For anyone who does research or is thinking about doing a research study, this book offers an invaluable tool for learning the techniques of researching, reviewing and analyzing research literature. Applying basic tenets of sound data gathering to a comprehensive synthesis of past research on a topic, Cooper leads the reader step-by-step through the five stage process integrating research reviewing -- from conceptualization of the research problem to the concise summary of the research review. New to the second edition is coverage of computer literature searches, the theoretical underpinnings of meta-analysis, the application of these procedures, and new material on coding sheets. Written in a clear, straightforward manner, this text is appropriate for anyone who has taken an introductory research methods course.