Our number one goal in writing this text was to produce a book that presented the difficult area of research methodology in a way that would be understandable to students. But learning any content area, especially an area like research methodology, is best done by actively processing the material. It is not enough to just read the chapters, no matter how well organized they might be. In the same way that you cannot learn to drive a car from reading a book, you cannot learn research methodology by just reading the text. Therefore, we included extensive review exercises at the end of each chapter. However, space constraints prevented us from including the more detailed and structured material presented in the Study Guide.
We have structured the Study Guide to optimize learning. The Study Guide is ideal for students who like a structured approach to learning. The content of each chapter is broken down into manageable units. We start with an overview of the chapter. We then present the basic terms and build familiarity with these terms through fill-in-the blank exercises. True/False, Multiple-Choice, and Essay questions give students practice for exams. The exercises give students the hands-on work needed to truly understand the concepts from each chapter. Finally, we present a number of references for additional reading in the area.
To help students decide whether the Study Guide is for them, we have included an entire chapter (Chapter 2) from the Study Guide on these WEB pages. Each of the sections of the Study Guide is described briefly below. To visit that section, just click on the section title below. If you find this structured approach helpful and would like to obtain a copy of the Study Guide, we have included ordering information below.
Chapter Summary
The Chapter Summary presents the key elements of the chapter in exactly the same order in which they were presented in the text. Many students find it helpful to read the summary before they read the text because it helps them to focus on the most critical material. This summary is much more extensive than the brief summary included at the end of each chapter.
Key Terms
Memorizing a lot of new terms is not he point of a course in research methods, but there are a lot of new terms that students must learn. We have included a list of key terms presented in the order in which they were first introduced in the chapter. Each key term is highlighted the first time it is presented in the text, and we have included a detailed glossary to facilitate the learning of these terms.
Fill-in-the-Blanks
The fill-in-the-blanks exercises were designed to increase your familiarity with the new terms introduced in the chapter. Rather than just memorizing the definition of the term, you are asked to recognize its appropriate use in applied discussions. In the printed version of the Study Guide, the correct answers are on the right-hand side of the page to provide students instant feedback on their accuracy.
True/False
True/False questions test whether students can distinquish correct from incorrect statements about research methodology. This represents a higher level of understanding than just being able to define and use the new terminology from the chapter.
Multiple Choice
The multiple-choice questions demand still more of the students in the way of understanding. Here students must evaluate a number of possible answers in selecting the most appropriate alternative. We have included the multiple-choice questions from the Study Guide in the computerized test-item file available to each instructor. Many instructors like to include a few items from the Study Guide in each exam as a way to reward students for their effort in using the Study Guide to assist learning.
Essay
Essay questions demand more from students than any other type of exam question. The student must know the terminology, understand the specific concepts, and be able to produce a response to a question that draws on all of this information. If you can handle the essay questions, you can be sure that you have a solid understanding of the material.
Exercises
The ultimate test of how well you know material is whether you can use your knowledge in an applied situation. The exercises test that knowledge as well as provide a vehicle for mastering the process of planning and conducting research.
Suggested Reading
For students who want to know more about the concepts presented in the text, we have included an extended reading list for each chapter.
If you would like to order a copy of the Study Guide, we recommend that you start by checking with your University Book Store. The bookstore often keeps copies of Study Guides on hand even if the Study Guide is not required by your instructor. If they do not have copies in stock, they can easily order one for you. Tell the bookstore that you want a copy of the "Study Guide to Accompany Graziano and Raulin (Third Edition), Research Methods: A process of inquiry." This ISBN number for the Study Guide is 0-673-98042-1. If you prefer, you can also order the Study Guide direct from the publisher by calling 1-800-782-2665.
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Copyright © 1996, Mike Raulin
Revised: December 15, 1996
URL: http://www.buffalo.edu/~raulin/sgsample.html
Home Page: http://www.buffalo.edu/~raulin/resmeth.html