Understanding and Interpreting Educational Research

Ronald C. Martella, PhD, is Professor of Special Education at Eastern Washington University. He has over 26 years of experience working with at-risk populations and provides technical assistance to numerous states and districts on positive behavior support/behavior management for students with or without disabilities. Dr. Martella has over 150 professional publications, including several literacy programs and interventions.J. Ron Nelson, PhD, is Professor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He has over 20 years of experience in the field of special education as a teacher, technical assistance provider, and professor. A recipient of the Distinguished Initial Career Research Award from the Council for Exceptional Children, Dr. Nelson has more than 150 publications that focus on serving children at risk of school failure and on research issues. He has developed a number of behavior and literacy interventions.Robert L. Morgan, PhD, is Professor in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation at Utah State University and serves as the Head of the Severe Disabilities Teacher Preparation Program and Chair of the Undergraduate Committee. He worked in schools, adult residential facilities, and supported employment programs for 11 years. Dr. Morgan's research interests and more than 100 publications address issues including transition from school to adult roles and applied behavior analysis.Nancy E. Marchand-Martella, PhD, is Professor of Special Education at Eastern Washington University. She has over 26 years of experience working with at-risk populations, including serving as a consultant for the Washington Improvement and Implementation Network and the Washington State Striving Readers Grant, and as a Reading First panel member. Dr. Marchand-Martella has over 160 professional publications, including several literacy programs and interventions.

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Each chapter in this book is well organized, with good examples, suggested readings, and other helpful materials.--Hisako Matsuo, PhD, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Saint Louis UniversityUnlike many other texts, this book covers each topic with consistent depth. Great features include a thorough chapter on program evaluation, which many texts don't offer; coverage of reliability and validity early in the book (I love the section on things to consider about measurement devices!); and the best presentation of qualitative research that I have seen in any text. I like how qualitative research and quantitative research are presented separately instead of being merged in a confusing fashion. I will definitely consider adopting this text.--Melody Whiddon, PhD, College of Education, Florida International UniversityThis accessible book does the best job of any text I've seen of making the dynamic nature of research designs come to life for educational researchers. I teach two research methods classes--one for doctoral students and the others for master's students--and I will use this book for both. It covers the right material, has a solid structure within chapters, and includes some nuts-and-bolts material not available in other texts.--Eleazar Vasquez III, PhD, BCBA-D, Exceptional Education Program, University of Central Florida This book is an easy read, full of good examples and well-thought-out approaches. The authors have brought extensive experience to bear on creating a very effective text. I look forward to using this text in my graduate course in research for speech-language pathologists.--Anthony P. Salvatore, PhD, Director, Speech-Language Pathology Program, and Chair, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas, El Paso This clear, detailed volume provides a comprehensive look at the elements that help novice researchers become more critical consumers of research. I like the graphic organizers and the use of discussion questions and exercises. These tools help the instructor ensure that students understand the topics and allow for a variety of different learning styles. When I teach educational research courses, I often have to locate related articles on my own; I appreciate that the authors have taken the time to provide related articles. This text is just the right level for my graduate students.--Tracy M. Walker, PhD, Department of Doctoral Studies, Virginia State UniversityThis text delivers exactly what it claims: it teaches students how to consume and understand research. The comprehensive coverage of all types of empirical inquiry is truly impressive and second to none. Advanced undergraduates and graduate students at the master’s and doctoral levels will greatly appreciate the book's treatment of both the fundamentals and nuances of most types of research designs. This text will enlighten and more than satisfy the most inquisitive educational research consumer.--Edward J. Sabornie, PhD, Graduate Program in Special Education, North Carolina State University-