Evaluating Research in Academic Journals

Evaluating Research in Academic Journals is a guide for students who are learning how to evaluate reports of empirical research published in academic journals. It breaks down the process of evaluating a journal article into easy-to-understand steps, and emphasizes the practical aspects of evaluating research - not just how to apply a list of technical terms from textbooks.
The book avoids oversimplification in the evaluation process by describing the nuances that may make an article publishable even when it has serious methodological flaws. Students learn when and why certain types of flaws may be tolerated, and why evaluation should not be performed mechanically.
Each chapter is organized around evaluation questions. For each question, there is a concise explanation of how to apply it in the evaluation of research reports. Numerous examples from journals in the social and behavioral sciences illustrate the application of the evaluation questions, and demonstrate actual examples of strong and weak features of published reports. Common-sense models for evaluation combined with a lack of jargon make it possible for students to start evaluating research articles the first week of class.
New to this edition
New chapters on:
evaluating mixed methods research
evaluating systematic reviews and meta-analyses
program evaluation research
Updated chapters and appendices that provide more comprehensive information and recent examples
Full new online resources: test bank questions and PowerPoint slides for instructors, and self-test chapter quizzes, further readings and additional journal examples for students.

Maria Tcherni-Buzzeo is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of New Haven. She received her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University at Albany (SUNY), and her research has been published in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology, Justice Quarterly, and Deviant Behavior.

Introduction to the Seventh Edition 1. Background for Evaluating Research Reports 2. Evaluating Titles 3. Evaluating Abstracts 4. Evaluating Introductions and Literature Reviews 5. A Closer Look at Evaluating Literature Reviews 6. Evaluating Samples When Researchers Generalize 7. Evaluating Samples When Researchers Do Not Generalize 8. Evaluating Measures 9. Evaluating Experimental Procedures 10. Evaluating Analysis and Results Sections: Quantitative Research 11. Evaluating Analysis and Results Sections: Qualitative Research 12. Evaluating Analysis and Results Sections: Mixed Methods Research Anne Lee Kringen 13. Evaluating Discussion Sections 14. Evaluating Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: Towards Evidence-Based Practice 15. Putting It All Together Appendix A: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed-Methods Research: An Overview Appendix B: A Special Case of Program or Policy Evaluation Appendix C: The Limitations of Significance Testing Appendix D: Checklist of Evaluation Questions