1. Critical Reading Strategies: Overview of Research Process
Week 3

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

3. 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

4. Four Levels of Critical Reading
Preliminary understanding: skimming
Title
Abstract
Identify main theme

5. Critical Reading Levels (cont)
Comprehensive understanding:
Variables and concepts
Definitions
Relationships
Terminology
Main idea or theme
Restate in own words

6. Critical Reading Levels (cont)
Analysis understanding:
Understand parts
Begin to critique
Summarize in own words each part
Synthesis understanding:
Put together
Explain relationships
Critique

7. 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

8. Abstract Brief (50-250 words) Comprehensive (succinct)
Research purpose
Research questions and/or hypotheses
Methodology
Results
Implications for practice or future research

9. Research Problem or Purpose
Researcher presents a picture of area researched
Abstract
Introduction
Aims
Conceptual framework

10. Purpose Why study was done is defined Introduction
End of Literature Review
End of Conceptual Framework

11. Literature Review and Framework
Presents main concepts investigated
Review of Literature
Literature Review
Theoretical Framework
Related Literature
Background
Conceptual Framework

12. Hypothesis, Problem or Question
Quantitative Research
Problems, hypotheses, questions
Qualitative Research
Questions and purposes
Found:
Under separate headings
Introduction
Background
Results or Findings

13. Design Blueprint of study Found How purpose and problem were studied
Differs by qualitative or quantitative
Found
Procedures
Methods

14. Sample Who are the subjects and how were they selected? Found: Type
Size
Found:
Methods
Methodology
Subjects
Sample

15. Instruments: Measurement tools
Validity
Measurement instrument measures what it is supposed to measure
Reliability
Measurement instrument is consistent in measures.

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

17. 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

18. Discussion of Findings
Ties parts together for a whole
New findings
Unexpected findings
Found
Discussion

19. Implications, Limitations, and Recommendations
Based on findings
Suggest applications for practice and education
Self critique
Found
Conclusion and recommendation
Discussion
Implications

20. References Resources used in research or article
Primary
Secondary
Support for material presented