Discuss conceptual issues discussed in lectures, this critique assignment is designed to improve critical thinking and writing skills.

You can choose to write an article critique paper based on the research article present on

Blackboard for extra credit. In addition to deepening your understanding of conceptual issues

discussed in lectures, this critique assignment is designed to improve critical thinking and writing

skills. Please follow the instructions and guidelines below. Your Article Critique should be 3-4

pages in length of content (double-spaced, 1 inch margins all around, 12-point Times New

Roman font). If there are any questions, please feel free to ask!

1. Summary of the article: 1.5 – 2 pages maximum

An article critique should briefly summarize, in your own words, the article research question

and how it was addressed in the article.

 The title should be at the top of the page, centered

 For this paper, add the word “Summary” below the title, and have it flush left.

Then write your summary of the article below that

 The summary itself will include the following: (Note – if the article involved

more than one experiment, you can either choose to focus on one of them

specifically or summarize the general design for all of the studies)

1. Type of study (Was it experimental or correlational? How do you know?)

2. Variables (What were the independent and dependent variables?)

3. Method (Was there a random sample of participants? Was there random

assignment to groups? What did the participants do in the study?)

4. Summary of findings (What were their findings?)

2. Critique of the study: 1.5 – 2 pages maximum

 This portion of the article critique assignment focuses on your own thoughts about the

content of the article (i.e. your own ideas in your own words). For this section, please

use the word “Critique” below the last sentence in your summary, and have the word

“Critique” flush left.

 There are a number of ways to demonstrate critical thinking in your writing. Address

at least four of the following elements:

 1). In your opinion, how valid and reliable is the study? Why? (make sure to

define what reliable and valid mean)

 2). Did the study authors correctly interpret their findings, or are there any

alternative interpretations you can think of?

 3). Did the authors of the study employ appropriate ethical safeguards?

 4). Briefly describe a follow-up study you might design that builds on the findings

of the study you read how the research presented in the article relates to research,

articles or material covered in other sections of the course

 5). Describe whether you feel the results presented in the article are weaker or

stronger than the authors claim (and why); or discuss alternative interpretations of

the results (i.e. something not mentioned by the authors) and/or what research

might provide a test between the proposed and alternate interpretations

 6). Mention additional implications of the findings not mentioned in the article

(either theoretical or practical/applied)

 7). Identify specific problems in the theory, discussion or empirical research

presented in the article and how these problems could be corrected. If the

problems you discuss are methodological in nature, then they must be issues that

are substantial enough to affect the interpretations of the findings or arguments

presented in the article. Furthermore, for methodological problems, you must

justify not only why something is problematic but also how it could be resolved

and why your proposed solution would be preferable.

 8). Describe how/why the method used in the article is either better or worse for

addressing a particular issue than other methods

The key point is that your experimental paper should describe a “position” that you have taken

with respect to the content of the article. Please note that you do not need to refer to any other

sources other than the article on which you have chosen to write your paper. However, you are

welcome to refer to additional sources if you choose.

Last Completed Projects