Research Literacy for Health and Community Practice introduces students to fundamental research concepts that will enable them to think critically about research and to recognize effective methods for understanding and utilizing research for practice. Rather than outlining methods for conducting research, this textbook outlines skills for engaging with research literature, including how to frame and organize knowledge, interpret and evaluate evidence using qualitative and quantitative approaches, distinguish between research and other forms of information, and implement “best evidence” practices.

Offering a wealth of exercises, recommended readings, online resources, and in-class activities, this textbook satisfies the need for practical, beginner-level resources in research literacy courses across health studies disciplines.

Sonya Jakubec's profile page

Barbara Astle's profile page

Sonya L. Jakubec, RN, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Her academic interests include mental health promotion, globalization and health, community advocacy, and research literacy and critique.

Barbara J. Astle, RN, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Nursing and the Director of the Centre of Equity and Global Engagement at Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia, Canada. Her research program focuses on global health and equity, global health education (global citizenship and competencies), and research literacy.

“Evidence-based practice is essential to our profession, so our students must be research literate when they graduate. As a result, I have been searching for a textbook with this exact focus. This book offers students in applied healthcare programs essential information and skills in a very accessible format. Sonya Jakubec and Barbara Astle have filled an important gap with this textbook—thank you!” — “Sienna Caspar, PhD, CTRS, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences: Therapeutic Recreation Program, University of Lethbridge

“Research literacy is such a vital and foundational skill for all nurses, no matter how many or few their years of practice. This important new text provides the grounding that every new nurse needs to find their way to evidence-informed practice and will be a go-to guide for more experienced nurses dealing with the complexities of research evidence.” — “Sonia Hines, Nurse Researcher, Evidence in Practice Unit and The Queensland Centre for Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery: A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Mater Health