The Critical Assessment of Research

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Introduction

Research is an integral part of our world. It is responsible for, among other things, the medicines that we take, our economic policies, our approaches to marketing, the educational strategies used in our schools, therapeutic strategies for the mentally distressed and the techniques for harnessing energy for industry. This book is about evaluating research. It is about assessing studies that have shaped our lives in fundamental ways.

Research is to a great extent the domain of experts and specialists: scientists hired by governments and industries, professors in universities, PhDs working for foundations or in research centers. This book, however, is not for them, at least not in so far as they are experts. It does not discuss ...