7th Edition

Evaluating Research in Academic Journals A Practical Guide to Realistic Evaluation

By Maria Tcherni-Buzzeo, Fred Pyrczak Copyright 2019
    218 Pages 2 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    218 Pages 2 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    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.

    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

    Biography

    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.