Understanding Research

When reading and thinking about published research, students often find it difficult to understand the complexity of what is involved in the process of research and how it is presented. And although there are many books about research and research methods, very few focus specifically on critically reading research that has been completed by others.

Understanding Research: An Introduction To Reading Research aims to introduce key concepts through the use of simple language to promote better understanding, build on South African examples and case studies, and develop the conceptual knowledge and necessary skills to evaluate research carefully and critically.

Contents include the following:

• Quality research and what it means
• Different research paradigms and ways of engaging with research
• Design and various styles of research
• Methods of collecting data
• Analysing and presenting both qualitative and quantitative data
• Interpretation and quality standards

Understanding Research is an indispensable guide for all students in the social sciences and education who want to learn more about reading and understanding research.