Includes bibliographical references and index.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

Textbook and worked sample appraisals.

CHAPTER 1 Introduction: The abstract 1.1 Worked sample appraisal

Chapter 2 Introduction: The problem statement 2.1 The background to the problem -- 2.2 The problem statement -- 2.3 Initial indication of variables in the problem statement -- 2.4 Stated contribution to theory and practice -- Worked sample appraisal

Chapter 3 Introduction: The review of the literature 3.1 Relevance and importance of work cited -- 3.2 Critical address of the literature -- 3.3 Relating the review to the background statement -- 3.4 Time period covered in review -- 3.5 Empirical studies covered in review -- Worked sample appraisal

Chapter 4 Introduction: Research questions and variables 4.1 Research questions and hypotheses -- 4.2 Nature of the research questions -- 4.3 Nature of the research hypotheses -- 4.4 General appraisal of the research questions/hypotheses -- 4.5 Identification of variables -- 4.6 Variables potentially affecting findings -- 4.7 Operational definitions -- Worked sample appraisal

Chapter 5 Method: Participants and materials 5.1 Descriptive data: Participants -- 5.2 Descriptive data: Groups -- 5.3 Threats to internal validity 5.4 Threats to external validity -- 5.5 Descriptive data: Materials -- 5.6 Instruments of measurement: Reliability -- 5.7 Instruments of measurement: Validity -- 5.8 Realisation of main variables -- Worked sample appraisal

Chapter 6 Method: Procedures and research design 6.1 Procedures: Timing of events -- 6.2 Procedures: Test of practice effects -- 6.3 Procedures: Ethical issues and instructions to participants -- 6.4 Procedures: Reactivity -- 6.5 Procedures: Environmental conditions -- 6.6 Research design: Design boxes -- 6.7 Research design: Classifications -- Worked sample appraisal

Chapter 7 Method: Data analysis 7.1 Data analysis: Description of procedures -- 7.2 Data analysis: Appropriateness of procedures -- 7.3 Data analysis: Statistical assumptions -- Worked sample appraisal

Chapter 8 Results: The nature and presentation of findings 8.1 Adequacy of data provided -- 8.2 Graphical displays of results -- 8.3 Descriptive statistics -- 8.4 Statistical procedures ; 8.4.1 Correlation; 8.4.2 Regression; 8.4.3 t-tests -- 8.5 Explanations of data -- 8.6 Effect size -- 8.7 Other statistical procedures; 8.7.1 Analysis of variance; 8.7.2 Chi-square -- 8.8 Practical significance and meaningfulness -- Worked sample appraisal

Chapter 9 Discussion and conclusions 9.1 Outcomes in terms of the original research questions/hypotheses -- 9.2 Inferences drawn from outcomes -- 9.3 Outcomes related to literature review -- 9.4 Limitations and future research -- 9.5 Practical implications -- 9.6 Assessment of overall confidence -- Worked sample appraisal

Workbook (guided and unguided appraisals) Abstract 3 (Guided appraisal) -- Abstract 4 (Unguided appraisal) -- The background to the problem and the problem statement 3 (Guided appraisal) -- The background to the problem and the problem statement 4 (Unguided appraisal) -- The review of the literature 3 (Guided appraisal) -- The review of the literature 4 (Unguided appraisal) -- Research questions and variables 3 (Guided appraisal) -- Research questions and variables 4 (Unguided appraisal) -- Participants and materials 3 (Guided appraisal) -- Participants and materials 4 (Unguided appraisal) -- Procedures and research design 3 (Guided appraisal) -- Procedures and research design 4 (Unguided appraisal) -- Results: The nature and presentation of findings 3 (Guided appraisal) -- Results: The nature and presentations of findings 4 (Unguided appraisal) -- Discussion and conclusions 3 (Guided appraisal) -- Discussion and conclusions 4 (Unguided appraisal)

Glossary of key terms in quantitative research

"Designed for students of applied linguistics and second language acquisition on research training courses, practising language teachers, and those in training, this combination textbook/workbook is a set or recommended textbook on more than a hundred undergraduate and postgraduate courses worldwide. Now in its second edition, it remains the only book to provide specific advice and support to those wishing to learn a methodical approach to the critical analysis of a research paper. It seeks to answer a current need in the literature for a set of procedures that can be applied to the independent reading of quantitative research. Innovative features of the workbook include awareness-raising reading tasks and guided exercises to help develop and practise the critical skills required to appraise papers independently. Through informed and constructive appraisal of others’ work, readers themselves are shown how to become more research literate, to discover new areas for investigation, and to organise and present their own work more effectively for publication and peer evaluation. This revised second edition sees a closer integration of the text-and workbook and a number of additions to the text itself, as well as further guided and unguided research appraisal exercises." (Publisher's Description)