Essay Instructions: Final Paper
The final paper should demonstrate an application of your knowledge of research methods by synthesizing the concepts learned throughout the course.
Please note: For the final paper, you are writing a critique of the one research article you selected in Week 2, Discussion 2. You are not writing a topic paper to explore research conducted in a certain area. The research design report is either quantitative or qualitative based on your pre-selected article.
Your critique of the one article you chose must have supporting scholarly sources:
At least 3 scholarly sources are to be used in explaining the research topic.
At least 2 other scholarly sources are to be used in any other section of the paper, such as limitations or ethical aspects.
Scholarly journals, books and periodicals are to be used for literature sources. For example: Time magazine is not a scholarly journal. If a web source is used it must be based on relevant data, be authored and identified as being sponsored by a scholarly organization.
Components of your paper:
All papers need the research topic, ethical aspects of the study, and strengths, limitations, and suggestions, whether your topic is qualitative or quantitative.
A. Research Topic Summarize the importance of the study in the article you are critiquing. Utilize at least 3 scholarly sources to provide additional information on research in the topic investigated in your chosen article's research.
B. The Ethical Aspects of the Study Was there deception presented in the study?
What safeguard steps were taken for the participants?
Was there an approval process by an Institutional Review Board or similar ethics review committee?
How was informed consent handled?
Was any type of coercion or undue influence used in recruiting participants?
Was there a need for a debriefing of the participants? Why, or why not?
C. Strengths, Limitations, and Suggestions *Choose 3 strengths and 3 limitations Give specific examples of the study's strengths and limitations. Avoid vague generalizations of praise and faultfinding. Try to justify your criticisms.
Evaluate aspects of the study ? its substantive, methodological, ethical, and presentational dimensions.
Are the interpretations consistent with the results?
What types of evidence in support of the interpretation does the researcher offer?
Are generalizations made that are not warranted on the basis of the sample used?
Does the researcher offer implications of the research for practical purposes?
Were limitations of the study acknowledged by the researcher?
Realistic suggestions or alternatives that the researcher (or future researchers) might want to consider.
The questions asked in the next sections of the paper depend upon whether you chose a quantitative or qualitative research project.
Quantitative Study
QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
Qualitative Study
QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
D. Design Was a quantitative approach the best design? Why, or why not? Was the methodology justifiable?
Was the study longitudinal? Was the study cross-sectional?
Was the number of points of data collection appropriate, given the research question?
What type of comparisons were presented in the study (e.g., was the study design within-subjects or between-subjects; relationships or prediction)?
To what extent is the study externally valid?
Was a qualitative design the best approach? Why, or why not? Was the methodology justifiable?
How well is the research design described? What design elements might have strengthened the study (e.g., were enough participants included, what bias of the researcher showed through in the data collection process)?
E. Participants How adequate is the sampling plan?
What would enhance the sampling plan?
Are possible sample biases identified?
Is the setting appropriate to investigate the research question? Why, or why not?
How were the participants chosen?
Is the sample size adequate?
F. Data Quality & Collection What was the DV or DVs?
If there was an IV, what was it?
What method(s) was used to collect data?
What method of estimating reliability was used? Was this method appropriate?
Does the report provide evidence of the validity of the measures?
Did the collection of data place any undue burdens on the participants, if so, how might this have affected data quality?
What method(s) was used to collect data?
What collection biases were presented in the study?
Where and under what circumstances was the data gathered? Were other people present during the data collection?
Did the collection of data place any undue burdens on the participants, if so, how might this have affected data quality?
What is the trustworthiness of the data?
Which techniques (if any) did the researcher use to enhance and appraise the credibility of the data?
G. Data Analysis Were the results of any statistical tests significant or non-significant?
Were the results related back to the research question(s) and hypothesis(es)?
What themes and codes emerged from the data?
Was the context of the phenomenon adequately described by the results?
All papers need to have the following summary:
H. Summary of Research Critique Provide a general summary of your critique of the research study based upon the information provided in the sections above.
The Final Paper:
Must be 8 ? 10 double-spaced pages in length (excluding the title page, reference page, etc.) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the approved style guide.
Must include a cover page that includes:
Student's name
Course name and number
Name of Paper
Instructor's name
Date submitted
Must include an introductory paragraph with a succinct thesis statement.
Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
Must conclude with a restatement of the thesis and a conclusion paragraph.
Must use APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide to document all sources.
Must include at least 5 total references throughout the paper, other than the textbook and website. (3 of the sources are to be used in explaining the research topic. The other 2 sources may be used in any section of the paper, such as limitations or ethical aspects.)
Must include, on the final page, a Reference List that is completed according to APA style as outlined in the approved style guide.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.
I have uploaded the article and pre paper of this research.