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Fred Pyrczak and Randall R. Bruce Writing Empirical Research Reports: A Basic Guide for Students of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. 7th ed. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Publishing, 2011. 162 pp. $44.50 (paperback). ISBN-10: 1884585973 | ISBN- 13: 978-1884585975
Jose L. Galvan Writing Literature Reviews: A Guide for Students of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. 4th ed. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Publishing, 2009. 170 pp. $49.95. ISBN-10: 1884585868 | ISBN-13: 978-1884585869
As more students return to college for their bachelor's and graduate degrees after time in the private sector, one of the largest challenges they face is updating their writing styles and skills. As a nontraditional graduate student, I was introduced to the resources provided by Pyrczak Publishing in the mid-2000s. The fifth edition of Writing Empirical Research Reports (2005) impressed me and provided a wonderful review of research-based paper guidelines. Additionally, my more traditional- aged colleagues benefited from the helpful guide and introduction to writing of empirical research reports provided by the text. Because of these positive experiences, I was happy to review the seventh edition of Writing Empirical Research Reports and the fourth edition of Writing Literature Reviews.
Writing Empirical Research Reports (seventh edition) and Writing Literature Reviews (fourth edition) are highly structured, well-written texts that carry the student through the complete process of writing a research article and a literature review, respectively. The formatting remains unchanged across the editions, with each chapter addressing one particular task or component of the writing process. The chapter then details, using guidelines, examples, and exercises, how to complete the named task. Pyrczak Publishing has maintained this format throughout each text, making each of them a valuable resource for those reentering the academic climate after years of absence or those who are new to the academy, including instructors. Additionally, Writing Empirical Research Reports (seventh edition) includes an answer key to assist the instructor with the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
Writing Empirical Research Reports is broken down into 15 chapters, which is useful during a semester-long course. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the essential elements of a research report, setting the stage for the remainder of the text. Chapters 2 and 3 cover the often difficult task of writing a simple research hypothesis. The authors...