Modules

1. This is an individual assignment.
2. For each of the two article critiques required in this course, you should locate an empirical research article in a peer-reviewed journal, and provide: (a) a brief (1-page) description, followed by a brief (1-page) critique. "Empirical" means that the article is based on data collected in the field during the course of research conducted by the authors themselves. In other words, editorial or opinion-type articles, or articles that are primarily reviews of the research literature, will NOT satisfy the requirements of this assignment.
3. Qualitative or quantitative empirical research articles may be used.
4. The "research article critique" should be about two pages long, single-spaced, in 12-point font, with one inch margins. As noted above, the first page should be devoted to the description of the research. The second page should provide a critique of the article, based on the quality / appropriateness of the research procedures used (i.e., it will not be sufficient to say that the article was of high quality because it was "easy to read and follow." The critique must comment on the "goodness" of the research procedures used.) Your analysis of the quality /appropriateness of the research procedures used will be judged up to and including the material associated with the module current at the time the critique is due.
5. References and citations should be given in American Psychological Association (APA) 4th or 5th edition style.
6. Please attend carefully to the performance standards laid out in the scoring rubric that follows.

Here is a scoring rubric that will be used to assess your research critique. Please familiarize yourself with the standards for critiques noted in the rubric:
 

Research Critique Rubric

First, identify the type of research being conducted:
 

1. Qualitative Research 

2. Survey Research

3. Causal-Comparative Research

4. Correlational Research

5. Experimental Research

6. Quasi-Experimental Research

7. Single Subject Research

If it is qualitative, identify:
 

1. The participant(s)
2. Variable(s)
3. Setting
4. Data collection methods
5. Type: ethnographic, case study, grounded theory, participative inquiry or historical
6. Research question
7. Data reduction technique(s)
8. Conclusions reached
9. Evaluate the overall strength of the research design, address areas of credibility, transferability, dependability, confirmability, and authenticity. You do not need to address all of these areas, only the ones you think the study may be weak in.

If it is survey, identify:
 
1. Identify the participant(s)
2. Variable(s) under investigation
3. Extraneous variable(s)
4. Research question
5. Research hypothesis
6. Null hypothesis
7. Data collection methods
8. Data reduction technique(s)
9. Conclusions reached
10. Evaluate the overall strength of the research design, i.e.: reliability of the instrument, generalizability of the results

If it is causal-comparative or correlational, identify:
 
1. The participant(s)
2. Variable(s) and if they are independent or dependent or neither
3. Extraneous variable(s)
4. Research question
5. Research hypothesis
6. Data collection methods
7. Data reduction technique(s)
8. Conclusions reached
9. Threats to internal and external validity
10. Evaluate the overall strength of the research design = How confident can we be in the results and conclusions presented in the article?

If it is experimental, quasi-experimental, or single case, identify:
 
1. The participant(s)
2. Independent variable(s)
3. Dependent variable(s)
4. Extraneous variable(s)
5. Sampling Method
6. Experimental group(s)
7. Control group research question
8. Research hypothesis
9. Null hypothesis
10. Research design (if experimental or quasi, see pages 70-79 of your text; if single case, see pages 149-154 of your text)
11. Data collection methods
12. Data reduction technique(s)
13. Conclusions reached
14. Threats to internal and external validity
15. Evaluate the overall strength of the research design = How confident can we be in the results and conclusions presented in the article?