Learning Objectives
1. Integrate material learned in the course with current research published in professional journals.
2. Summarize, analyze, and evaluate research methods used by the authors of the article.
3. Use electronic data bases to find articles, so that you are familiar with this type of search for your research paper.
4. Practice reading professional writing and recognize valid research and understand the results.
General Instructions
You will be summarizing and critiquing (1500 word minimum or about 5 pages double-spaced, font 12 Times New Roman) a peer reviewed journal
article related to the content in the course. The article you choose must report the results of a research experiment (or correlational study),
not more than 5 years old. The article cannot be a review article, where the authors simply summarize findings by others, or an opinion paper.
The article you choose must have sections similar to “Methods”, “Results”, and “Discussion/Conclusion” and must come from a professional peer
reviewed journal; it may be in the health sciences, medicine, or psychology/sociology data bases. Law reviews are not appropriate for this
assignment.
Acceptable Professional Journals:
To be used for this assignment it must be from a peer-reviewed journal. Some examples follow:
American Journal of Public Health
Journal of Sex Research
JAMA
Family Life Educator
New England Journal of Medicine
Journal of Social Work
Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy
Journal of Social Issues
Family Relations
Health Education Quarterly
Journal of Homosexuality
Human Reproduction
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Journal of Sex Education & Therapy
Content of your Critique
1. Introduction and statement of purpose (1 paragraph)
• Include an opening sentence that announces the author(s) and the title, and the topic of the article.
• Briefly describe what the study was about; however, avoid getting into too much detail. Subsequent sections will be used to address
further details about the study.
• What was the author’s or authors’ general purpose for carrying out this study? Keep in mind there may be more than one purpose.
• Conclude your introduction with a brief statement of your evaluation of the article. This can be a positive or negative evaluation or,
as is usually the case, a mixed response.
2. Theoretical assumptions and Thesis/Hypothesis (from the introduction/literature review)
• Briefly describe the theoretical assumption(s) associated with the proposed thesis/hypothesis.
• What is the theses/hypothesis provided?
3. Methods
• Relatively briefly, but thoroughly, describe the main aspects of the study methodology.
• Be sure to include information regarding; the study design, participants, variables of interest (i.e., independent, dependent, and other
showcased variables), data collection process (i.e., what was the timeframe of the data collection, what data collection instruments were used,
were the instruments reliable and valid, what was done with the data?) and operational definitions of key terms if necessary.
4. Results
• What were the major findings of the study, especially in relation to the thesis/hypothesis?
• Was the hypothesis supported or not supported?
• What other important statistical relationships were found?
5. Assessment of the study and limitations
• What were the stated limitations of the study? Be sure to clearly identify what was the author(s) view of study limitations verses your
opinion.
• What was your impression of how the author(s) conducted the study?
• Did the methodology seem appropriate? Whether your answer is “yes” or “no”; be sure to justify your answer. Could the study design have
been improved? Is there anything you would have done differently?
• Did the study address different ethnic groups, religions, genders, sexual orientations? Remember it is appropriate to investigate a
particular group to help design appropriate interventions. Not every study should address everyone, but did the study address those it should
for its stated purpose?
• Remember 1 study doesn’t equal proof of fact but rather may provide support.
6. Relationship to human sexuality
• How did the article affect your knowledge and thinking about human sexuality?
• Did your opinion change on any topic?
7. Conclusions & Recommendations for public health practice/health education or public policy
• Did the research convince you that we should change health practice, education or policy?
• Do you feel this topic should be investigated further? What type of study should be done?
8. Submit a copy of the article to the digital drop box. It may be HTML, PDF or JPEG.
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