Critical Reading Strategies: Overview of

Research Process

Week 3

Critical Thinking

A rational examination of ideas, inferences, principles, conclusions– Uses criteria for critiquing– Clarifies – Considers content appropriateness– Questions own thinking– Uses skepticism

Critical Reading

Active, intellectual process where the reader uses interpretation and objective assessment of written material– Identify concepts– Clarify concepts – Question assumptions and rationale– Determine supporting evidence

Four Levels of Critical Reading

Preliminary understanding: skimming– Title– Abstract– Identify main theme

Critical Reading Levels (cont)

Comprehensive understanding:– Variables and concepts

• Definitions• Relationships

– Terminology– Main idea or theme– Restate in own words

Critical Reading Levels (cont)

Analysis understanding: – Understand parts– Begin to critique– Summarize in own words each part

Synthesis understanding: – Put together– Explain relationships– Critique

Critiquing

A process of objectively and critically evaluate content for scientific merit and application to practice, theory, and education.– Uses criteria: research process– Find strengths as well as weaknesses

Abstract

Brief (50-250 words) Comprehensive (succinct)

– Research purpose– Research questions and/or hypotheses– Methodology – Results– Implications for practice or future research

Research Problem or Purpose

Researcher presents a picture of area researched– Abstract– Introduction– Aims– Conceptual framework

Purpose

Why study was done is defined– Introduction– End of Literature Review– End of Conceptual Framework

Literature Review and Framework Presents main concepts investigated

– Review of Literature– Literature Review– Theoretical Framework– Related Literature– Background– Conceptual Framework

Hypothesis, Problem or Question Quantitative Research

– Problems, hypotheses, questions

Qualitative Research– Questions and purposes

Found:– Under separate headings– Introduction– Background– Results or Findings

Design

Blueprint of study– How purpose and problem were studied – Differs by qualitative or quantitative

Found– Procedures– Methods

Sample

Who are the subjects and how were they selected?– Type– Size

Found:– Methods– Methodology– Subjects– Sample

Instruments: Measurement tools Validity

– Measurement instrument measures what it is supposed to measure

Reliability– Measurement instrument is consistent in

measures.

Procedures and Data Collection How data or information collected How measures or instruments used Found

– Procedures– Data collection

Data Analysis and Results

Procedures for analyzing data– Statistical tests– Descriptive/inferential tests results– Procedures to analyze themes, concepts,

observational data Found

– Results – Findings– Method

Discussion of Findings

Ties parts together for a whole New findings Unexpected findings Found

– Discussion

Implications, Limitations, and Recommendations Based on findings Suggest applications for practice and

education Self critique Found

– Conclusion and recommendation– Discussion – Implications

References Resources used in research or article

– Primary– Secondary

Support for material presented