
Reading and Understanding Research
SAGE Publications Inc (Publisher)
3rd Edition
Published on 17. September 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
312 pages
978-1-4129-7574-2 (ISBN)
Shipment within 10-20 days
Description
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.
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.
More details
Edition
3rd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Thousand Oaks
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
457 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4129-7574-2 (9781412975742)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions

Stephen Silverman | Waneen W. Spirduso | Lawrence F. Locke
Reading and Understanding Research
Book
11/2025
4th Edition
SAGE Publications Inc
€59.50
Shipment within 10-20 days
Previous edition

Lawrence F. Locke | Stephen Silverman | Waneen W. Spirduso
Reading and Understanding Research
Book
04/2004
2nd Edition
SAGE Publications Inc
€57.13
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
Lawrence F. Locke is Professor Emeritus of Education and Physical Education at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. A native of Connecticut, he received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Springfield College and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. He has written extensively on the production and utilization of research on teaching and teacher education. He has authored a number of books designed to assist non-specialists with the tasks of reading and understanding research. After many years residing in Sunderland, MA he now makes his home on Cape Cod, but with his wife, Professor Lorraine Goyette, he has spent much of each year writing, running, and exploring the Beartooth Mountains at Sky Ranch in Reed Point, MT.
Stephen J. Silverman is Professor of Education and Chair of the Department of Biobehavioral Sciences at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is a native of Philadelphia and holds a bachelor's degree from Temple University, a master's degree from Washington State University, and a doctoral degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. His research focuses on teaching and learning in physical education and on methods for conducting research in field settings. He has authored numerous research articles and chapters, and is coauthor of a number of books. He has served as editor of two research journals, is an experienced research consultant, has directed graduate students, and has, for many years, taught classes in research methods, statistics, and measurement. He enjoys running, following politics, and aquatic sports, and lives with his wife, Patricia Moran, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. His website is: http://www.tc.columbia.edu/faculty/ss928
Waneen Wyrick Spirduso is the Mauzy Regents Professor Emerita in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at The University of Texas at Austin. She is a native of Austin and holds bachelor's and doctoral degrees from The University of Texas and a master's degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her research focuses on the effects of aging and the mechanisms of motor control. She has been a prolific contributor to the research literature and has authored textbooks related to research methods and aging. She taught research methods and directed student research for more than four decades and has received numerous research grants from the federal government and foundations. She plays golf and rows, and lives with her husband, Craig Spirduso, in Austin, TX. Her website is http://www.edb.utexas.edu/coe/depts/kin/faculty/spirduso/index.html
Stephen J. Silverman is Professor of Education and Chair of the Department of Biobehavioral Sciences at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is a native of Philadelphia and holds a bachelor's degree from Temple University, a master's degree from Washington State University, and a doctoral degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. His research focuses on teaching and learning in physical education and on methods for conducting research in field settings. He has authored numerous research articles and chapters, and is coauthor of a number of books. He has served as editor of two research journals, is an experienced research consultant, has directed graduate students, and has, for many years, taught classes in research methods, statistics, and measurement. He enjoys running, following politics, and aquatic sports, and lives with his wife, Patricia Moran, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. His website is: http://www.tc.columbia.edu/faculty/ss928
Waneen Wyrick Spirduso is the Mauzy Regents Professor Emerita in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at The University of Texas at Austin. She is a native of Austin and holds bachelor's and doctoral degrees from The University of Texas and a master's degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her research focuses on the effects of aging and the mechanisms of motor control. She has been a prolific contributor to the research literature and has authored textbooks related to research methods and aging. She taught research methods and directed student research for more than four decades and has received numerous research grants from the federal government and foundations. She plays golf and rows, and lives with her husband, Craig Spirduso, in Austin, TX. Her website is http://www.edb.utexas.edu/coe/depts/kin/faculty/spirduso/index.html
Content
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part I: The Nature and Uses of Research Reports
Chapter 1: The Research Report
Chapter 2: When to Believe What You Read: The Sources of Credibility
Chapter 3: How to Select and Read Research Reports
Chapter 4: The Use, Misuse, and Misunderstanding of Research
Chapter 5: Types of Research: An Overview of Variety
Part II: Quantitative Research
Chapter 6: Quantitative Research Designs
Chapter 7: Staying Organized When Reading a Quantitative Report
Chapter 8: Explaining as a Tool for Learning to Read Reports
Chapter 9: Reading Reports of Quantitative Research-Critically: Things to Notice and Questions to Ask
Part III: Qualitative Research
Chapter 10: The Paradigms for Qualitative Research
Chapter 11: Staying Organized When Reading a Qualitative Report
Chapter 12: Reading Reports of Qualitative Research-Critically: Things the Reader Should Expect
Part IV: Reading Research Reviews
Chapter 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
About the Authors
Acknowledgments
Part I: The Nature and Uses of Research Reports
Chapter 1: The Research Report
Chapter 2: When to Believe What You Read: The Sources of Credibility
Chapter 3: How to Select and Read Research Reports
Chapter 4: The Use, Misuse, and Misunderstanding of Research
Chapter 5: Types of Research: An Overview of Variety
Part II: Quantitative Research
Chapter 6: Quantitative Research Designs
Chapter 7: Staying Organized When Reading a Quantitative Report
Chapter 8: Explaining as a Tool for Learning to Read Reports
Chapter 9: Reading Reports of Quantitative Research-Critically: Things to Notice and Questions to Ask
Part III: Qualitative Research
Chapter 10: The Paradigms for Qualitative Research
Chapter 11: Staying Organized When Reading a Qualitative Report
Chapter 12: Reading Reports of Qualitative Research-Critically: Things the Reader Should Expect
Part IV: Reading Research Reviews
Chapter 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
About the Authors