Part One: Select a recent social science research article from a scholarly journal in your academic major. NOTE: the article must have been published since January 2012.

Critically evaluate the selected research article. Your analysis must include the following elements.

Identify the major topic of the article

Evaluate the literature review conducted by the researcher(s) (i.e. the type of review and the effectiveness of the review)

Identify the hypothesis (or hypotheses) of the study. Be sure to identify the independent variable(s) and the dependent variable(s) and the direction of hypothesis (hypotheses).

Discuss the research design used by the researcher(s).

How were the variables measured?

What data collection method was used?

Who (or what) were the subjects of the study?

Discuss the general conclusions of the researchers.

Was (were) the hypothesis (hypotheses) supported or rejected?

Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the study.

Is the study easy to understand?

Did you learn anything from the study?

Did the social scientist(s) follow sound procedures?