Evaluating Articles

This module offers you the opportunity to evaluate four articles using the knowledge of research methods you have been developing during this course. There are two quantitative articles and two qualitative articles that have been carefully chosen for their unique characteristics. The titles and links for locating them appear following this introduction.

Two study aids are provided to use with each of the articles. The first, Gathering Information, is a set of online questions about the study in general and the actual research methods used by the researcher. Your responses to these questions provide the basis for you to evaluate the article using the second study aid, the Article Critique Checklists. This second study aid reflects article-specific evaluation criteria listed in the textbook in Chapter 18, although reading Chapter 18 is not a prerequisite for evaluating these articles. These criteria are focused on the research methods being used by the researchers; they can be found within each article by clicking on Article Critique Checklists. A copy of all the forms—in qualitative and quantitative formats—can be found and printed by clicking the appropriate links within each article’s page, to support future efforts in evaluating articles.

Read one of the articles, which your instructor will assign. Then, using the web site, answer the appropriate Gathering Information questions for that article. Once you have finished, check your responses against those provided on the web site by clicking the “Submit” button at the end of each section. Next, respond to the appropriate Article Critique Checklist for the particular research design or approach being used by the researchers. To do so, click on the link provided on the article page and print the document provided. Fill out the document on your own to see how you’ve critiqued the article.

Quantitative Articles
Quantitative Articles: Article 1

Bertoch, M. R., Mielsen, E. C., Curley, J. R., and Borg, W. R. (1988). Reducing Teacher Stress. Journal of Experimental Education, 57(1), 117–128.

Schreiber, E. H., and Schreiber, K. N. (1995). Using Relaxation Techniques and Positive Self-Esteem to Improve Academic Achievement of College Students. Psychological Reports, 76, 929–930.

Qualitative Articles
Qualitative Articles: Article 1

Pajak, E. F., and Blase, J. J. (1984). Teachers in Bars: From Professional to Personal Self. Sociology of Education, 57, 164–173.

Schempp, P. G. (1995). Learning on the Job: An Analysis of the Acquisition of a Teacher’s Knowledge. Journal of Research and Development in Education, 28(4), p. 237-244.