Assessment of the conclusion validity for empirical research studies published in the journal of speech, language, and hearing research

Assessment of the Conclusion Validity for Empirical Research Studies Published in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. (May 2007) Glenda Elkins Byrns, B.S., Southwest Texas State University; M.Ed., Southwest Texas State University Co-Chairs of Advisory Committee: Dr. James F. McNamara Dr. Salvador Hector Ochoa Research-based decision making has been advanced as a way for professionals to make a determination about the effectiveness of a potential treatment. However, informed consumers of research need to be able to determine what constitutes evidence-based practices and what criteria can be used to determine if evidence-based practices have been met. This study was a synthesis of research that involved a critical review of the empirical research studies reported in Volume 47 of the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (JSLHR) published in 2004. This methodological research synthesis evaluated (a) the research designs used in the JSLHR studies, (b) information and rationale used to inform population validity assessment decisions, and (c) the extent to which the sampling designs, population validity rating, data analysis procedures, and the specification of generalizations and conclusions provide sufficient evidence to determine an overall rating of conclusion validity.