Revised September 2014
Critique/Review of Research Article
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Critique/Review of Research Articles
At the basic level, a critical analysis begins with questions like those set out by Taylor (2009):
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What is the author’s motivation in writing this work?
• Agreeing with, defending or confirming a particular point of view
• Proposing a new point of view
• Conceding to an existing point of view, but qualifying certain points
• Reformulating an existing idea for a better explanation
• Dismissing a point of view through an evaluation of its criteria
• Reconciling two seemingly different points of view
How does the author approach the subject matter? What kinds of words does he or she use?
• Observing and identifying objects for analysis
• Describing features
• Defining, referring, classifying, distinguishing, or comparing terms
• Illustrating or exemplifying a general point to explain or apply it
• Theorizing about or explaining why things are the way they are
• Conjecturing or speculating about explanations
• Evaluating the adequacy of our observations
What is the overall structure of the author’s work? How do the separate parts fit together?
• Look at points in the article that feature repetition or summary. These are moments when
authors often focus on their larger argument or thesis.
In fact, the process of critical evaluation lies at the heart of what we might call knowledge creation.
When researchers submit research papers to peer-reviewed journals in their fields, their papers are
reviewed anonymously by other researchers, who critically assess each study in terms of:
• The study’s contribution to knowledge, theory, or practice in a field
• The study’s research design and methodology
• The study’s findings, in particular, how they are presented and interpreted
• The researcher’s conclusions
• The writing quality, clarity, and style, and the organization of the information presented
If you are asked to write a critique of a research article, you should focus on these issues. You will
also need to consider where and when the article was published and who wrote it. This handout
presents guidelines for writing a research critique and questions to consider in writing a critique.
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Taylor, G. (2009). A student’s writing guide: How to plan and write successful essays. Cambridge (UK): Cambridge University
Press.