Reading and understanding research - Lawrence F. Locke

The authors, presuming their readers have no special background in research, begin by introducing and framing the notion of reading research within a wider social context. Next, they offer insight on when to seek out research, locating and selecting the right reports, and how to help evaluate research for trustworthiness. A step-by-step reading of reports from both qualitative and quantitative studies follows, and the final chapters examine in greater detail the different types of research to be encountered and how to examine the research more critically.