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How to critique journal articles in the social sciences

By: Harris, Scott R
Material type: BookPublisher: Los Angeles : SAGE, c2014.Description: xiii, 121 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.ISBN: 9781452241340Subject(s): Social sciences -- Research -- Evaluation | Social science literature | CriticismDDC classification: 808.0663 HA HO
Summary:
Research should be interesting, not intimidating! Have you ever wondered how to determine the quality of the research reported in journal articles? This brief, introductory guide walks you, step by step, through the basics of reading and understanding a research article. The author demonstrates the many strengths of social research, including its advantages over ordinary ways of knowing things, and, at the same time, points out that research is inevitably flawed. Rather than naively assuming that good research simply produces "The Truth" or cynically asserting that research is hopelessly biased and futile, this book helps you develop a critical perspective - one that appreciates the strengths and weaknesses of any piece of scholarship.
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Item type Home library Call number Status Notes Date due Barcode Item holds
REGULAR University of Wollongong in Dubai
Main Collection 		808.0663 HA HO (Browse shelf) Available Jan2019 T0061296
Total holds: 0

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Machine generated contents note: 1.Social Research Versus Ordinary Ways of Knowing
Ordinary Human Inquiry
Six Differences Between Ordinary Human Inquiry and Social Science
Conclusion
2.What Is a Journal Article?
Journal Articles Versus Articles Published in Popular Outlets
Journal Articles Versus Chapters in Books
Where Can Scholarly Articles Be Found? The Diverse Landscape of Academic Journals
What Gets Published in Academic Journals? Other Scholarly Work Besides Empirical Research Articles
And Finally, What Do Conventional Articles Look Like? The Typical Format of the Standard Journal Article
3.Defining Key Terms
Defining Concepts in Everyday Life
Defining Concepts in Journal Articles
Two Reasons Why Concepts Can Be Criticized
4.Literature Reviews
Finding Imperfections in Literature Reviews
5.Measurement
Operationalization in Everyday Life
Contents note continued: Scholars' Measurements Are (Usually) Better Than Laypersons'
Critiquing Measures
6.Sampling
Three Reasons Researchers Usually Do a Better Job With Sampling
How to Find Imperfections in Researchers' Samples
7.Analysis
The Analytical Strengths of Social Research
Finding Analytical Weaknesses in Social Research
8.Ethics
Ethics in Everyday Life: Casual Snooping and Gossip
Ethical Practices That Set Social Research Above Ordinary Human Inquiry
Finding Imperfections in Researchers' Ethics
9.Politics
Critiquing Authors' Politics
10.Why Read Journal Articles
-and Think Critically About Them?
Not the Last Word.

Research should be interesting, not intimidating! Have you ever wondered how to determine the quality of the research reported in journal articles? This brief, introductory guide walks you, step by step, through the basics of reading and understanding a research article. The author demonstrates the many strengths of social research, including its advantages over ordinary ways of knowing things, and, at the same time, points out that research is inevitably flawed. Rather than naively assuming that good research simply produces "The Truth" or cynically asserting that research is hopelessly biased and futile, this book helps you develop a critical perspective - one that appreciates the strengths and weaknesses of any piece of scholarship.

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