A summary of what they were researching, including their research question.
Descriptive statistics about their sample (if they gave you information about age, gender, religion, etc, make sure to include these!). You will find this in a section labeled either “Sample” or “Participants.” Remember—the sample largely sets the context for the study! Discuss how this sample influences the context of this study.
A brief summary of their findings as given in their “Discussion” section.
Step 4: State Your Position
Hopefully, you learn something new and interesting about the topic of your choice just by reading the article. Include information about something interesting you learned.
Did the author of the article make a conclusion or express a viewpoint that inspired further questions or that you disagree with? Question any relevant viewpoints!
Considering anything new you learned, your prior knowledge on the topic, and any questions/challenges you would have to the viewpoints expressed in the article you read, summarize your specific position on this topic. Consider the complexities of this issue. Recognize the limits of your position and knowledge on the topic.
Step 5: Propose Your Study
What would be your research question?
What would be your population 1 and population 2?
What would be an appropriate wording of your null hypothesis and research hypothesis?
What would be your goal descriptive statistics of your sample (you could, for example, include age, relationship status, education level, place of residence, etc).
Which variables of interest would be nominal? Would there be any ordinal variables? Which of your variables would be interval/ratio?
Which statistical analysis would you use? Why would this one be the most appropriate?
What conclusions could you make if you arrived at statistically significant results? What would be the implications of these conclusions?
How would these conclusions give us additional knowledge about the issue/problem at hand to add to or challenge the ones found by the article that you read?
