LSC 2533 Research Methods
Journal Article Reviews (CLO 5) – Task Sheet

You will review two articles. Each article should describe a primary research study employing social science methods (questionnaires, interviews).

Both articles should include sections 1 to 3 below. One article should also include Section 4 – Article evaluation.

Components

• Section 1 – Library research description
• Section 2 – Article abstracts and references
• Section 3 – Research descriptions
• Section 4 – Article evaluation

Section 1 – Library research description

You already have your Research Question.

• Using one or more of the HCT library webpage search applications OR using Google Scholar, find two articles about the topic. Each article you select must have a description of primary social research.
• Describe the process by which you found the two articles or chapters.

o For each source
§ Name the search application used
§ State the search words and/or phrases which you used

1

Section 2 – Article abstracts and references

Each article you choose must include an abstract. The abstract is a short description of the topic, purpose, and findings of a research article found before the main text. For each article copy:

• The title
• The abstract
• The APA reference

Section 3 – Article research descriptions

For each of your articles describe the research and the findings with greater detail than in the abstract (75 to 150 words each). Points for discussion should include:

• The population (who, where and when)
• The research approach (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed)
• Sampling or participant selection procedures; N sizes; data

collection methods

• The main results; mention if you think there is important

information missing from the research methods description or the results. Or, state if you think there is a problem with the data relative to the conclusion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LSC 2533 Research Methods Journal Article Reviews (CLO 5) (Sample)

Source: google scholar

Search terms: computer addiction

Section 2
Title: A young people’s perspective on computer game addiction

Abstract

In this article, I examine computer game addiction as a social phenomenon, analyzing the consequences of using the term in order to express a concern about high frequency consumption or even a problematic usage of computer games. I argue that while it is obviously very important to take seriously these concerns about young people ‘‘at risk,’’ there is a gap between the phenomenon as a suggested psychiatric diagnosis and young people’s reflections on the matter. Following the work of Goffman and Becker, computer game addiction is not necessarily something negative in the eyes of the player and other young people. It is shown that the classification can be a positive element in young people’s identity work. On the other hand, a high consumption of computer games is also considered as ‘‘culturally unacceptable.’’ From this perspective, computer game addiction becomes a question of how to construct the boundaries between normality and deviance and how prejudices are governing and controlling young people’s lives. All this suggests more caution in classifying frequent and problematic computer game play as a disorder in itself. We need a more complex understanding of computer game addiction than research so far has offered us.

Reference

Brus, A. (2013). A young people’s perspective on computer game addiction. Addiction Research & Theory, 21(5), 365-375.

Section 3 Population

The population used in the research were nine teenage boys categorized as computer addicts by either themselves or their parents or teachers. The study was conducted from years 2009 to 2011. The study was conducted in and around the Danish capital of Copenhagen.

Research Approach

The research approach is qualitative and involved interviews. Each boy participating in this study was interviewed three times in home. The results of interviews are discussed in detail for each boy. Specific statements made by the boys are selected and discussed by the researcher.

Participant selection

The article does not describe how the students were selected from a larger population. The boys were selected based on their being described as computer addicts. How this determination was made is not explained in detail. Five of the boys characterized themselves as computer game addicts, while four were categorized as addicted to games by their parents or teacher.

Main results

The author concludes that computer gaming is often seen as a positive by the ‘addict’ and may help them to cope with the social world. The author seems to suggest part of the problem may be social in that the term computer addict is given to the person as negative label even though the computer gaming behavior may not be hurting the person described as an addict.

Section 4

The interview approach used in this study helps us to understand the situation from the point of view of people called computer addicts. By describing the experience of internet addiction from the addicts’ point of view I gained greater personal insight into what it means to be an internet addicted person. The use of quoted comments from the addicts helped made issue of internet addiction more real and personal. The meaning of the term internet addiction was also discussed from the point of view of the participants compared to how it is understood in society more generally. The author suggests that using a socially negative term (internet addict) on people can perhaps be as damaging as helpful. I think it is important to understand the situation from an individual perspective to really understand and come up with meaningful ways to help such people. However, since internet addiction described at the level of individual experiences a researcher does use the information to make general statements about internet addiction.

The article may have been improved with more discussion on the individual experiences described relate to how improving the lives of heavy internet users. Although the article seems critical of the term addict as having a negative connotation the truth is some people are harmed socially and perhaps psychologically from heavy internet use. This aspect should have been discussed more with some comments on what can be done to help such people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article 2 Section 1

Source: google scholar

Search terms: internet addiction treatment

Section 2
Title: Evaluation of an internet addiction treatment program for Chinese adolescence in Hong Kong

Abstract

This paper described an indigenous multi-level counseling program designed for young people with Internet addiction problems based on the responses of 59 clients. Regarding objective outcome evaluation, pretest and posttest data generally showed that the Internet addiction problems of the participants decreased after joining the program and there were some slight positive changes in the parenting attributes. For the subjective outcome evaluation findings, participants generally perceived that the program was helpful. Findings based on these two evaluation strategies suggest this multi-level indigenous counseling program has promise for helping young people with Internet addiction problems

Reference

Shek, D. T., Tang, V. M., & Lo, C. Y. (2009). Evaluation of an Internet addiction treatment program for Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. Adolescence, 44(174), 359-373.

Section 3 Population

The participants joined a counseling program for internet addiction and were classified as fitting the criteria for internet addiction according a diagnostic questionnaire. The article does not report how they came to have joined the counseling program. Of the participants 58 were male and one was female. All but three of the participants were under 18.

Research Approach

A quantitative approach is used as the outcomes are presented numerically. The respondents are assessed on whether they fit the criteria for internet addiction based on self-report questionnaire. Next, the effectiveness of counseling was determined based on closed ended questionnaire results.

Main results

The results of the study were mixed. The participants generally showed a reduction in internet addiction symptoms. However, there was no difference in the respondents’ perceived sense of wellbeing or beliefs related to internet use.

The discussion centers on the validity of the data. There is little discussion on how counseling can be used to treat internet addiction or what approaches are likely to have the most value. The research indicates that counseling can be somewhat effective but does not tell us much about how or why.