Evaluating Research in Academic Journals

Evaluating Research in Academic Journals is a guide for students 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. The book describes 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, and the book includes numerous examples from journals in the social and behavioral sciences to illustrate the application of evaluation questions and provide actual instances 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 in the first week of class, making this the ideal textbook for instructors and students across a range of disciplines. New to this edition: - A new chapter on Types of Research - Coverage of the new realities of online survey methods and research using big data - A new appendix on Emerging Issues in Survey Research - More emphasis and information on qualitative, case studies, and action research - Expanded discussion of research ethics, including additional research-ethics-oriented guidelines, and new appendices devoted to noteworthy cases of research ethics breaches. The accompanying Instructor and Student Resources provide free digital materials designed to test student knowledge and save time when preparing lessons, including over 150 multiple-choice questions, articles, videos, and weblinks for students to test their knowledge of the material and further their understanding of concepts; and downloadable lecture slides and test banks for instructors.

Maria Tcherni-Buzzeo is Professor and Director of the Ph.D. Program in Criminal Justice at the University of New Haven, USA. 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, Aggressive Behavior, Journal of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology, and other academic outlets.

Introduction to the Eighth Edition 1. Types of Research 2. Background for Evaluating Research 3. Evaluating Titles 4. Evaluating Abstracts 5. Evaluating Introductions and Literature Reviews 6. Evaluating Samples When Researchers Generalize 7. Understanding and Evaluating Context-Specific Research Samantha A. Tosto 8. Evaluating Measures 9. Evaluating Experimental Procedures 10. Evaluating Analysis and Results Sections: Quantitative Research 11. Evaluating Methods and Analysis Sections: Qualitative Research Stephanie Bonnes 12. Evaluating Analysis and Results Sections: Mixed Methods Research Anne Li Kringen 13. Evaluating Discussion Sections 14. Evaluating Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: Towards Evidence-Based Practice 15. Putting It All Together; Appendix A1: Research Ethics: Two of the Most (In)famous Studies Appendix A2: Research Ethics: An Egregious Case that Led to Children's Deaths Appendix B: Program/Policy Evaluation Appendix C: Limitations of Significance Testing Appendix D: Emerging Issues in Survey Research Appendix E: Checklist of Evaluation Questions