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Thinking Critically about Research: A Step by Step Approach
We live in an age of unprecedented access to information. The last decade has seen an exponential growth in data and material available, often at the touch of a button. However, this has also made it harder to discern between fact and fiction. What is real and what is fake? What should we believe and what should we reject? In an environment of information overload, a distrust of experts, the circulation of misinformation and false facts, and public debates based upon poor evidence, Thinking Critically About Research comes at a vital juncture. The book is designed to help readers develop a critical understanding of evidence and the ways in which evidence is presented, and to challenge the information they receive in both academic and non-academic sources. The author presents a step-by-step approach with a focus on knowing methods, culminating in a bespoke ‘critical tool kit’ which offers a practical checklist designed to be used when carrying out research. Also containing learning features including tasks and worked examples, drawing on real research studies, this is an essential resource for students and researchers, and those putting research into practice, who want to have better critical thinking skills.
160 pages, Paperback
Published December 7, 2018
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 15, 2021
Everyone knows the value of science, and that you should take into account the research on any given topic. Yet, most people have no idea how science is conducted, how to read research or critically analyze evidence.
This book is a great introduction for anyone that wants to be familiar with research. It starts by analyzing the methods of research, such as study design, measurement and data analysis. But also the nuance behind it. How research can be biased in a variety of ways, and also how different types of studies have different pros and cons which need to be taken into account.
For example, what are the differences between qualitative studies, cross-sectional studies, and randomized controlled trials? What's ecological validity and why does it matter? What biases are at play in research and what should we look for?
It also gave some very minor explanation of more technical details, such as statistical tests, p-values, effect sizes and confidence intervals.
Finally, it also talks about how the evidence is presented. This surprised me and I really enjoyed reading it. It took a more sociological perspective of science, such as how language is used persuasively (very much like marketing), and also the very nature of scientific research and some implicit assumptions behind science. I felt it too the best of the field without being overly harsh or crazy which it can easily descend into it.
Overall it's a very solid book. I got this years ago in a book shop in London, and it was the only time I had seen it. I never came across it online which is unusual for good books, especially small niche ones like these. It certainly deserves to be more popular.
It's a fantastic introduction, and it's accessible to anyone, even without a scientific background. I have a fair bit of experience with reading research so I knew most of it, but I still found it useful. I refreshed some concepts in my memory and learned a few things as well.
Nevertheless, it could have gone more in-depth in some aspects. While it provided some examples to illustrate specific aspects of studies, they should have been provided more often and in greater depth. Furthermore what is covered in statistics was way too little to be of use. I understand the author's intention of not making the book intimidating, but sometimes it feels like it's too shallow to be of use.
If you're new to science and want to learn more about research, it's a fantastic resource. And even if you're more familiar with it, you may find the latter chapters on the philosophy and sociology of science to be illuminating. It's a book that certainly deserves more popularity.
This book is a great introduction for anyone that wants to be familiar with research. It starts by analyzing the methods of research, such as study design, measurement and data analysis. But also the nuance behind it. How research can be biased in a variety of ways, and also how different types of studies have different pros and cons which need to be taken into account.
For example, what are the differences between qualitative studies, cross-sectional studies, and randomized controlled trials? What's ecological validity and why does it matter? What biases are at play in research and what should we look for?
It also gave some very minor explanation of more technical details, such as statistical tests, p-values, effect sizes and confidence intervals.
Finally, it also talks about how the evidence is presented. This surprised me and I really enjoyed reading it. It took a more sociological perspective of science, such as how language is used persuasively (very much like marketing), and also the very nature of scientific research and some implicit assumptions behind science. I felt it too the best of the field without being overly harsh or crazy which it can easily descend into it.
Overall it's a very solid book. I got this years ago in a book shop in London, and it was the only time I had seen it. I never came across it online which is unusual for good books, especially small niche ones like these. It certainly deserves to be more popular.
It's a fantastic introduction, and it's accessible to anyone, even without a scientific background. I have a fair bit of experience with reading research so I knew most of it, but I still found it useful. I refreshed some concepts in my memory and learned a few things as well.
Nevertheless, it could have gone more in-depth in some aspects. While it provided some examples to illustrate specific aspects of studies, they should have been provided more often and in greater depth. Furthermore what is covered in statistics was way too little to be of use. I understand the author's intention of not making the book intimidating, but sometimes it feels like it's too shallow to be of use.
If you're new to science and want to learn more about research, it's a fantastic resource. And even if you're more familiar with it, you may find the latter chapters on the philosophy and sociology of science to be illuminating. It's a book that certainly deserves more popularity.
Displaying 1 of 1 review