Understanding Research: A Consumer's Guide, 2nd edition

PART ONE: AN INTRODUCTION TO UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH

1. The Process of Research: Learning How Research Is Conducted and Reported
How Do You Identify Reports of Research?
Why Do You Need to Read Research Reports?
Where Do You Find Reports of Research?
What Steps Do Researchers Take When Conducting their Studies?
How Do You Identify the Steps of the Research Process Within the Major Sections of a Research Article?
Let's Apply the Research Process to Reading Actual Studies
An Example of Quantitative Research: the Physical-Activity-in-Middle-Schools Study
An Example of Qualitative Research: the Physical-Activity-at-Daycare Study

2. Quantitative and Qualitative Research: Understanding Different Types of Study Reports
How Do You Identify Quantitative and Qualitative Research Studies?
How Do You Evaluate Quantitative and Qualitative Studies?

PART TWO: UNDERSTANDING THE INTRODUCTIONS TO RESEARCH REPORTS

3. The Statement of the Problem: Identifying Why a Study Is Important
How Do You Identify the Statement of the Problem in a Research Study?
Why Do Researchers Need to Study Research Problems?
How Do You Distinguish Between the Types of Research Problems Found in Quantitative and Qualitative Studies?
How Do You Understand the Elements of a Study's Statement of the Problem?
How Do You Evaluate the Statement of the Problem in a Research Study?
An Example of Quantitative Research: the Bullying-Intervention Study

4. The Literature Review: Examining the Background for a Study
How Do You Identify the Literature Review in a Research Study?
How Do Researchers Use Literature in their Studies?
How Does the Use of Literature Differ in Quantitative and Qualitative Studies?
What Are the Steps That You Can Use to Review the Literature?
How Do You Synthesize Literature and Write a Literature Review?
How Do You Evaluate A Literature Review In a Research Study?
An Example of Qualitative Research: the Adolescent-Homelessness Study

5. Purpose Statements, Research Questions, and Hypotheses: Identifying the Intent of a Study
How Do You Identify the Purpose in a Research Study?
How Does the Research Purpose Differ in Quantitative and Qualitative Studies?
How Do You Identify Variables in Quantitative Research?
How Do You Understand Purpose Statements, Research Questions, and Hypotheses in Quantitative Research?
How Do You Identify a Central Phenomenon in Qualitative Research?
How Do You Understand Purpose Statements and Research Questions in Qualitative Research?
How Do You Evaluate the Purpose in a Research Study?

PART THREE: UNDERSTANDING THE METHOD SECTIONS AND RESULTS SECTIONS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH REPORTS

6. Quantitative Research Designs: Recognizing the Overall Plan for a Study
How Do You Identify the Research Design in a Quantitative Study?
What Characteristics Distinguish the Different Quantitative Research Designs?
How Do You Understand Five Common Quantitative Research Designs?
How Do You Recognize the Research Design in a Quantitative Research Report?
How Do You Evaluate the Research Design in a Quantitative Study?
An Example of Quantitative Research: the Early-Intervention-Outcomes Study

7. Participants and Data Collection: Identifying How Quantitative Information Is Gathered
How Do You Identify the Participants and Data Collection in a Quantitative Study?
How Do You Understand the Selection of Sites and Participants in a Quantitative Study?
How Do You Understand the Instruments Used To Gather Quantitative Data In a Study?
How Do You Understand the Procedures That Researchers Use When Collecting Quantitative Data?
How Do You Evaluate the Participants and Data Collection in a Quantitative Study?

8. Data Analysis and Results: Examining What Was Found in a Quantitative Study
How Do You Identify the Quantitative Data Analysis and Results in a Quantitative Study?
How Do You Understand a Study's Quantitative Data Analysis?
How Do You Understand the Results in a Quantitative Study?
How Do You Evaluate the Data Analysis and Results in a Quantitative Study?

PART FOUR: UNDERSTANDING THE METHOD SECTIONS AND RESULTS SECTIONS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH REPORTS

9. Qualitative Research Designs: Recognizing the Overall Plan for a Study
How Do You Identify the Research Design in a Qualitative Study?
What Characteristics Distinguish the Different Qualitative Research Designs?
How Do You Understand Four Common Qualitative Research Designs?
How Do You Recognize the Research Design in a Qualitative Research Report?
How Do You Evaluate the Research Design in a Qualitative Study?
An Example of Qualitative Research: the Adoption-of-Pedagogical-Tools Study

10. Participants and Data Collection: Identifying How Qualitative Information Is Gathered
How Do You Identify the Participants and Data Collection in a Qualitative Study?
How Do You Understand the Selection of Sites and Participants in a Qualitative Study?
What Types of Qualitative Data Do Researchers Collect?
How Do You Understand the Common Qualitative Data-Collection Procedures?
How Do You Understand the Issues That Are Reported About Qualitative Data Collection?
How Do You Evaluate the Participants and Data Collection in a Qualitative Study?

11. Data Analysis and Findings: Examining What Was Found in a Qualitative Study
How Do You Identify the Qualitative Data Analysis and Findings in a Qualitative Study?
How Do You Understand a Study's Qualitative Data Analysis?
How Do You Understand the Findings in a Qualitative Study?
How Do You Evaluate the Data Analysis and Findings in a Qualitative Study?

PART FIVE: UNDERSTANDING REPORTS THAT COMBINE QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

12. Mixed Methods Research: Studies That Mix Quantitative and Qualitative Research
How Do You Identify That a Study Used Mixed Methods Research?
When Is It Appropriate for Researchers to Have Used Mixed Methods Research in their Studies?
What Characteristics Distinguish the Different Mixed Methods Designs?
How Do You Understand the Common Mixed Methods Research Designs?
How Do You Evaluate a Mixed Methods Research Study?
An Example of Mixed Methods Research: the Mixed Methods Student Note Taking Study

13. Action Research Designs: Research for Solving Practical Problems
How Do You Identify That a Study Used Action Research?
How Do You Understand Action Research Designs?
How Do You Plan Your Own Action Research Study?
How Do You Evaluate An Action Research Study?
An Example of Action Research: the Learning-By-Talking Action Research Study

PART SIX: UNDERSTANDING THE FINAL SECTIONS OF RESEARCH REPORTS

14. Conclusions: Identifying the Interpretations and Implications of a Study
How Do You Identify the Conclusions and Supporting Information in a Study Report?
How Do You Understand the Elements Discussed in a Study's Conclusion Section?
How Are Conclusions Similar and Different Among the Different Research Approaches?
What Information Is Included in the Back Matter of a Research Report?
How Do You Evaluate the Conclusions and Back Matter of a Research Report?

Appendix A: Suggested Answers to Short-Answer Questions from the Practicing Your Skills Activities
Appendix B: Example of a Paper Written in the APA Style

Glossary
References
Name Index
Subject Index