Words: 432
How To Write A Psychology Critique Paper Psychology Term Paper Most psychology students will be expected to write a critique paper at some point. Critiquing a professional paper is a great way to learn more about psychology articles, writing, and the research process itself. Students can analyze how researchers conduct experiments, interpret results, and discuss the impact of the results. Difficulty: Average Time Required: Variable Here’s How: Read the introduction section of the article. Is the hypothesis clearly stated?
Is necessary background information and previous research described in the introduction? In addition to answering these basic questions, you should take note of information provided in the introduction and any questions that you may have. Read the methods section of the article. Is the study procedure clearly outlined? Can you determine which variables the researchers are measuring? Remember to jot down questions and thoughts that come to mind as you are reading. Read the results section of the article. Are all tables and graphs clearly labeled? Do researchers provide enough statistical information?
Did the researchers collect all of the data needed to measure the variables in question? Read the discussion section of the article. How do the researchers interpret the results of the study? Did the results support their hypothesis? Do the conclusions drawn by the researchers seem reasonable? The discussion section offers students a good opportunity to take a position. If you agree with the researchers conclusions, explain why. If you feel that the researchers are incorrect or off-base, point out problems with the conclusions and suggest alternative explanations.
Once you have read the article thoroughly, prepare an outline of your thoughts on the article. Use the following guide to help structure your critique paper: Introduction – Begin your paper by describing the journal article and authors you are critiquing. Provide the main hypothesis or thesis of the paper and explain why you think the information is relevant. Thesis Statement – The final part of your introduction should include your thesis statement. Your thesis statement is the main idea of your critique.
Article Summary – Provide a brief summary of the article, outlining the main points, results, and discussion. Your Analysis – In this section, you should provide your critique of the article. Describe any problems you had with the authors premise, methods, or conclusions. Your critique might focus on problems with the authors argument, presentation, or on information and alternatives that have been overlooked. Conclusion – Your critique paper should end with an overview of the articles argument, your conclusions, and your reactions.