1. What is the problem and/or purpose of the research study?

2.  Does the problem or purpose statement express a relationship between two or more variables? If so, what is/are the relationship(s)? Are they testable?

3.  Does the problem statement and/or purpose specify the nature of the population being studied? What is it?

4.   What significance of the problem, if any, has the investigator identified?

1.   What concepts are included in the review? Of particular importance, note those

concepts that are the independent and

dependent variables and how they are conceptually defined.

2.   Does the literature review make the

relationships among the variables explicit or place the variables within a

theoretical/conceptual framework? What are the relationships?

3.   What gaps or conflicts in knowledge of the problem are identified?

4.   Arc the references cited by the author mostly primary or secondary sources? Give an example of each.

5.   What are the operational definitions of the independent and dependent variables? Do they reflect the conceptual definitions?

5. lb what population may the findings be generalized? What are the limitations in genrealizability?

Research design    

I. What type of design is used?

2.  Does the design seem to flow from the proposed research problem, theoretical framework, literature review, and hypothesis?

3. What type(s) of data-collection method(s) isfare used in the study?

4.  Are the data-collection procedures similar for all subjects?

5. How have the rights of subjects been protected?

6.  What indications are given that informed consent of the subjects has hem ensured?

Instalments             

I. Physiological measurement: Is a rationale given for why a particular instrument or method was selected? If so, what is it? What provision is made for maintaining the accuracy of the instrument and its use, if any?

2. Observational methods: Who did the observing? How were the observers trained to minimize bias? Was there an

Topic 8: How to critique a research paper observational guide? Were the observers required to make inferences about what they saw? Is there any reason to believe that the presence of the observers affect the behavior of the subjects?