Evaluating Research in Academic Journals: A Practical Guide to Realistic Evaluation, Paperback

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 .