Research Design and Procedure - Assignment Example

Article Critique Assignment Article Critique Assignment True to the requirement of a formal research paper, an that gives an overview of the project is well written. It begins by succinctly exploring the problem under study and proceeds on to describe the participants. What follows next is the study findings even without demonstrating which clear methods were used to collect data. It has only mentioned ‘action research process’ which may not be as complete to a person who reads the paper. This is unlike the formal research abstract that requires a brief description of the methods used to obtain the results as they are in the body of the research paper. The paper lacks a step by step flow of research write-up. It has also left out certain critical elements found in an abstract such as relevance of the study as well as research methodology and conclusion. However, its inclusion of keywords is remarkable as those words are relevant to the study. Article Critique Assignment Summary of the Problem Research The study is inspired by the observations made concerning the emotional turmoil that the working members of the society go through whenever certain change that would require a transition from one regular habit to another is introduced. The economic sectors have witnessed a lot of psychological problems caused when upheavals are experienced in the society. Transformative learning has been therefore identified to be one of the ways that can best go about this problem. It is this problem that the research seeks to explore. Introduction The paper begins by exploring the status quo of the problem at hand. It describes several studies have been done in trying to understand the essence and relationship between critical transformative learning and the welfare of workers. This is explored in reference to previous studies that had been conducted to understand the same. From this discussion, a knowledge gap is created which demonstrates that not so much has been done to determine exactly the effectiveness of transformative learning as opposed to together modes/forms of learning in shielding the workers from the shock of rapid social changes. This revelation renders the research relevant for that particular study as there is a wide lacuna that needs to be studied. However, it becomes ambiguous when it states that it seeks to broaden the knowledge and understanding of transformative learning ‘through describing restorative leaning’. This purpose is not easily understood as one may be left wondering what variables influences what or how does the variables correlate in case they actually are. A precise and clear purpose of the study should have been drawn such any anyone can easily know what the researcher intends to do simply by reading the work, without any critical consideration and thoughts. Moreover, the article uses good referencing to explore and present both the empirical and theoretical frameworks. It can be seen that it bridges the practical and the theoretical frameworks of knowledge y presenting both cases in such a way that one can see and appreciate the difference. The need to review studies that had been conducted as well as the documented articles and sources help expand the knowledge about the topic that is under study. A look into the relevance between the referenced materials about the theoretical framework shows that the sources used are reliable and accurate for the particular topic. The theoretical framework covered is also relevant to the topic under study as the researcher applies pertinently valid theoretical content in their attempt to describe and explain critical transformative learning. Method of Research Rationale The researcher puts efforts to explain that the study was conducted through ‘Action Research Process’. They go ahead and explain that this method was chosen because the nature of the variables under study best suited the method. It is claimed that action research process as a method has ‘a natural affinity’ with this type of learning under investigation since it gives room to monitor the changes that the participants record with the shifting conditions. The explanation given about why the researcher chose the method is sufficient and convincing enough. The researcher explains that due to the fact that the investigation was a qualitative research, it would go ahead to extracting causal effect relationship of the variables to get a deeper insight. It would find out how these beliefs systems skew the participants into embracing certain behavior pattern. In order to determine these dynamics, the research got based and strongly founded on idea or conceptualization that people are influenced into becoming the people they are because of the things that they do. This assumption drove the research into finding out other nuances of people that are all probably based on and relate to this conceptual notion. Action Research Process therefore was found to be the right method to go about this study. Context of Study The study was conducted in an environment that had direct touch and experiences with factors that were hypothetically assumed to be affected by transformative learning. Canada, a country that has experienced ‘neo-liberal economic system’ was best suited for this study as it had diverse factors that could yield a rich research result. Participants Subjects of this study included 14 university extensions, all who were deemed relevant to the study due to their demographic and characteristic composition. The researcher saw it fit to engage these groups of people because they had characteristics and had gone through experiences that were relevant to the study. This group is apparently appropriate because of the likely positive interaction that the researcher is able to engage with them that would yield good research outcome. Instruments Action Research Method used relied much on the participation of the researcher in the process. The researcher used questionnaires to probe the participants into tell what they experienced and went through and what their beliefs are regarding to those life events and occurrences. The researcher reports having used a pre-research survey in which participants were asked to fill in their personal details. Another post-survey was used to determine the difference that had come up after the training. By and large, the process engaged the researcher more into experiencing some of the events that the participants went through s as to collect real data that is valid. The instruments as they can be analyzed had internal validity as they measured the actual contents they purported to measure Research Design and Procedure Based on the method chosen by the researcher which was to use Action Research Process, the exercise required the researcher to physically get to the participants and engage with them there as they are studied. The introspective description of experiences in a survey paper was to be an exploration that would cover the participants’ all round life; the socioeconomic ad political life. The researcher reports that it was not only a questioning session but also a solution finding exercising that would introduce them into new coping styles. The participation of the researcher in the actual site of study is consistent with the requirements of this method that they chose and this renders the methodology accurate and proper. Data Collection and Analysis The process involved having two sheets with questions in which participants would fill before and after the study in order to determine the effectiveness of the training. The first form had questions that asked about the condition of the participants as it stood before the survey and the second survey sheet evaluated their state once the program had been undergone. The variations in the pre and post surveys would reveal the changes that occurred as a result of that program. The participants, during the study, were set for a period of one to one and half hours to respond to the questions that ran through from before, during and to after the study. Data analysis was done in three phases which include ‘phenomenological description, thematic analysis and hermeneutic evaluation.’ The researcher did a number of things that are worth noting. First is the afterward checks of the people who participated on the study. Second is the validity of the process is continued being ascertained as it runs for a period of five years. Research Findings and Outcome Two of the participants were found be undergoing what the researcher terms as ‘disillusionment and fragmentation which is an occurrence that is evident during the mid-life age. A group of participants described what they go through as a response to societal pressures and expectations. The study also found that restorative learning was key in reviving the lives of the participants. The researcher also describes their revelations about the nature of transformative learning to be welfare based rather that the epistemological knowledge. The findings show that the participants lacked this transformative learning that could turn around their dire situations. Discussion The article clearly discusses its findings and an in-depth understanding of what the researcher came up with can be well generated from this section. The social pressures that the society brings up make the participants behavior as they do, according to the study. When the citizens get to some age in life, the socioeconomic expectations changes and they are forced to adopt new beliefs and lead a different life that is full of pressure. For instance, Dan, due to the mid-life crisis that he faces is forced to fight for some life that the society deems better but when he realizes that he cannot achieve that, he adopts the ‘I don’t care attitude’’ that makes him live a lazy life. Moreover, it is found that transformative learning has had impeccable impacts on the beliefs systems of the participants. Generally, the discussion that the researcher engages in is relevant and consistent with the findings that have been got. The section therefore is well written as it relates back to the topic that was being studied about the transformative learning. Questions Qualitative Article Critique Q.A The problem of the research is not so well identified and defined. The reader comes to learn about it later in the article although as the paper proceeds it becomes salient. Q.B The paper lacks research questions or if there are they cannot be identified. Q.C The role the researcher plays in the study is significant and can be clearly be seen. Q.D The research setting or context is clearly defined and marked. The researcher even uses a sub-heading to mark and justify why the spot is necessary. Q.E The rationale for choosing the population and the participants is explained with certainty. Canada was chosen because it had the socio-economic diversities and experiences that was under investigation. Q.F The sources used adequately explore the topic under investigation as they were very appropriate content—wise. Q.G The analysis techniques used synchronize well with the methodology used and the all combine to address and answer the research questions. Q.H It is accurate to say the conclusions and summary of the research traces back to the evidence found. Applicability of Findings Even though the research was carried out on a small population, the findings revealing that people respond to the social pressures that eventually affect their beliefs, attitudes and the life they live in terms of citizenry and professionalism can be used to transform the societies that are undergoing socio-economic upheavals. Transformative learning can help restore back their loyalty and patronage even after the worst has been experienced. Reference Harris, S. R. (2014). How to critique journal articles in the social sciences. Los Angeles, Calif. [u.a.: SAGE. Read More