Critical Review Assignment
Read through this outline carefully. When your instructor grades your submission, they will be
looking to see if you followed the provided format: you can lose points if you do not
Mastery of statistics involves not only the ability to generate sound statistical data, but also the
ability to critically evaluate the statistical analysis of others. The latter is the focus of the Critical
Review assignment in this course. A review, or critique, is not a summary or a simple retelling
of the major findings in a research article. It is much more. It assesses how well the researcher
carries out the required steps in the research process.
Elements of the critique:
Summary of the article (Discuss what the article is about) This part SHOULD NOT include any
of your personal input but rather just summarize what the author did in his/her research.
·Research Topic
oWhat question is the researcher trying to answer?
·Research Methodology
oHow did the researcher study the topic? Survey? Experiment? Statistical
Analysis?
oBriefly answer who, what, where, and when, and how.
·Major Conclusions
oWhat does the author conclude?
oWhat recommendations does he make?
This section should be about 1.5 pages in general.
The next part is the key of the critique. This next sections of your paper gives an assessment of
how well the research was conducted based on what you learned. Remember you can use your
own personal experience and outside articles to help you support your point of view in this
section of the assignment.
In-depth critique of the article (Discuss how well the research is conducted in your own
words)
Write a brief paragraph for each of the following listed elements in your own words:
·Purpose
oIs the research problem clearly stated? Is it easy to determine what the researcher
intends to research?
·Literature Review
oIs the review logically organized?
oDoes it offer a balanced critical analysis of the literature?
oIs the majority of the literature of recent origin?
oIs it empirical in nature?
- Objectives/hypotheses
oHas a research question or hypothesis been identified?
oIs it clearly stated?
oIs it consistent with discussion in the literature review?
·Ethical Standards Applied
oWere the participants fully informed about the nature of the research?
oWas confidentiality guaranteed?
oWere participants protected from harm?
·Operational Definitions
oAre all terms, theories, and concepts used in the study clearly defined?
·Methodology
oIs the research design clearly identified?
oHas the data gathering instrument been described?
oIs the instrument appropriate? How was it developed?
oWere reliability and validity testing undertaken and the results discussed?
oWas a pilot study undertaken?
·Data Analysis/Results
oWhat type of data and statistical analysis was undertaken? Was it appropriate?
oHow many of the sample participated? Significance of the findings?
·Discussion
oAre the findings linked back to the literature review?
oIf a hypothesis was identified was it supported?
oWere the strengths and limitations of the study including generalizability
discussed?
oWas a recommendation for further research made?
·References
oWere all the books, journals and other media alluded to in the study accurately
referenced?
·Conclusion
oConsidering all of the evaluation categories, is the article well or poorly
researched?
The following online article may be helpful to you. Step-by-step guide to critiquing research.
Part 1:
Quantitative research
https://www.unm.edu/~unmvclib/cascade/handouts/critiquingresearchpart1.pdf
Layout of your paper and other writing requirements
Your final report should be organized in the following format:
·Title page
oInclude name and author of article you critique
·Brief summary of article
·In-depth critique of article
·Bibliography
Additional writing requirements:
·Submit your paper as a Word document. No PDF files.
·Double-space
·Use 12 point Times New Roman font and 1 inch margins
·Use section headings to identify the different components of your discussion
·Number all pages after the title page
·Use APA format for citations and bibliography
·Do not use quotes from the article, paraphrase
·Keep the tone formal. Write like a researcher. Avoid the use of first person pronouns
such as I, we, me, us, etc.
·Check for spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors
·Keep your paper to 5pages, not including the title page
