Week 2 - Critiquing Research Articles Flashcards
Journal Articles
Typically refers to peer reviewed research articles reporting on the conduct and results of an original study (or replication of a study)
Journal Articles include what parts?
- Title and Abstract
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
What is included in the introduction section
research question
theory
framework
ROL
It should tell us why we care and start broad and get more specific - sometimes called background or Review of literature
What should be able to be done using the methods section
reader should be able to reliably replicate the study based on this section
a “map” of the study
What is included in the results section
findings of data collected
statistical tests used for analysis
significance of findings - statistical
What is included in the Discussion section
interpretation of results
implications for future practice
limitations of study
references come back into place here again
What are the 2 angles to discuss research
- From the researchers POV dreaming things up
- From the readers POV reading an article and critiquing it and evaluating how good the methods are
The title of an article can do what?
It can tell a lot about a study based on what is in it alone
ex: Bergstrom article reveals info on ulcer reduction, and randomized meaning quantitative and methods used
ex: JAN article tells you its a phenomenological study (qualitative)
Keywords
often found under the abstract
includes words to search for articles in a database
What is the purpose of research articles
Report for Peers
It should be clear and precise enough and detailed enough from just the article that the study could be replicated
Why are journal articles so hard to read
- Dry - they are written for an audience of peers so there are assumptions you know jargon
- Compactness - space is limited so it may seem choppy or a non-complete study
- Objectivity - avoid any hints of subjectivity by seeming impersonal
4.Statistics - can be intimidating
Why may objectivity not be a problem for qualitative studies
because it is inherently subjective so it may come off as less dry
Why are open access articles a recent concern
because taxpayers are paying for the sciences but then the journals are paywalled - sometimes open access lets any article through, but you want to make sure to use peer reviewed information still
Impact Factor
how often the article is referenced or cited by others - if often then it is in high impact journals
What is the difference between Publishing House and Journal name
publishing house is who prints it and the journal contains all of the articles
Why critique journal articles
- Just because it is published does not mean its objectively free from flaws
- Just because the researchers provide implications and recommendations doesnt mean they have addressed them all
- Just because the authors make statements does not mean you will agree - be skeptical to discussion implications and conclusions
What are the types of research reports (Ways to report articles?)
- presentations at professional conferences
- journal articles in peer reviewed journals
What is the benefit of research reports in presentations at professional conferences
It can decrease lag between conducting research and reporting results
There can be years of lag time, but this can mitigate the lag and peers can see what is occurring in practice a the conference
What are the 2 types of Presentations at Professional Conferences
Oral Presentations
Poster Sessions
Journal Article papers are often subjected to __ __
peer review
Peer reviews are often ___
blind (reviewers are not told names of authors and vice versa)
IMRAD Format
The content and layout of research journal articles
- title and abstract
Introduction
Method
Results
And Discussion
- References
When critiquing a research article always assume the posture of a ___
skeptic
With research articles, who is the onus of responsibility on ?
The authors - to provide evidence that methodological procedures are sound
it is not on the reader to try and justify an authors use or non-use of a theoretical framework - the author should defend and find info
What is the purpose of a quantitative research article
Inference (and Generalization)
Inference
Quantitative
Conclusion drawn from the study evidence using logical reasoning - we want to assume similar results occur with a different population at a different time or area
We want it to be true for larger and different populations
What does a Qualitative studies title include
central phenomenon and group under investigation (ex: phenomenological, grounded, ethnographic)
What does a Quantitative studies title include
title communicates key variables (IV and DV) and the population (PICO components)
Abstract
brief description of major features of a study at the beginning of a journal article
What does the position of first and second author usually say about those people in the research articles
They are usually the two positions that did the most work
First author is very important to the research themselves since titles will often be abbreviated and referred to as that authors article (ex: Bergstrom article)
What can last position author indicate?
they may also be in a position of power like the director of the lab - they can be put in even if they barely had much involvement
Why is it important to look at the credentials of the authors
What their credentials are can tell you a lot about them like if it says PHD compared to an indicate that they are a graduate student
What can asterisks point to when next to a name in an article
it may be indicating where the research practices and you can see whether this is applicable to the study
Author of Correspondence
the author of the article managing the publication of the article
can send questions to their professional address
also check that their address is a professional one rather than a personal one - shows professionalism