Research Article Critique Work Sheet

77 views 9:42 am 0 Comments March 20, 2023

Research Article Critique Work Sheet

Element Definition/Where located in the article Yes?/No?/Comment
Title or heading Located in the first section. Illustrates the main topic of
the study, reason for the study, approach, results and
conclusions. A title is a concise statement of the main
topic and should identify the variables or theoretical
issues under investigation and the relationship
between them. An example of a good title is “Effect of
Transformed Letters on Reading Speed. “
Abstract Appears at the beginning of the article. Follows title
and author’s name. Brief summary of the entire article
including the problem, methodology, analysis, results,
implications, reasons for the study, approach, results
and conclusions. When searching, you’ll find abstracts
in databases and indexes to help you decide if the
article is relevant to your research. Begin abstract on a
new page. Can be 50 to 200 words.
Key Words Follows abstract: Key words help make index
searching easier. By embedding key words in your
abstract, you enhance the user’s ability to find it.
Introduction Normally follows abstract. The body of a manuscript
opens with an introduction that presents
the specific problem under study and describes the
research strategy Gets the reader interested in the
article. Introduces the reader to the problem and
justification for the hypothesis. Helps the reader
understand the objectives for the work. Sometimes this
section includes the literature review and the purpose
of the study.
Statement of Problem Included in the introduction section in many papers.
The authors specify the problem or issue and justify
why it should be studied. The statement of problem
section may include deficiencies in existing knowledge
about the topic and/or address audiences that may
benefit from the study of the problem.
Hypotheses Typically stated at the end of the introduction or after
the literature review. A declarative statement in which
the researcher makes a prediction, or several
predictions, based on the study.
“Our hypothesis at the beginning of the study was that x
would result in a more effective response to this problem
than y.”
Literature Review
sometimes called a
review article		 Literature reviews are critical evaluations
of material that has already been published. Here, the
author lists the previous research on the topic. It is a
written summary of articles, books and other
documents that describe the past and current
knowledge about a topic. The literature review justifies
the research, provides direction for the study. It places

 

your research in context of past work in the field.
Purpose The purpose, or purpose statement comes after the
review of literature, sometimes in paragraph 3 or 4. It
advances the overall direction or focus of a study and it
is used in both quantitative and qualitative research.
Should answer what is being tested and why. Many
papers introduce it outright by saying: “The purpose of
this study is to…”
Significance Addresses why the study is being done. (Is the subject a
“hot topic”, testing a theory, confirming previous
research?) Also see “Statement of problem”
Limitations Potential weaknesses described by the author:
Example – the study only had a small sample, etc.
Methods Provides the detailed description of how the study was
conducted. Includes participants, subjects, materials,
procedures.
Data collection and
Analysis		 Included in the methods section, most likely. Tells
from where the data came and how it was analyzed.
Results/Findings The section summarizes findings in text and illustrates
them with charts, graphs and tables presented for
statistical reporting of the data. It is an objective
presentation. The interpretation comes later in the
discussion section.
Discussion Interpretation of the data. Lets you know if the data
/results supported the hypothesis. Explains the results.
Conclusion Tells the implications of the results/findings. Usually
includes comprehensive summary of findings
Recommendations
for the future		 Suggestions to address any problems/concerns found
as a result of the research. Suggests what further
research may be needed. Can be part of the discussion
section, usually at the end.
References List of references cited in the research article. Done in
a specific format (such as APA style, IEEE style).
Appendix Last section of the paper, shows examples of
instruments used in data-gathering.

Sources:
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/tools/report/reportform.html
Other notes from B. Murphy-Wesley