Research Article Critique

Research article critique 2,000 words, 4 – 5 Refs . The assignment is a narrative. APA format. The article to critique: The Effect of Professor’s Attractiveness On Distance Learning Students, Liu, J. and Tomasi, S.D. (2015) I am uploading the article to critique

Review article based on the Research Process Diagram
Are all critical aspects of the research process reported? If not what is missing? Are the data collection procedures used appropriate for the question? Did data collection generate reliable and valid or verifiable data?
Recommended section headings and related questions to consider
These questions are in quantitative language. A qualitative study will have similar questions, but will include different language and approaches, depending upon the qualitative method used.
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
• What is the main question or hypothesis in this project?
• What is the purpose of this study – exploratory, descriptive or explanatory?
• Is this basic or applied research?
• What are the main concepts?
• How are the main concepts defined?
• Are they the right concepts for the question at hand?
• Are the relationships between concepts outlined? Why or why not?
• Are these relationships substantiated with evidence from previous studies and logic?
Research Design
• What research design is used?
• Is the research design appropriate for the question at hand?
• What is the unit of analysis?
• What sampling techniques are used?
• How are the concepts measured?
• Is the data quantitative or qualitative data?
• What collection methods are used?
• What is the time dimension in this research?
Findings
• Are the data valid and reliable representations of the empirical reality they attempt to capture?
• How, if at all, are the data adjusted, i.e. weighted, summarized or grouped?
• How are the data reported?
• Are the data presented in a way that is understandable?
• Is the data presentation comprehensive or are selected aspects presented?
• What data analysis tools are employed?
• Are they the right tools for the level of measurement?
• Are any assumptions inherent in the analysis tools violated/
• Do the analysis tools provide information to support or refute?
Discussion
• What are the main points in the discussion?
• What aspects of the project are highlighted?
• Does the discussion illuminate the findings and apply them appropriately?
Conclusions
• What conclusions are drawn from the data?
• Are the conclusions a logical extension of the data?
• To whom or what do the conclusions apply?
Adding to the knowledge base and implications for future research
• What is the significance of this research?
• What might you have done differently?
• What still needs clarification/exploration?

Through this assignment, the student will:
1. Critique a peer-reviewed study, and in your own words, describe the research question, sample, design of study, data collection method, findings, and limitations of each. (CO 1, CO2,)
2. Summarize the research article and evaluate the significance to nursing. Do not just quote the author’s words. Paraphrase the information. (CO 4, CO5).
GUIDELINES TO WRITING THE PAPER
1. Course Resources lists articles from which you are to select ONE to analyze.
2. Retrieve the full-text version of the article from the library. Read it thoroughly.
3. Introduction (one paragraph): The introduction should be interesting and capture the reader’s attention.
a. Provide a brief description of the research article to be discussed.
b. Discuss the purpose of your paper. The purpose statement of the paper should relate to the research article reviewed and the implications that it has to evidence based nursing practice.
c. You will need to summarize and analyze the information from the article in your own words
4. Describe the research question for this study in a paragraph.
a. Describe the research in greater detail.
b. Include your observations about this question.
c. Discuss events or trends that could have affected this question.
d. You will need to summarize and analyze the information from the article in your own words

5. Describe the research design of this study, and in your own words discuss the design.
a. Discuss the research design of the study.
b. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the type of design and hypothesize why the author utilized the design as opposed to others.
c. You will need to summarize the information from the article in your own words

6. Describe the sample.
a. Briefly describe the sample size used for this study
b. Make a judgment as to whether the sample size was adequate and defend your answer.
c. Describe the number or participants and determine if the number of participants was adequate compared to the research question and the intent of the study.
d. Are these numbers adequate? Discuss gaps in that you identified.
e. You will need to summarize and analyze the information from the article in your own words

7. Describe the data collection method(s)’
a. Who collected the data?
b. What tools were used?
c. What were the ethical considerations addressed and discuss gaps you identified.
d. You will need to summarize and analyze the information from the article in your own words

8. Describe the limitations of the study.
a. Identify the limitations within the study
b. Describe how the limitations could be overcome in subsequent studies
c. Comment on why limitations are important to list and discuss within a study
d. You will need to summarize and analyze the information from the article in your own words

9. Describe the findings reported in the study.
a. Describe the findings reported in the study
b. Discuss whether the findings of the study answered the research question posed within the study
c. Discuss the credibility of the findings
d. If the findings do not support the research question posed within the study, what do you believe is the reason?
e. You will need to summarize and analyze the information from the article in your own words

10. Summary
a. Summarize important points from the body of your paper including the key components of the paper.
b. Include a statement about the research question and the findings.
c. Discuss the probability of implementation into practice. Based on these findings, is the evidence that you found on your topic strong enough to suggest a change in practice, or an idea for practice?
d. End with a concluding statement.

11. Citations and References must be included to support the information within each topic area. Refer to the APA manual, Chapter 7, for examples of proper reference format. In-text citations are to be noted for all information contained in your paper that is not your original idea or thought. Ask yourself, “How do I know this?” and then cite the source.
12. Reference Page: The Reference Page should start on a new page (insert a page break). All references should be cited within the body of the paper as (Author, year) and the full reference should be included in APA format on the reference page. A url link alone is not an adequate reference. See the APA Guidelines in Course Resources for examples of properly formatted references.