic Correlation ; Scaling ; Common Aspects of Scales ; Face Validity of Scale Items ; Item Bias ; Formats for Scale Items ; Types of Scales ; Thurstone Scales ; Likert Scales ; Guttman Scales ; Semantic Differential Scales ; Q-Sort Scales ; Sociometric Scales ; Summary ; Exercises -- Experimental Research. Overview ; Introduction ; Causal Analysis in Experimental Research ; Temporal Priority ; Control Over Variables ; Random Assignment ; Demonstration versus Demography ; Alternative Explanations for Research Results ; History Effects ; Maturation Effects ; Testing Effects ; Instrumentation Effects ; Statistical Regression Effects ; Selection Effects ; Attrition Effects ; Participant Bias ; Experimenter Bias ; Experimental Design ; The Basic Design ; The Basic Pretest Design ; The Solomon Four-Group Design ; Factorial Design ; Within-Subjects Design ; Split Plot Design ; Participant Characteristics ; Demonstration versus Demography Again ; Summary ; Exercises -- Nonexperimental Research. Overview ; Introduction ; Time-Series Designs ; Interrupted Time-Series Design ; Multiple Time-Series Design ; Regression ; Discontinuity Designs ; Nonequivalent Groups Basic Pretest Designs ; Self-Selection ; Correlational Research ; Research Involving Existing Data ; Raw Data ; Aggregate Data ; Methodological Issues in Existing Data Analysis ; Single-Participant Designs ; Case Study Design ; Baseline Design ; Withdrawal Design ; Summary ; Exercises -- Survey Research. Overview ; Introduction ; Survey Content ; Survey Instruments ; Survey Topics ; Survey Instructions ; Survey Formats ; Arrangement of Survey Items ; Pretesting Survey Instruments ; Administering Surveys ; Face-To-Face Interviews ; Telephone Interviews ; Mail Surveys ; Data Analyses in Survey Research ; Description ; Association ; Elaboration ; Summary ; Exercises -- Qualitative Research. Overview ; Introduction ; Phenomenological Method ; Ethnography ; Grounded Theory ; Narrative Inquiry ; Historical Research ; Content Analysis ; Who ; The Source of Messages ; Says What ; The Content of Messages ; To Whom ; The Audience of Messages ; How ; Communication Techniques in Messages ; With What Effect ; The Effect of Messages ; Why ; The Reasons for Communication ; Methodological Issues in Content Analysis ; Case Study ; Mixed Method Research ; Summary ; Exercises -- Conceptual Overview of Statistical Analyses. Overview ; Introduction ; Types of Data ; Types of Statistics ; Single-Sample Statistics ; Central Tendency ; Variability ; Graphic Presentations ; Chi-Square Test of Fit ; Relational Statistics ; Chi-Square Test for Association ; Correlation ; Factor Analysis ; Regression ; Group Differences ; Comparison of Two Groups ; Comparison of More Than Two Groups ; Summary ; Exercises.

Abstract:

"The Third Edition of Evaluating Research by Francis C. Dane and Elliot Carhart provides students with the skills to read and evaluate research studies. Aimed at courses where it is more important for students to develop an understanding of methods, rather than conduct their own research, this book covers all aspects of reading social, behavioral, and health science research from the basics, such as the structure of reports and accessing research, as well as overviews of the main types of research methods. The authors emphasize critical reading skills to enable students to become experts in evaluating research, so students can decide whether to incorporate that research into their future professional activities." -- Provided by publisher.

Subject Term:

Research -- Evaluation.

Research -- Methodology.

Added Author:

Carhart, Elliot,

Dane, Francis C., 1952- Evaluating research. Second edition.

Copies:

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Copy	Status
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Summary

The third edition of Evaluating Research by Francis C. Dane and Elliot Carhart provides students with the skills to read and evaluate research studies. Aimed at courses where it is more important for students to develop an understanding of methods, rather than conduct their own research, this book covers all aspects of reading social, behavioral, and health science research from the basics, such as the structure of reports and accessing research, as well as overviews of the main types of research methods. The authors emphasize critical reading skills to enable students to become experts in evaluating research, so students can decide whether to incorporate that research into their future professional activities.

Each chapter includes an overview at the beginning and exercises at the end to reinforce the content learned. Starting from the basic principles of why we do research, the book moves readers through the practicalities of finding studies to the principles of the scientific method and how to break down and analyze research reports. New to the third edition, Understanding Checks placed throughout each chapter help students cement their learning. The organization of the book is now more logical, with a new chapter on accessing research up front and ending with a chapter on statistical analyses. New research examples throughout, including such topical examples as mindfulness, college attendance, and bias in healthcare, help students see the relevance of research in their lives.