Toread andreviewthese 4 assigned research study articles. Two articles use qualitative (1 & 2) and two use quantitative (3 & 4) method techniques.
Each review should address similar questions to the FINE foundation’s criteria (Listed below).

Some specific and detailedquestions thatapplyonly to thereviewofquantitative- qualitativeresearch based literature, and whicharesimilarin manyways to the FINE foundation’s criteriaare presented below. Where appropriate, provide specific examples from the text of the article to back up the points you make. Within each article review, list the questions shown below, and your responses to each one.

1. Source

– Is the reportfroma peer-reviewed publication?

– Is the research currentand froma currentsource?

2. ResearchProblem

– Is the research problemidentified clearly?

– Is itsignificant? Doesthe researcherprovide a good argument forsignificance?

– Is it relevantto businessand management?

3. Literature Review

– Is itconvincing? Has the authorrevieweda sufficientamountofliterature?

– Is itbalanced,presentingliterature thatbothsupportand contradictthe research´s stated(or apparent)position?

– Is the review written critically(givingstrengths and weakness ofprevious work)?

– Does the review comprise onlyprimarysources?

– Are referencescurrent, oracombination ofcurrentandclassic? ´

4. TheoreticalFramework
– Is a theoreticalframeworkspecified?

– Does the framework“fit” theproblem? Doesitinclude allrelevantvariables?

– Are concepts (variables)defined clearlyfroma theoreticalstandpoint?

– Ifno frameworkis provided, should there beone?Is itdifficultto understandtherelationships among variables inthe studywithouta frameworkto tie thepiecestogether?

– Are resultsinterpretedinreferencetothetheoreticalframework?
Note:qualitative research,and descriptive studies, maynothave an explicitinitial theoretical framework.
5. Variables

– Are the variablesinthe studyappropriateto the problem?

– Are the variablesrelevantto practice?

– Are the means to measurethe variableappropriate?

6. Hypotheses

– Are hypothesesstated? Ifnot, does the researcherprovide sufficientinformationto determine whatthehypotheses were?

– Ifstated,arethe hypothesesclear? Specific?Testable?

Note:qualitative research and manytypesofdescriptive studies do notinvolve hypotheses. In a qualitative studythe researchermaydevelop hypothesesasa resultoftheresearch(groundedtheory).

7. Design(overall)

– Is the design specified correctly? Whatdesign wasused?

– Is the design appropriatetoanswertheresearcherquestion?

– Did the researcherattemptto control forthreatstointernaland externalvalidity?

8. Sample (for quantitative studies)

– Is the sample size adequate?

– Is the sample likelytobe similar to members oftheappropriate population overall?

– Are the criteriaforincludingand/orexcludingpeople oritems fromthe sample clearand appropriate?

9 Data Collection

– Are the instruments orothermeans fordata collectiondescribed sufficiently?

– Are reliabilityand validityofquantitativeinstrumentsaddressed? Are theseadequate?

– Are data collection methods describedclearly?

– Are the data collection methods appropriate? Could the researcherhave affectedthe resultof the studyinsome wayrelated to thecollection ofdata?

10. EthicalConsiderations

– Does the researcherindicate thatapprovalwasobtained fromappropriate review boards?

– Were the rights ofhuman subjectsprotected (confidentiality, freedomfromcoercion)?

– Is there anypossibilitythatthe subjects mighthave feltpressured to participate ortheirresponses influencedin some otherway?

11. Data Analysis

– Is the processusedto analyze the data clear?

– Were the processesfordataanalysis appropriatetoanswer the researchquestions?

– Do theresults provide an answerto research question?

– If tablesareprovided, are theseclearand understandable?

Note:Forqualitative studies, some additional items forcritiqueinclude:

– Does the researcherprovide sufficientexamplesofthedata(forexample, extracts,passagesor quotationsfrominterviews)to supporttheidentified results?

– Does the researcherdescribe processesthatwere used to avoid biasingor influencingthe data obtainedandtheanalysis proceduresused? (Examples– Peerreview,logs, memos, “member check”)

12. Discussionand Interpretation ofFindings

– Does the discussion “fit” withthedata?Is itlogicalbased onthedata andresultspresented?

– Does the researcherdiscussthe waythe findings linkto and relateto previous research?

– Does the researcherdiscussthe waythe findings linkto and relatetothetheoretical framework?

– Does the researcheridentifylimitations ofthe study?Howdo theseaffectthequalityofthe study?

– Does the researcherdiscussimplications forthe practice?Aretheseappropriate?

13. ApplicationPractice

– Howsimilararetheconditions ofthestudy (settings, sample, interventions, etc.) to otherpractice settings?To yourpractice setting?

– Howfeasible would itbetomake achange in practicebasedon thisresearch?

– Are benefitslikelyto offsetcosts and risks ofachangein practice forthe employee, organization and/orsociety?