Article Critique Guidelines

Article Critique Assignment

Pick two psychological research articles relevant to your study (I will hand out an additional one to everyone in class). The articles should be less than 5 years old and different from those of your classmates. At least one should be quantitative (both are ok). For each of the three articles, answer the following questions, providing appropriate support.

Quantitative Studies

Qualitative Studies

1. Purpose of the study
a. Why does the author think the study is necessary?
b. Do you agree with his/her justification?

1. Purpose of the study
a. Why does the author think the study is necessary?
b. Do you agree with his/her justification?

2. Hypotheses
a. Are the hypotheses clearly stated and testable?
b. What previous research are they based on?
c. Are they grounded in theory? (if so, describe)

2. Research questions
a. What previous research are questions based on?
b. Are they grounded in existing theory or designed to build new theory?

3. General methodology
a. Is a quantitative approach appropriate in this case?
b. What are its strengths and weaknesses (in this study)?

3. Experimenter's background
a. What is the relevant life experience (including professional background)?
b. What is the past/current role with this population?
c. What biases do you think she/he has?

4. Sample
a. Is there sufficient power?
b. How are "subjects" selected/recruited?
b. How generalizable is the sample? (Who's left out?)

4. Methodology (2 points)
a. Why do you think these methods were selected?
b. What are their strengths and weaknesses?
c. Are there ways the study could be improved?
d. Could different methods of analysis be used? If so, what might be gained/lost?

5. Measures
a. What are the independent and dependent variables?
b. How are they operationalized and measured?
c. Are the measures valid and reliable?
5. Sample
a. How were participants selected/recruited?
b. Is it an appropriate sample for the study purpose?

6. Procedures
a. What are pros & cons of how data were collected?
b. Are there ways the procedure could be improved?

6. Variables
a. How were the variables of interest operationalized?
b. How were they assessed?

7. Data analysis
a. Are analyses appropriate given the type of data?
b. Could different methods of analysis been used?

7. Results
a. Are they consistent with the hypotheses?
b. What are their implications and real-world applications?

8. Results
a. Are they consistent with the hypotheses?
b. What are their implications and real-world applications?

8. Final thoughts... (2 points)
a. Was the study clearly presented?
b. Was the study worth doing and publishing?
c. Describe a logical extension of this study.

9. Final thoughts... (2 points)
a. Was the study clearly presented?
b. Was the study worth doing and publishing?
c. Describe a logical extension of this study.

Quantitative Studies	Qualitative Studies
1. Purpose of the study a. Why does the author think the study is necessary? b. Do you agree with his/her justification?	1. Purpose of the study a. Why does the author think the study is necessary? b. Do you agree with his/her justification?
2. Hypotheses a. Are the hypotheses clearly stated and testable? b. What previous research are they based on? c. Are they grounded in theory? (if so, describe)	2. Research questions a. What previous research are questions based on? b. Are they grounded in existing theory or designed to build new theory?
3. General methodology a. Is a quantitative approach appropriate in this case? b. What are its strengths and weaknesses (in this study)?	3. Experimenter's background a. What is the relevant life experience (including professional background)? b. What is the past/current role with this population? c. What biases do you think she/he has?
4. Sample a. Is there sufficient power? b. How are "subjects" selected/recruited? b. How generalizable is the sample? (Who's left out?)	4. Methodology (2 points) a. Why do you think these methods were selected? b. What are their strengths and weaknesses? c. Are there ways the study could be improved? d. Could different methods of analysis be used? If so, what might be gained/lost?
5. Measures a. What are the independent and dependent variables? b. How are they operationalized and measured? c. Are the measures valid and reliable?	5. Sample a. How were participants selected/recruited? b. Is it an appropriate sample for the study purpose?
6. Procedures a. What are pros & cons of how data were collected? b. Are there ways the procedure could be improved?	6. Variables a. How were the variables of interest operationalized? b. How were they assessed?
7. Data analysis a. Are analyses appropriate given the type of data? b. Could different methods of analysis been used?	7. Results a. Are they consistent with the hypotheses? b. What are their implications and real-world applications?
8. Results a. Are they consistent with the hypotheses? b. What are their implications and real-world applications?	8. Final thoughts... (2 points) a. Was the study clearly presented? b. Was the study worth doing and publishing? c. Describe a logical extension of this study.
9. Final thoughts... (2 points) a. Was the study clearly presented? b. Was the study worth doing and publishing? c. Describe a logical extension of this study.