Graduate School Research Methods: Research Paper Critique

This assignment requires a critical analysis of a research paper, focusing on its structure, methodology, and findings. The student is tasked with finding a research article not in the IMRAD format (Introduction, Methodology, Results, and Discussion) and then summarizing it using the IMRAD format. Furthermore, the student must answer a series of guide questions to critique the research paper, evaluating aspects such as clarity of aims, hypotheses, operationalization of variables, study design, sample description, statistical analysis, reporting of results, discussion of results in relation to hypotheses, limitations, and generalizability. Finally, the assignment includes an analysis based on research concepts and principles, discussing communication methods in online education. The student also provided a list of references used in the assignment. This assignment is designed to improve the student's ability to evaluate and understand research methodologies and results.

CRITIQUE OF A RESEARCH
PAPER

Table of Contents
A. Find a research article which is not in the IMRAD format (Introduction,
..........................................................................................................................................................3
B. Provide a summary of the article in the IMRAD format. ...........................................................4
C. Accomplish the guide questions in critiquing a research paper. Put a check mark or
an X on the blank.
..........................................................................................................................................................6
D. Provide an analysis based on the research concepts and principles............................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

A. Find a research article which is not in the IMRAD format (Introduction,

Methodology, Results and Discussion). Specify an active retrievable link below:
Title of the research article: Learning From a Distance: The Experience of Remote
Students______________________________________
Source/link: _______________________________________________________

B. Provide a summary of the article in the IMRAD format.
Introduction
Information technology is playing great role in providing online education. It has
revolutionised the method through which higher education is provided and delivered. Nowadays,
students are depending more on online course materials in comparison of face-to-face teaching
environments. Distance education is growing popularity and increasing student's diversity.
However, it is identified that study from remote locations have created many challenges for
educators and professors. The word 'distance education' is to explain education delivered to
remote locations through video, audio or by computer technologies. This report has focused over
investigating the experiences of former and present remote students along with strategies for
supporting remote students and enabling them to successfully complete their chosen courses.
Methods
This report has used qualitative research methods for the accumulation and examination
of information. Qualitative research method has assisted researcher to gather text and theoretical
piece of information. The main benefit gained through qualitative research method is collection
of in-depth information about the proposed research topic. This report has conducted semi-
structured interview to collect in-depth data directly from the source of information. In the first
section of questions, demographic data is collected directly from the respondents about gender,
age, enrolment access and status to the technologies needed for studying from remote locations.
The other section has included questions in relation to experiences of remote students, awareness
of students regarding online distancing resources, to identify experiences of students and to know
suggestions from them. Researcher has used thematic analysis for the analysis of qualitative
information in a systematic way. For analysing and evaluating demographic data of the selected
respondents, investigator has used descriptive statistics.
Results and discussion
As per the information collected through participants, it is being analysed that responses
of participants have distinct differences. This difference can be easily seen in the type of course
they had already completed or right now they are pursuing. There are many challenges that have
been faced by students who are taking distance study or remote location. Some of the challenges
include: missed face-to-face contact with employees, lack of confidence to manage the advance
technology related with the study. This ultimately becomes major issue for student and becomes

barrier in the path of their completion of projects, timely submission of their work, increased
staff ignorance and many more. This report has also covered certain recommendations through
which issues and challenges related to remote learning can be resolved. One of the main focus
was given to increasing the awareness among staff regarding the barriers faced by students
studying from distance or remote locations. The other suggestion was suggested that student
orientation program need to include live sessions so that students can take part interactively and
get answers for their queries instantly. Commitment is also made by staff that they will provide
great quality knowledge and information to students who are taking classes from remote
locations. Thus, remote learning has great scope for students who are busy with their office work
or can not attend face-to-face classes. This helps them to continue with their education without
going to any specific place. Thus, in remote learning technologies play important role because it
is majorly dependent on it.

C. Accomplish the guide questions in critiquing a research paper. Put a check
mark or

an X on the blank.

1. Are the aims and objectives of the study clearly stated?
✓
2. Are the hypotheses and research questions clearly specified?
✓
3. Have the variables been adequately operationalized?
✓
4. Is the design of the study adequately described? ✓
5. Is there an adequate description of the source of the sample, inclusion and
exclusion criteria, response rates and sample attrition?
✓
6. Were the statistical analysis appropriate and adequate?
✓
7. Are the results clear and adequately reported?
✓
8. Does the discussion of the results report them in the light of the hypotheses of
the study and other relevant literature?
✓
9. Are the limitations of the research and its design presented?
✓
10. Does the discussion generalize and draw conclusions beyond the limits of
the data and number and type of people studied?
✓
11. Can the findings be generalized to other relevant populations and time
periods?
✓
12. Are the implications – practical or theoretical – of the research

discussed? ✓
13. Who was the sponsor of the study? Was there conflict of interest?
✓
14. Are the research data held on an accessible database or are they otherwise
for scrutiny and re-analysis?
✓

D. Provide an analysis based on the research concepts and principles.
As per the collected information, it is analysed that there are majorly two forms of
communication within online education. The two types include: synchronous and asynchronous.
Synchronous communication refers to the kind of information in which participants are needed
for interacting at the same time. It can be explained as live-one way broadcast of tutor's lecture
and live two-way interaction among number of instructors and students in an online class. On the
other hand, asynchronous communication refers to the communication in which there is no
requirement of interactive participants. It is being analysed that through meta-analysis that there
is impact of kinds of communication in remote and distance learning. Distance learning courses
including both synchronous and asynchronous communication are more effective in comparison
of using only one form. It is generated that using blended or multiple means of communication
helps in producing the best results and outcomes. Blended learning includes different types of
delivery modes used by tutor for reaching out students and providing great quality content to
them. The attitudes, skills and knowledge of teaching staff are significant for students who are
taking distance learning. An involvement of instructor with their students in an online
environment is crucial for the satisfaction and success among students. Offering quality learning
materials and utilising audio-visual resources is quite important. Thus, giving discussion topics
that need critical engagement and thinking, enhancing online discussion, monitoring feedbacks
etc. help in increasing interest of the students. Thus, distance learning is mainly dependent over
usage of advanced technologies and their effective utilisation.

REFERENCES
Macauley, P. (2000). Pedagogic continuity in doctoral supervision: Echoes in response-context,
continuity and resonance. Coldstream: Australian Association of Research in Education.
Male, S., & Lawrence, W. (2002, 5-6 February). Support schemes for first year computing
students and electrical and computer engineering students. Paper presented at the Focusing
on the Student, 11th Annual Teaching Learning Forum 2002: Focusing on Students,
Perth: Edith Cowan University.
Martens, R., Bastiaens, T., & Kirschner, P. A. (2007). New learning design in distance
education: The impact on student perception and motivation. Distance Education, 28,
81-93.