Topics - Reading a Research Article

1
Topics - Reading a Research Article

• Brief Overview Purpose and Process of Empirical
  Research
• Standard Format of Research Articles
• Evaluating/Critiquing Research

2
Role and Purpose of Empirical Research

• To provide answers to questions about behavior by
  using the scientific method.
• Descriptive (to describe)
• Correlational (to predict)
• Causal-(to control, explain causation)
• Experimental
• Comparative

3
Process of Empirical Research

• Identify and define research problem and
  questions.
• Formulate hypotheses on basis of theory, prior
  research and/or hunches.
• Design research study to collect data bearing on
  questions.
• Conduct the research.
• Analyze the data (through statistical methods).
• Interpret the data in light of the research
  questions.

4
Standard Format of Research Articles

• Abstract
• Introduction Context, Research Problem, Review
  of Literature
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• References

5
Introduction

• Background - the reasons the author(s) conducted
  the study theoretical framework
• Statement of Purpose - the goal of the research
  (the destination) the problem statement
• Hypotheses - educated guesses about
  relationships or differences

6
Methodology

• Participants (sample) - who the subjects are, how
  obtained/selected
• Materials (equipment, apparatus, measuring
  instruments) - what was used, quality of
  measuring instruments
• Procedures - how study was conducted what
  subjects did or what was done to them

7
Results

• Technical summary of the statistical analyses
  used
• In text
• In tables
• In figures

8
Discussion/Conclusions

• Non-technical interpretation of results
• Linking results to original purposes and
  hypotheses
• Why the results turned out the way they did
• Identifying the studys limitations
• Suggesting steps for further research

9
Evaluating Research

• Goal to be able to critique a research article
  by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of
  each component of the research
• Tools for Evaluating Research Reports

10
Evaluating Introductions Literature Review

• Literature review to place current study in
  context of what is known/not known
• Nature of literature cited
• Researcher bias
• Rationale/need for study
• Theoretical framework
• Link of framework to research questions
• Sufficiency of information
• Usefulness of review

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Evaluating Introductions Research
Questions/Hypotheses

• Research questions and hypotheses drive the study
• Clarity of problem
• Sufficient rationale
• Contribution to existing knowledge
• Link to theoretical framework and lit review
• Assumptions explicit/implicit
• Operational definition of terms
• Statement of hypotheses

12
Evaluating Methodology

• Sufficient detail of procedures (treatment),
  design and instruments
• Full description of population
• Full description of sampling method
• Quality of measures used
• Obvious weaknesses in design

13
Evaluating Results

• Appropriateness of statistical techniques used
• Clarity of presentation of results
• Adequacy of presentation of results

14
Evaluating Discussion/Conclusions

• Consistency of conclusions with findings
• Appropriateness of generalizations
• Discussion of implications of findings
• Discussion of limitations of study
• Alternative explanation for findings
• Linkage of conclusions with theoretical
  framework, research questions

15
Practice Exercise -Evaluating the Introduction

• Literature Review
• Research problem/questions