| Subject | Article Review | Pages | 10 | Style | APA |
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Question
Article Review
This is a critical review. It should include a brief summary, but then you should go through the choices that the researchers made as they planned and conducted their study and talk about the effects of those choices on the quality of the study.
Here is a sample from a prior period
Article:
Exclusionary Discipline Practices Across Students'
Racial/Ethnic Backgrounds and Disability Status:
Findings from the Pacific Northwest
Authors:
Claudia G. Vincent, Jeffrey R. Sprague & Tary J. Tobin
 
Summary of Article
The rising number of students facing exclusionary discipline in schools prompted researchers Vincent, Sprague, and Tobin (2012), to conduct an exploratory data analysis. This analysis was to identify whether students from various racial/ethnic backgrounds and disability status are excluded from the classroom for infractions at the same rate and for the same duration of time. The analysis sought to determine the correlation between exclusionary discipline and racial /ethnic background and disability status (Vincent, Sprague, & Tobin, 2012). Researchers studied the exclusionary discipline practices of schools in the Pacific northwest (Vincent et al., 2012). The study was limited to data gathered from 2009 – 2010, for one state in the pacific northwest. The researchers examined 147,850 disciplinary exclusions, across 64,000 students from six distinct racial /ethnic backgrounds and disability statuses from 1,195 schools (Vincent et al., 2012). Historical data was analyzed by researchers as a basis for the methodology used to examine the data. Though data gathered included gender, grade, and other identifiers, researchers focused on specific data limited to ethnic background, race, and disability status. Information was categorized and characterized for analysis. Descriptive analysis, chi square, and ANOVA tests were performed. The descriptive analysis suggests that: disabled American Indian/Alaskan Native students were excluded at a higher rate; non-disabled Hispanic students were excluded at a higher rate; and non-disabled African American students spent double the amount of days as white students excluded from instruction because of disciplinary action (Vincent et al., 2012). Researchers further conducted Chi Square and ANOVA tests, which confirmed that non- white and disabled students were excluded from classroom instruction at a significantly higher rate and longer durations than white counterparts (Vincent et al., 2012). The study recommended additional research and attention to the growing number of non-white students losing class time for disciplinary action and the correlation this has with decreased educational progress (Vincent et al., 2012). Researchers inferred that the trend was not consistent with the goals of schools in the United States (Vincent et al., 2012). Additional recommendations were related to use of more comprehensive data set to decrease the margin of error in interpretation and conclusions drawn (Vincent et al., 2012). Researchers cautiously concluded that non-white and disabled students were excluded more often and for longer periods of time than white counterparts (Vincent et al., 2012).
Critique of Body of Research, Purpose & Methodology
Exclusionary Discipline Practices Across Students’ Racial/Ethnic Backgrounds and Disability Status from the Pacific Northwest presents the findings of a qualitative body of research. This qualitative study was designed to uncover the deeper meaning of how information impacts people. Qualitative research relies on an inductive process to interpret information derived from data (Yates & Leggett, 2016). Researchers in the study, utilized an exploratory data analysis (EDA) approach to examine information gathered. The purpose of exploratory data analysis allowed researchers to gain maximum insight into the data set and its underlying structure, identify mistakes, outliers, and the most influential variables, test assumptions, and explain data with a minimum number of predictor variables (Jebb, Parrigon, & Woo, 2017). Exploratory data analysis is often approached with openness and skepticism (Jebb et al., 2017). Throughout the body of data, the researchers cautioned readers to remain cognizant of differential interpretations and errors. The philosophy behind the EDA approach, is that researchers don’t make assumptions about data, but rather allow the data to reveal its structure (Jebb et al., 2017). Studies have noted that EDA encourages scientific replication, which increases probability of chance statistics (Jebb et al., 2017). The replication is EDA can be mistaken for P-hacking (Jebb et al., 2017). P-hacking occurs when researchers collect data until non-significant results become significant (Jebb et al., 2017). The use of methods that resemble p-hacking could potentially undermine the credibility of research. Exploratory data analysis is informative, but not absolute (Jebb et al., 2017). Researchers should use confirmatory experiments in which the hypothesis is stated in advance and evaluated to produce reliable values (Jebb et al., 2017).
The appropriate statistical procedure depends on the research and data collected. If the independent variable has more than two levels to compare and researchers are seeking to determine if they differ on a dependent variable, analysis of variance (ANOVA) is an appropriate statistical procedure (Statistics Solutions, 2017). Likewise, chi square tells researchers how confidently they can state that observed results differ from expected results (Investopedia, 2017). To test if sample data came from a population with a specific distribution Chi Square test can be utilized (Statistic Solutions, 2017). A Chi Square test counts the incidents and compares actual data and what is expected (Investopedia, 2017). Chi Square test for goodness fit is appropriate when sampling methods are random, variables under study are categorical and the expected value of the number of sample observations in each level of the variable is at least five (Stat Trek, 2017). This approach consists of four steps: (1) state the hypotheses, (2) formulate an analysis plan, (3) analyze sample data, and (4) interpret results (Statistics Solutions, 2017). Researches in this study employed both statistical test methods in the interpretation of data.
Critique of Data Analysis, Discussion, Findings & References
The research purpose and methodology were clear and concise. Researchers qualified results advising the audience that evaluation of data should be interpreted with considerations. While the study was limited to one state in the Pacific northwest researchers highlighted the significant geographic variability and subjective reasoning in the findings that suggest Black and Hispanic students were more likely to be excluded from classroom instruction for minor infracions or behaviors related to truancy, tardiness, cheating, lying, bullying and use of inappropriate language (Vincent et al., 2012). Researchers inferred that exclusion of minority or non-white students for subjective behaviors can directly impact educational progress, drop -out rates and cause low achievement (Vincent et al.,2012). While the exclusion were explicitly listed in the findings, which were ultimately informative, the researcher’s inclusion of statistics relative to unidentified racial /ethnic groups could increase difficulty deciphering applicability of information.
Historical data and statistics were clearly articulated. Appropriate references were used to support data and findings. Analysis of historical data contributed to the over understanding of the given subject and supported the reasoning used to establish bases for the study. There were no instances in which assertions were made that were not supported with references. All figures and graphics were vital to the study and literature cited was relevant to the study
Critique of Ethical Considerations
Researchers have an ethical responsibility to protect the privacy and confidentiality of data gathered for research (Piotrowski, 2016). Further, researchers must try to keep data and research findings separate (Piotrowski, 2016). There were no disclosures of personally identifiable information in the research findings, however there is not enough data to determine handling of information by the researchers. Researchers must also observe professionalism in publications by acknowledging all contributors and references (Piotrowski, 2016). All contributors were identified and credited for their contribution to the research examined and all referenced works were cited.
Conclusion
Additional analysis is required to validate results presented by the study of Exclusionary Discipline Practices Across Students’ Racial/Ethnic Backgrounds and Disability Status from the Pacific Northwest. To further validate the results of this study researchers should demonstrate that results obtained using present method are consistent with results obtained using other statistical analysis techniques. In consideration of the organization, historical context, statistical data, and presentation of findings this study was well executed.
 
References
Head, M., Holman, L., Lanfear, R., Kahn, A., & Jennions, M. (2015). The extent and
consequences of P-Hacking in science. PLoS Biology, 13(3), e1002106. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1002106
Investopedia. (2017). Chi square statistic. Retrieved from
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/chi-square-statistic.asp
Jebb, A. T., Parrigon, S., & Woo, S. E. (2017). Exploratory data analysis as a foundation of
inductive research. Human Resource Management Review, 27(2), 265-276.
Piotrowski, N. A. (2016). Research ethics in psychology. Salem Press Encyclopedia of Health
Smith, D. (2003). Five principles for research ethics: Cover you bases with these ethical
strategies. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/jan03/principles.aspx
Statistics Solutions. (2017). Chi square goodness for fit test. Retrieved from
http://www.statisticssolutions.com/chi-square-goodness-of-fit-test/
Stat Trek. (2017). Chi square goodness for fit test. Retrieved from
http://stattrek.com/chi-square-test/goodness-of-fit.aspx?Tutorial=AP
Unknown. (2017). Exploratory data analysis: A dictionary of computing. Retrieved from
Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/computing/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/exploratory-data-analysis
Vincent, C. G., Sprague, J. R., & Tobin, T. J. (2012). Exclusionary discipline practices across
students' racial/ethnic backgrounds and disability status: Findings from the Pacific Northwest. Education and Treatment of Children, 35(4), 585-601.
Yates, J., & Leggett, T. (2016). Qualitative research: An introduction. Radiologic Technology,
88(2), 225-231.
Answer
Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Academic Procrastination and Statistics Anxiety. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, (29(1)
Summary of the Article
An estimated 80% of graduate students have been found to experience some level of statistics anxiety at some point during their education (Onwuegbuzie, 2004). Many students experience this anxiety when confronted with ideas, situations, problems and issues related to statistics, the effects of which may be mild or severe. Further research shows that statistics anxiety is a construct with many dimensions (Onwuegbuzie, 2004). The six dimensions that have been identified in literature through factor analysis include worth of statistics, interpretation anxiety, fear of asking for help, test and class anxiety, computational self-concept and fear of statistics instructors (Onwuegbuzie, 2004).
Statistics anxiety has been shown to be related to other variables such as exam performance, mathematics self-efficacy and academic status among others. The relationship between statistics anxiety and exam performance has been shown to be negative (Onwuegbuzie, 2004). The examinations testes include research methods and statistics itself. High statistics anxiety has causal associations with low academic achievement, so much so that many students regard the experience of undertaking these courses as negative (Onwuegbuzie, 2004). This has led many of the students to delay enrolling into these courses until they reach a point where there is not more room for procrastinations, usually during their last year of study. Such delays can be described as the intentional and avoidable delay in starting and ending tasks (Onwuegbuzie, 2004). This tendency is experienced by nearly all (95%) college students, and can be referred to as academic procrastination. In his review of the literature, the author found that the relationship between statistics anxiety and academic procrastination has not been empirically tested, and hypothesized that high tendencies of academic procrastination is related to high levels of statistics anxiety (Onwuegbuzie, 2004).
Academic procrastination has been linked with negative academic outcomes. Many students indicate the need to decrease academic procrastination (Onwuegbuzie, 2004). An understanding of how statistics anxiety is related to academic procrastination will provide an opportunity for intervention. Onwuegbuzie (2004) set out to conduct a research with two purposes: to examine the prevalence of academic procrastination among graduate students and to determine the relationship between academic procrastination and statistics anxiety. The hypothesis they set out to test is that academic procrastination would be positively related to statistics anxiety associated with worth of statistics, interpretation anxiety, test and class anxiety, computational self-concept, fear of asking for help and fear of the statistics instructor (Onwuegbuzie, 2004). Findings from the research would provide an understanding of the differences between academic procrastinators and non-procrastinators based of personal attributes, as well as provide room for intervention.
Critique of Body of Research, Purpose & Methodology
From the abstract, it is easy for a reader to tell what the purpose of the study is, the methods used, as well as brief findings and conclusions. The introduction clearly identifies the problem from the literature review (Spring et al., 2013). The author manages to identify the problem and narrow it down to two very specific purposes. Logical consistency of research is evident in the article where once the purposes were identified, the methods, data, findings and discussions followed congruently. The purpose of the literature review is to identify the research problem and conceptualize it in a way that allows inquiry it to (Lipp & Fothergill, 2015). Literature reviews thus help in identifying methods used by other researchers, and provide a justification for the methods. In the present study, the author provided summaries of findings from other literature, but did not provide a synthesis of the issues, or discuss the methods used. Most of the literature used is shallow and lacks depth. These were not critically reviewed and there is no discussion of their strengths and weaknesses. Most of the researches reviewed were empirical in nature and recent.
In describing the methods, researchers should, at the outset, clearly state what study design they are applying and the justification. There was no description of a research design in the present study. Data collection methods should also be clearly and accurately described, to allow replication is the need arises (Coughlin et al., 2007. Onwuegbuzie (2004) extensively describes the process that was followed in obtaining data. Already existing standardized tests were used to measure both academic procrastination and statistics anxiety. All study variables were clearly defined as required in quantitative research, as it is important for readers to understand what each concept means, and be able to judge the research from that understanding (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2014).
In qualitative research, the degree to which study samples are representative of the population from which they were drawn is an important consideration when it comes to judging quality (Spring et al., 2013). To ensure representativeness, sample selection should be random, and researchers must explain in their reports the steps they undertook to ensure this (Creswell, 2014). The target population must be clearly described as well as inclusion and exclusion criteria for the sample (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2014). In the present research, the author only states the number of participants, without explaining how that sample was determined.
Critique of Data Analysis, Discussion, Findings & References
In reporting qualitative research, the author must be clear about what statistical tests were used, and the justification for using them (Spring et al., 2013). Descriptive statistics should be limited to descriptive research designs, while inferential statistics should be used when the research design involves testing of variables (Lipp & Fothergill, 2015). The level of significance should also be identified and clearly stated as it helps the researcher determine whether the results are due to chance or whether real differences exist. A level of significance of 95% is usually recommended (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2014). The author of academic procrastination and statistics anxiety has explained in extensive detail how the data were analyzed and went ahead to report the findings in tables.
Factor analysis was performed on all the scales used in this study. The findings were to a large extent, similar to those obtained by the developers of the tools, from the norming sample. This led the researcher to believe that the methods he used were of sound quality and hence credible. The results are easy to follow and understand. Clear sectioning and using sub headings in the results section enhances readability and captures the reader’s attention (Lipp & Fothergill, 2015). In the present article, although no subheadings were used in the results section, the author intelligently used paragraphs to present all the important findings.
Response rate is an important factor if generalizability of results is considered (Creswell, 2014). In the present study, the author did not clearly explain what sampling strategy was used, making it difficult to make a comment on generalizability of the findings.
In the discussion section, congruence should be seen between the findings, the objectives and the literature (Durand & Chantler, 2014). It enables the reader to contextualize the research in light of what other related work has been conducted before. In the present study of academic procrastination and statistics anxiety, Onwuegbuzie (2004) correctly begins by restating the purposes of his research. He continues to discuss the findings alongside support from other literature. In the discussion section, an author should also discuss the applicability of the findings and implications for change. There should be a suggestion for further research. In the present study, the author clearly explains how the findings impact on practice. He goes ahead to suggest possible methods that can be applied in further research.
The author has included a comprehensive list of references which have a corresponding entry within the body of the report. Referencing is critical in research for many reasons, one of which is to acknowledge the contribution of others. It also allows the readers to make their own references if the need arises (Lipp & Fothergill, 2015).
Critique of ethical consideration
Before conducting any research involving human subjects, awareness of what ethical research entails is important for all researchers and research users (Komic et al., 2015). All researchers must familiarize themselves with and observes the fundamental ethical principles. This ensures the safety of research participants and the researcher himself. It also guarantees that research is conducted in a responsible manner (Love, 2012; Creswell, 2014; Babie, 2005). Further to the knowledge, researcher must explain in details when reporting their research, the strategies they employed to ensure ethical standards were maintained throughout their work. Some moral principles that must be taken in to account include voluntary participation, anonymity and confidentiality, no harm to participants and informed consent. Voluntary participation means that no one should be forced to participate in a study (Babie, 2005, Love, 2012). No harm to participants means that the conduct of research should not subject the subject to any kind of harm (Doh & Yang, 2016; Babie, 2005; Creswell, 2014). Anonymity means that names of participants will not be revealed and confidentiality means that participants’ responses will not be shared with people outside the research. There are several strategies that can be used to ensure that each of these principles is upheld (Guerriero & Bosi, 2015). The author of academic procrastination and statistics anxiety did not explain whether he considered these principles or how he ensured the principles were met.
Conclusively, in consideration of research quality and rigor, data generation and analysis, the present study has been well executed. It would be useful to suggest other methods that can be employed for similar studies in other contexts.
References
Top of FormBabbie, E. R. (2005). The basics of social research. Australia: Cengage Learning.
Coughlin, M., Cronin, P., & Ryan, F. (2007). Research Methodologies Step-by-step guide to critiquing research. Part 1: quantitative research. British Journal of Nursing -London- Mark Allen Publishing Limited-, 16(11), 658-663.
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications.
Doh, J., Husted, B. W., & Yang, X. (2016). Guest Editors’ Introduction: Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Developing Country Multinationals. Business Ethics Quarterly, 26(3), 301-315. doi:10.1017/beq.2016.40
Durand, M. A., & Chantler, T. (2014). Principles of social research. Maidenhead, England: Open University Press.
Guerriero, I. Z., & Bosi, M. M. (2015). Research ethics in the dynamic of scientific field: challenges in the building of guidelines for social sciences and humanities. Ciencia & Saude Coletiva, (9), 2615. doi:10.1590/1413-81232015209.06022015
Komic, D., Marusic, S. L., & Marusic, A. (2015). Research Integrity and Research Ethics in Professional Codes of Ethics: Survey of Terminology Used by Professional Organizations across Research Disciplines. Plos ONE, (7), doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0133662
Lipp, A., & Fothergill, A. (2015). Review: A guide to critiquing a research paper. Methodological appraisal of a paper on nurses in abortion care. Nurse Education Today, 35e14-e17. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2014.12.010
LoBiondo-Wood, G., & Haber, J. (2014). Nursing Research - E-Book: Methods and Critical Appraisal for Evidence-Based Practice. St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby.
Love, K. (2012). Ethics in Social Research. Bingley, U.K.: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Academic Procrastination and Statistics Anxiety. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, (29(1)
Spring, H., Sen, B., & Grant, M. J. (2013). Research, Evaluation and Audit: Key Steps in Demonstrating Your Value. London: Facet Publishing
