Evaluating Research in Academic Journals: A Practical Guide to Realistic Evaluation

Good book deals with issues, there is to much stats. in academic literature. Not enough emphasis on the actual patient.

This book was required for a class on research methods. It is very practical in approach to evaluating both work that is written by others (to determine if it would be a good source, for example), as well as helping to guide you in writing your own work (to make sure you've covered all points, for example). It seems to have more of a scientific approach then historical, but as a historian I could easily see how information could translate to historical research. I'm keeping the book for reference.