By now, you should be aware that the findings from a research study are only part of the story. As a consumer, hoping to inform practice by use of an evidence base, you want to know much more. A sound

© 2016 Laureate Education, Inc. 1 of 3 SOCW 6301: Week 10 Assignment Guidelines Quantitative Article Review and Critique In approximately 7 -10 pages (including title page and references), address the following questions. Title  After reading the entire article, do you think the title adequately describes the study? Does the title catch your attention? Please explain. Abstract  Does the abstract contain the recommended cont ent (see “Abstract,” pp. 314 , in Yegidis et al.)? How difficult do you think it is to summarize so much information in 150 –250 words? Please explain. Introduction  Why did the authors conduct this study and write this article? W hat was the problem of interest or concern? Be specific. Use quotes and paraphrases with citations. What audience might be interested in this study?  Do you feel the problem is significant enough to warrant a journal article?

Did you have a “so what” reaction? If so, why do you think it was accepted for publication? Please justify your position.  To what extent does the literature presented in the introduction help you understand the problem? How does the literature reviewed put the problem in context? Be specific.  Does the researcher indicate how this research is differen t from and/or similar to earlier ones reported in the literature? Summarize what this article intends to add to the knowledge base.  Do the authors state their research questions and/or hypotheses? What are the hypotheses or focused research questions? Methods  What specific quantitative method is used? How does a quantitative research design correspond with the research questions or hypotheses? Can you determine whether the design was appropriate? © 2016 Laureate Education, Inc. 2 of 3 To what extent can the design answer the research questions or address the stated hypotheses? Elaborate.  What were the variables under study? If relevant, identify the main dependent and independent variables. If not relevant, why are there no dependent and independent variables? What instruments or observations were used in the research? Explain why you do, or do not, think that the methods used to collect the data are described clea rly enough to allow for replication. Be specific and please elaborate.  Explain whether or not information was provided concerning the reliability and validity of these instruments or observations. Was this information adequate?

How does the presence or ab sence of information about reliability and validity affect your confidence in the quality of the study? What have the authors done to address or strengthen internal validity? Be specific. Sample  How were the participants recruited or selected for the study? What sampling strategy was used? Is the sample large enough to address the hypotheses and research questions? Did the author(s) offer any justification for the sample size? Are you satisfied with the information reported about the sample? What quest ions might you have about the sample that were not addressed? Please be sure to provide an explanation for all of your answers.  Are the demographics of the participants (e.g., background characteristics such as age, race, etc.) described in sufficient det ail? If so, how is the presentation of this descriptive data useful in evaluating the research? If not, please explain how that may affect the evaluation of the research.  Was the sample reflective of the population from which it was drawn? Is representati veness important in this research? Please explain.  Please explain any ethical concerns you may have about the sample and how the sample was recruited. Results  How were the data analyzed? (W hat statistical techniques were used?) Be specific.  Explain how easy or difficult it was for you to understand the reporting of results. W hat questions do you have after reading the results section? Please elaborate.  Do you feel the results of this study have meaning for social work practitioners or managers? Please elaborate. © 2016 Laureate Education, Inc. 3 of 3 Discussion  Explain whether or not the authors made sense of their data in the discussion section. Explain why you think the conclusions are (or are not) reasonable.  Did the authors discuss the limitations of their study? Did they stay within the limitations of their findings, or did they make more of their findings than was warranted? Please elaborate.  Did the author(s) suggest issues that future research should consider? If so, were there any surprises? Please elaborate.