Critical Analysis Paper Job Aid

Criteria
Read Urschel Article
Review Salkind Powerpoint
Locate Article to analyze
Follow format and address the
following
Introduction
What type of study is this? (e.g.,
descriptive, quantitative,
qualitative, experimental)
Comment
See list of suggested articles for
analysis. See International Review
of Research on Distance Learning or
other refereed journal. Look for
dissertations and papers that are
studies of efforts to apply theories
in a learning situations. Do not
select meta-analyses (analyses of
bodies of research related to
issues)
Put notes and comments in this
column

What is the stated purpose of the

study? Why was it done? What
theories were being studied?

Are hypotheses, questions, or

objectives explicitly stated, and if
so, are they clear?

Did the researchers express a

positive or negative bias in
describing the subject of the
study (an instructional method,
program, curriculum, person,
etc.)? Explain.

Did the researchers make a

convincing case that a research
hypothesis, question, or objective
was important to the study?
Explain.
Research Procedures
(Methods)
What was the procedure?
The next two questions [#2 and
#3] require a determination on
your part as to whether you think
the study was of a quantitative
nature or of a qualitative nature.
This may require you to
investigate the definitions of each
term. Once you make that
determination, respond to the
appropriate one.

(Quantitative) Did the sampling

procedures produce a sample
that is representative of the
target population? Explain.

OR (Qualitative) Did the

researchers select participants
(individual, small group, or site)
appropriate for the purpose of
study? Explain.

Were the measurements valid

and reliable? Explain

Were the research procedures

appropriate and clearly described
so that others could replicate
them if they wished? Defend.

Research Results
To the best of your knowledge,
were appropriate statistical
techniques used, and were
they used correctly? Explain to
the best of your knowledge.

The next two questions [#2

and #3] depend on the type of
study you determined was the
best classification, therefore,
you would only answer the
 appropriate question.

(Quantitative) Did each variable

in the study emerge in a
meaningful way from the data?
Explain.

(Qualitative) Did clearly stated

hypotheses or questions emerge
from the data that were
collected? Explain.

Discussion of Results
Do the results of the data
analyses support what the
researchers conclude are the
findings of the study? Explain.

Did the researchers provide

reasonable explanations of the
findings? Explain.

Did the researchers draw

reasonable implications for
practice from the findings?
Explain.

Summary
Your conclusion, value to you and
the academic community, and/or
recommendations for further
research or application.