Critiques: L509 Assignment Description

L509
Critiques of Research
Value: 10 points each
designed by Janette Hill; rubric by M.Fitzgerald

Purpose
Reviewing the literature in the area related to your problem is an important step in the research process. Reviewing the literature will not only inform you about current research completed by others, it can also help inform your own research.

It is also important to critique the research that has been completed as a part of your literature review. Becoming a critical consumer of research can help you apply the research results in ways that are meaningful and useful to you. This, in turn, can help you become a more effective practitioner.

Guidelines for the Critiques
Read a published research report related to your professional area. Write a critique based on your reading, including all components listed in the evaluation rubric below. We will discuss the critique in class, so be sure to come prepared to share your information. In writing up your critique, consider the following questions and address as appropriate (from Leedy & Ormrod (2001), p. 11-12):

Does the article have a stated research question or problem; that is, could you determine the focus of the author's work?
Is this an article that describes the collection of data, or does it describe and synthesize other studies in which data were collected?
Is the article logically organized and easy to follow? What could have been done to improve its organization?
Does the article contain a section that outlines and reviews studies on this topic? In what ways is this previous literature relevant to the research problem?
If the author explained procedures that were followed in the study, are these procedures clear enough that you could repeat the work and get similar results? What additional information might be helpful or essential for you to replicate the study?
If data were collected, can you describe how they were collected and how they were analyzed? Do you agree with what was done? What additional things would you have done if you had been the researcher?
Do you agree with the interpretation of the results? Why or why not?
Finally, reflect over the entire article. What is, for you, most important? What do you find most interesting? What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of this article? Will you remember this article in the future? Why or why not?

Submission Format
Please submit each critique in 2 modes:

Hard copy: on July 21, bring a printed version of each critique to class and place in Fitzgerald's Inbox. Double spaced, 12-point font, numbered pages. Include the rubric below in your printed materials - make sure to fill out the Self Assessment column.
Electronic copy:

Preferred: post your assignment as a web page and send me the URL via email. Please use a plain web page (.html or .htm format).
Next best: send me an email and include your assignment in the body of the email or attach as a .txt file (quick to handle and prevents viruses).
No need to fill out an electronic rubric.

Critiquing Your Critique: Evaluation Checklist

Criterion	Value	Self Assessment	MAF's Assessment
Full citation provided	2	.	.
Briefly summarizes the article (should communicate its essence)	2	.	.
Explores strengths or points of agreement	2	.	.
Explores weaknesses or points of disagreement	2	.	.
Communicates personal relevance (describes how this article relates to you)	2	.	.
Total	10	.	.