Evaluating Research - Essay Example

Yes, since the research problem concerns with the influence of stimulating tasks on motivation and reading comprehension, then the findings of the study must therefore be quantified using a quantitative approach. Yes, in fact, the author stipulated the following line at the end of the study: “finally, researchers should continue to explore reading comprehension and reading interest to identify their reciprocal relationships” (Guthrie et al., 2006, p 244). Yes, the research study definitely employed the APA Referencing Style in their in-text citations and references’ page.

In fact, here is an example of the entry in their reference page that typified the use of APA: Yes, the authors stated the purpose of their study, which is to give light to one particular research inquiry that receives little attention, that is, the use of stimulating tasks to arouse reading interest (Guthrie et al., 2006, p. 233). Yes, the assumptions and hypotheses were both expressed in the study. The assumptions regarding the stimulating tasks were written prior to the statement of hypotheses.

Moreover, the hypotheses of the study are as follows: (a) Students who were given a high number of stimulating tasks related to reading would have higher reading comprehension scores than would students given a low number of stimulating tasks related to reading, controlling for prior comprehension and quality of task performance; (b) Students who were given a high number of stimulating tasks related to reading would have higher reading motivation scores than would students who were given a lower number of stimulating tasks; and Yes, the authors were able to identify and provide an explanation prior to presenting their hypotheses.

In this regard, the phrase ‘stimulating task’ was employed to embody their theoretical framework, which was proposed by Nolen and Nichols (1994) that refers to classroom activity that elicits