This document outlines the process for critiquing a research paper. It defines a research critique as an analysis that focuses on a study's strengths and limitations. The purpose is to determine if a study's findings are useful. There are four key aspects of a critique: understanding the problem and design, assessing the methodology, evaluating outcomes and conclusions, and reflecting on overall quality. The critique process involves reading the paper entirely twice while considering relevant questions at each stage. Essential elements include source and abstract questions, problem and purpose questions, literature review questions, methodology questions, results questions, and discussion questions.
This document outlines the process for critiquing a research paper. It defines a research critique as an analysis that focuses on a study's strengths and limitations. The purpose is to determine if a study's findings are useful. There are four key aspects of a critique: understanding the problem and design, assessing the methodology, evaluating outcomes and conclusions, and reflecting on overall quality. The critique process involves reading the paper entirely twice while considering relevant questions at each stage. Essential elements include source and abstract questions, problem and purpose questions, literature review questions, methodology questions, results questions, and discussion questions.
This document outlines the process for critiquing a research paper. It defines a research critique as an analysis that focuses on a study's strengths and limitations. The purpose is to determine if a study's findings are useful. There are four key aspects of a critique: understanding the problem and design, assessing the methodology, evaluating outcomes and conclusions, and reflecting on overall quality. The critique process involves reading the paper entirely twice while considering relevant questions at each stage. Essential elements include source and abstract questions, problem and purpose questions, literature review questions, methodology questions, results questions, and discussion questions.
This document outlines the process for critiquing a research paper. It defines a research critique as an analysis that focuses on a study's strengths and limitations. The purpose is to determine if a study's findings are useful. There are four key aspects of a critique: understanding the problem and design, assessing the methodology, evaluating outcomes and conclusions, and reflecting on overall quality. The critique process involves reading the paper entirely twice while considering relevant questions at each stage. Essential elements include source and abstract questions, problem and purpose questions, literature review questions, methodology questions, results questions, and discussion questions.
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1/ 3
Republic of the Philippines
BULACAN AGRICULTURAL STATE COLLEGE
Institute of Graduate Studies Pinaod, San Ildefonso, Bulacan, Philippines 3010 __________________________________________________________
Report on Thesis Seminar (ThSem)
TOPIC: CRITIQUING A RESEARCH PAPER
What Is a Research Critique?
- A research critique is an analysis of a research undertaking that focuses on its strengths and limitations.
- Critiquing is a systematic process for evaluating research studies and the results reported. Purpose of a Research Critique “The purpose of a research critique is to determine whether the findings are usable for you” (Brink & Wood, 2001, p. 57).
Four Key Aspects of Critique
• Understanding the purpose and problem, while determining if the design and methodology are consistent with the purpose. • Determining if the methodology is properly applied. • Assessing if outcomes and conclusions are believable and supported by findings. • Reflecting on overall quality, strengths, and limitations. (Holder, 2003) Research Critique Process 1. Read the research article or report in its entirety to get a sense of the study and its contribution to knowledge development. 2. Read the article or report again, paying attention to the questions appropriate to each stage of the critiquing process. (Holder, 2003)
Essential Elements in the Research Critique Process
“The necessary elements in a research critique can be compiled in a series of questions for the process of critiquing research” (Boswell &Cannon, 2009, p. 308). Examples: Source and Abstract Questions • Source: How legitimate is the source (e.g.,empirical study from peer-reviewed journal versus article from popular magazine)? • Abstract: What is the major theme of the research source? What is the study about? The abstract provides a snapshot of the study. From the snapshot, decide how relevant the source is for your purposes, in terms of topic, population, and methodology.
Problem and Purpose Questions
• Problem: What is the research problem? What problem existed (in the setting, in terms of a lack of research, a need for further research, etc.) that the researcher(s) attempted to address? • Purpose: What was the purpose of the study? Is the purpose clear? Was there a clear need for the study? Will the study add to the body of literature in the field?
Literature Review Questions
• Is the review comprehensive? That is, did the researchers include the most relevant literature regarding each of the study’s variables and constructs? • Are the sources current (within the last 5 years) and/ or seminal within the field? • Are seminal publications reviewed? • Are the majority of sources primary or secondary? • Do the authors identify a guiding theoretical/conceptual framework, and if so, is it clearly explained and linked to the study? • Is it well organized and does it include an introduction and a summary?
Methodology Questions • Research Questions: Did the authors offer any research questions? • If so, what were they? Are they clearly stated? Do they match the purpose of the study? Are all of the research variables identified? • Hypotheses: Do the researchers offer any hypotheses? • If so, what were they? Are they clearly stated? Do they match the purpose of the study? •Participants: What was the target population for the study? How were the participants selected? Who is included? Who is excluded? How large is the sample? • Instruments: What instruments or tools were used in the study? Who developed the instruments or tools? How valid and reliable are they? Do the instruments or tools directly measure the variables of interest? Does the researcher describe clearly how meaning or scores are derived from the instruments? • Research Design: What was the specific research design used? How were the data collected? What were the steps in the timeline? Are potential limitations identified and addressed? • Data Analysis: Were the data analysis strategies appropriate for the study?
Results • Is each research question or hypothesis addressed? • Are the findings clearly described? Discussion • How do this study’s results fit into the broader literature? • What were the limitations of the study? • Are recommendations made for practical application? • Are recommendations made for further research?
References • Boswell, C., & Cannon, S. (2009). Critique process. In C. Boswell & S. Cannon (Eds.), Introduction to nursing research: Incorporating evidence based practice (pp. 291-316). Retrieved from http://samples.jbpub.com/ 80763794675/Critique_Process.pdf • Brink, P. J., & Wood, M. J. (2001). Basic steps in planning nursing research from question to proposal (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett. • Holder, B. (2003). The research critique. Available at http://virtual.clemson.edu/group/odce/summer1_03/nursT807/pdf
