Journal articles form the bedrock of social science, but they can be unfamiliar and intimidating to students. This brief, introductory guide helps readers appreciate the rigor and pitfalls of research by comparing it to more ordinary ways of knowing. Each chapter focuses on a key aspect of articles, demystifying step-by-step the complexities of social research. Harris encourages readers to avoid naivete (accepting research findings as simple Truth) and cynicism (dismissing research as hopelessly flawed), and instead adopt a critical perspective that appreciates the strengths and weaknesses of any piece of scholarship. A new chapter on research design explores how scientists choose a broad approach to study a topic, which impacts subsequent research decisions. Exercises throughout allow readers to practice the highlighted techniques in class discussion, short assignments, or a major writing project. Comprehensive yet succinct and accessible, the second edition of How to Critique Journal Articles in the Social Sciences equips students with the confidence to read and understand social research for use in their education, careers, and personal lives.

How to Critique Journal Articles in the Social Sciences, by Scott R. Harris, is a brief, introductory book that provides readers with a step-by-step guide to reading and understanding a social science research article. The author demonstrates the many strengths of social research, including its advantages over ordinary ways of knowing things, and, at the same time, points out that research is inevitably flawed. Rather than naively assuming that good research simply produces “The Truth” or cynically asserting that research is hopelessly biased and futile, this book instills in readers a critical perspective—one that appreciates the strengths and weaknesses of any piece of scholarship.

This superb guide teaches you how to read critically. Its no-nonsense, practical approach uses a specially developed reading code to help you read articles for your research project; this simple code enables you to decipher journal articles structurally, mechanically and grammatically. Refreshingly free of jargon and written with you in mind, it’s packed full of interdisciplinary advice that helps you to decode and critique academic writing. The author’s fuss free approach will improve your performance, boost your confidence and help you to: Read and better understand content Take relevant effective notes Manage large amounts of information in an easily identifiable and retrievable format Write persuasively using formal academic language and style. New to this edition: Additional examples across a range of subjects, including education, health and sociology as well as criminology Refined terminology for students in the UK, as well as around the world More examples dealing specifically with journal articles. Clear, focused and practical this handy guide is a great resource for helping you sharpen your use of journal articles and improve your academic writing skills. ‘I have used the book over the last five years with my students with great success. The book has helped students to develop their critical thinking, reading and writing skills and when it comes to writing a dissertation they have used the code sheet in their own writing.’ - Pete Allison, Head of the Graduate School of Education, University of Edinburgh The Student Success series are essential guides for students of all levels. From how to think critically and write great essays to planning your dream career, the Student Success series helps you study smarter and get the best from your time at university. Visit the SAGE Study Skills hub for tips and resources for study success!

This book is designed to introduce doctoral and graduate students to the process of conducting scientific research in the social sciences, business, education, public health, and related disciplines. It is a one-stop, comprehensive, and compact source for foundational concepts in behavioral research, and can serve as a stand-alone text or as a supplement to research readings in any doctoral seminar or research methods class. This book is currently used as a research text at universities on six continents and will shortly be available in nine different languages.

This book provides you with all the tools you need to write an excellent academic article and get it published.

Contemporary deep-reaching changes – whether in financial or real economy, in Europe’s political conditions, in the context of scientific theories, in the field of global (environmental) security, or gender relations – are also a challenge to philosophy. The volume comprises cutting-edge scholarly articles from renowned philosophers with various geographical backgrounds and from different philosophical strands. Next to investigating general questions as to the relation of philosophy and critique (What is philosophical critique and which philosophical concepts of critique are of importance today? Where do we need it most? Where are its limits?), the articles focus on issues like theories of democracy and modes of election; the roles of emotions in the political realm; challenges from a widespread discontent in society to politics and science; changes to social identities and different theoretical approaches to social identity formation. The book is indispensable for all who are interested in what contemporary philosophy has to say on crucial issues of our time.

Telling a Research Story: Writing a Literature Review is concerned with the writing of a literature review and is not designed to address any of the preliminary processes leading up to the actual writing of the literature review. This volume represents a revision and expansion of the material on writing literature reviews that appeared in English in Today's Research World. This volume progresses from general to specific issues in the writing of literature reviews. It opens with some orientations that raise awareness of the issues that surround the telling of a research story. Issues of structure and matters of language, style, and rhetoric are then discussed. Sections on metadiscourse, citation, and paraphrasing and summarizing are included.

This study explores the flow of information within and among academic disciplines in the social sciences and humanities through analyses of the patterns of scholarly book reviewing. An elite sample of scholarly monographs published by university presses between 1971 and 1990 was used. Beginning with Derek de Solla Price, the measurement of communication within the disciplines of science has been ongoing. In the present book that field of inquiry is summarized and provides a basis for examining the flow of information in the social sciences and humanities.

'Shon's writing is engaging and entertaining; he opens up the "black box" of academic reading and writing, explaining how to decode and critique formal scientific writing and systematically organize information gained from reading journal articles' - Dr Lorraine Whitmarsh, School of Psychology, University of Cardiff, UK 'Once the reader has mastered Philip Shon's codes and applied them to texts, it will become increasingly impossible not to write and critique with integrity. I thoroughly recommend this book' - Professor Helen Cowie, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, UK Many texts provide tips for successfully writing theses, dissertations, and journal articles. All argue that writing is like any other skill - it has to be developed, taught, and practiced daily. The same is certainly true of academic reading, yet many advanced students have trouble with the essential skill of 'reading critically'. This handy guide teaches you how to read so you're able to maximize your output in the writing process, whether you're a student or early career researcher. The author's unique reading code teaches you how to approach social and behavioural science journal articles as texts that can be deciphered structurally, mechanically and grammatically. The strategies included allow you to systematize the reading, note-taking and organizing of voluminous amounts of information in an easily identifiable and retrievable format, which will be a huge confidence boost to anyone who struggles with this first phase in the writing process. This book is indispensable for social and behavioural science students and researchers worldwide wanting to sharpen their critical evaluative skills for better academic writing. ? SAGE Study Skills are essential study guides for students of all levels. From how to write great essays and succeeding at university, to writing your undergraduate dissertation and doing postgraduate research, SAGE Study Skills help you get the best from your time at university. Visit the SAGE Study Skills website for tips, quizzes and videos on study success!

Picture yourself sitting down to read the latest issue of your favourite journal. Are you prepared? Do you know what to look for? Will you identify crucial defects in methodology, or will they slip by you? Having the background and training to critique research intelligently is imperative to appraise the value of the articles. This volume provides methods for reviewing research from any area in the social sciences.