Humanities Homework Help

Your task this week is to locate and critically assess two new peer-reviewed articles that describe research that contributes to theory in your topic area.

Use the sections and questions below to help you critique each article. You do not need to answer every single question as some questions might not apply. The questions and statements are listed to help you generate ideas as you evaluate each article.

1. Introduction.

• Give an overview of the problem or issue discussed in the study. Also explain the purpose of the study, any hypotheses, method and design, as well as conclusions.
• However, keep in mind that the focus of this assignment is your critique. The introduction section of this assignment should not be more than a page. After you have written this section, it might help to reread the article with a more critical eye focused on inconsistencies or limitations.

2. Evaluate problem or issue discussed.

• Consider whether the problem is clearly described. Did the author(s) document and support the existence of the problem with scholarly sources and data? Were the sources credible and relevant (as defined by the readings you’ve done for this course)?

3. Evaluate literature reviewed.

• Examine the literature reviewed by the author(s). Have the author(s) cited only relevant literature? Do certain ideas or concepts appear to be over/underemphasized? Was there any bias in language or tone of the writing? Do you think there are any discussions that need elaboration or maybe could be more concise? Is there a clear theoretical framework?

4. Evaluate methods.

• Are the methods described with enough detail so that a reader could duplicate the research process if needed? Do the method and design appear to be appropriate for the problem being addressed and the purpose of the study?
• Also consider the procedures and materials used (e.g., survey, interview guide, etc.). Do you believe this was the best way to collect the data needed to address the problem, purpose, and research questions?
• Evaluate the sample. Do you see any issues with the size of the sample or the way participants were recruited? What about the demographic composition of the sample?

5. Overall impressions.

• How useful does this work seem to you regarding theoretical and/or practical applications? Does the author suggest the findings could be applied in theory and/or practice?
• Is the writing clear and easy to follow?
• How useful are the visuals (e.g., tables, charts, maps, photographs) utilized? How do they help to illustrate the argument/findings? Are they confusing or hard to read?

6. Conclusion. Synthesize the pieces of your critique to emphasize your own main points about the author’s work.

• Based on the limitations noted above and recommendations from the author(s), what further research might be conducted on the subject?
• Ideas for future research could also include alternative ways to conduct the study. For example, could different samples or materials be used? What about a different method or design?