GUIDE FOR APPRAISING QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH ARTICLES (for tutorial presentations)
Sections of the research article
Address these points:
Title
Explain how the title represents what the research is about.
List the words in the title that indicate the population studied, the topic under investigation and the method used.
Author/s
List what research expertise can be ascertained from the author/s qualifications and affiliations.
Abstract
Demonstrate how, in the abstract, there is an outline of:
the research aims, problem or hypothesis;
the methodology and methods employed;
include population and data collection;
the results;
the conclusion;
recommendations.
Introduction/ literature review
Outline how the literature is reviewed to identify a gap in previous research.
Identify whether primary or secondary sources are used and provide examples to demonstrate why this is relevant.
Explain how the introduction and/or literature review provides a context for the research problem.
State the significance of the research problem, aims or hypothesis.
Discuss to what extent the literature is critically appraised.
Methodology and methods.
Outline the aim of the research and explain how this relates to the research problem.
Describe how the methodology allows the researchers to answer the aims or address the aim/s of the study or hypothesis.
Explain why the sampling method is suitable.
Discuss how well the researchers explain the procedure for collecting data.
Outline the data analysis method and discuss whether the data analysis is rigorous.
Explain whether ethical issues are considered.
Results
Provide examples to illustrate how results are achieved using analysis methods described previously;
Describe the importance of results being clearly stated and supported with raw figures and/or percentages.
Discussion
Limitations
Explain how well the author/s discuss the study findings in relation to the research question or aim/s of the…