Understanding and Evaluating Research

Dr. Sue L. T. McGregor (Professor Emerita) is a Canadian home economist (more than 45 years) recently retired from Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax Nova Scotia. She was one of the lead architects for the interuniversity doctoral program in educational studies, serving as its inaugural Coordinator. She has a keen interest in home economics philosophy, transdisciplinarity, and consumer studies. She is a TheAtlas Fellow (transdisciplinarity), a Docent in Home Economics at the University of Helsinki, the Marjorie M. Brown Distinguished Professor (home economics leadership), the Karpatkin International Consumer Fellow, and she received the TOPACE International Award (Berlin) for distinguished international consumer scholar. Affiliated with 20 professional journals, she has 160 peer-reviewed publications, 60 book chapters, 10 monographs, and four books. She has delivered 27 keynotes and invited talks in 12 countries. Dr. McGregor is Principal Consultant for The McGregor Consulting Group (1991) http://www.consultmcgregor.com, sue.mcgregor@msvu.ca

"Understanding and Evaluating Research is a great resource with many examples to beginners and seasoned qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods researchers."

• PART I • INTRODUCTIONChapter 1 • Critical Research LiteracyChapter SummaryReview and Discussion QuestionsPART II • PHILOSOPHICAL AND THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF RESEARCHChapter 2 • Research MethodologiesEmpirical, Interpretive, and Critical MethodologiesQuantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods MethodologiesResearch Methodology and Research Question AlignmentWriting the Research Methodology Section of a PaperChapter SummaryReview and Discussion QuestionsChapter 3 • Conceptual Frameworks, Theories, and ModelsIntroductionRole of Theory in Research InquiriesConcepts and ConstructsConceptual FrameworksTheoriesWriting the Theoretical or Conceptual Framework Section of a PaperModelsChapter SummaryReview and Discussion QuestionsPART III • ORIENTING AND SUPPORTIVE ELEMENTS OF RESEARCHChapter 4 • Orienting and Supportive Elements of a Journal ArticleIntroductionAuthors′ Names, Credentials, and AffiliationsArticle TitleAbstractsKeywordsReferencesFootnotes and EndnotesAppendicesAcknowledgementsBiographiesChapter SummaryReview and Discussion QuestionsChapter 5 • Peer-Reviewed JournalsIntroductionJournal Editor, Editorial Boards, and Facilitating EditorsPeer Review ProcessAcceptance RatesJournal Impact FactorsJournal TitleJournal Volume, Issue, and PaginationYear of Publication and Article Placement in IssueSpecial Topic and Themed IssuesElectronic JournalsOpen Access JournalsChapter SummaryReview and Discussion QuestionsPART IV • RESEARCH JUSTIFICATIONS, AUGMENTATION, AND RATIONALESChapter 6 • Introduction and Research QuestionsIntroductionEtymological RootsOpening Sentences and Opening Points in an IntroductionSix Approaches to Writing IntroductionsDelimitationsChapter SummaryReview and Discussion QuestionsChapter 7 • Literature ReviewIntroductionEtymology and Definition of a Literature ReviewPurposes of a Literature ReviewWhen to Conduct a Literature ReviewConducting a Literature SearchCritically Reviewing the Collection of LiteratureWriting the Literature Review SectionCharacteristics of a Good Literature ReviewTechnical Elements of Writing Effective Literature Review SectionsChapter SummaryReview and Discussion QuestionsPART V • RESEARCH DESIGN AND RESEARCH METHODSChapter 8 • Overview of Research Design and MethodsIntroductionEtymology and Definition of Methods and Research DesignResearch DesignMethodsIntegrity of Research DesignsTechnical Aspects of Reporting MethodsChapter SummaryReview and Discussion QuestionsChapter 9 • Reporting Qualitative Research MethodsIntroductionQualitative Emergent Research DesignsTypes of Qualitative Research DesignsMethods Appropriate for Qualitative ResearchQualitative Site Selection and AccessQualitative SamplingResearcher′s RoleQualitative Ethical ConsiderationsQualitative Data CollectionQualitative Data Management, Security, and StorageIntegrity of Qualitative Research DesignsQualitative Data AnalysisQualitative Study LimitationsChapter SummaryReview and Discussion QuestionsChapter 10 • Reporting Quantitative Methods and Mixed Methods ResearchIntroductionQuantitative Research DesignMixed Methods Research DesignChapter SummaryReview and Discussion QuestionsPART VI • RESULTS AND FINDINGSChapter 11 • Statistical Literacy and ConventionsIntroductionHistory of StatisticsLaws of Probability and ChanceStatistical LiteracyTypes of Statistical DataStatistical VariablesExperimental and Nonexperimental ResearchChapter SummaryReview and Discussion QuestionsChapter 12 • Descriptive and Inferential StatisticsIntroductionBasic Differences Between Descriptive and Inferential StatisticsDescriptive StatisticsAssociation and CausationInferential StatisticsConclusionChapter SummaryReview and Discussion QuestionsChapter 13 • Results and FindingsIntroductionDistinguishing Between Results and FindingsPurpose of Results or Findings SectionReporting Qualitative FindingsReporting Quantitative ResultsReporting Mixed Methods Results and FindingsConclusions: Unique Challenges of these ApproachesChapter SummaryReview and Discussion QuestionsPART VII • DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONSChapter 14 • DiscussionIntroductionDiscussion DefinedDiscussion Relative to Results and FindingsPurpose of DiscussionDiscussion and the Concept of SignificanceFundamental Questions to Address in the DiscussionLimitationsOrganizing the Discussion SectionStaying Focused and On TopicEnsuring Strong and Responsible DiscussionsTechnical Strategies for Discussion SectionsChapter SummaryReview and Discussion QuestionsChapter 15 • ConclusionsIntroductionConclusion DefinedRelating Conclusions to Discussion and SummariesPurpose of ConclusionsClosing Strategies for Effective ConclusionsThings to Avoid in the Conclusions SectionTechnical Strategies for Writing Effective ConclusionsChapter SummaryReview and Discussion QuestionsChapter 16 • RecommendationsIntroductionRecommend DefinedLogical Connections Informing RecommendationsResearch Versus Nonresearch RecommendationsAudiences for RecommendationsCharacteristics of Effective RecommendationsLanguage for Communicating RecommendationsCrafting and Organizing Effective RecommendationsTechnical Strategies for Presenting RecommendationsChapter SummaryReview and Discussion QuestionsPART VIII • ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS AND THEORETICAL PAPERSChapter 17 • Argumentative Essays: Position, Discussion, and Think-Piece PapersIntroductionArgumentative EssaysComparing Position, Discussion, and Think-Piece PapersFormat for Argumentative PapersPersuasive Writing and Rhetorical AppealsDeductive and Inductive ArgumentationChapter 18 • Conceptual and Theoretical Papers