Understanding Research: Becoming a Competent and Critical Consumer helps students read research in an informed and critical manner, evaluate its usefulness, and apply the results to their own work and lives. Dedicated to helping readers become proficient in finding information and resources that enable them to live and work more effectively, the book is both realistic and relevant.

The book opens with an exploration of why many practitioners and students feel they dislike research and why research really does matter. The subsequent chapters discuss how to understand the importance of research questions, evaluate the methods sections of research reports regarding participants, procedures, and data collection, interpret the results, and assess the discussion section. Chapters are framed by opening outlines and major concepts sections and ending conclusions and summaries.

Understanding Research is a highly personal, accessible guide that helps students understand how to critically examine and consume research. Through the use of humor, personal examples, reflective exercises, and examples, the book makes understanding research more digestible and enjoyable. The book is an ideal resource at the undergraduate and graduate level for courses in research methods in counseling, education, counseling, psychology, and human services.