Download Critical evaluation

The OED defines contribution as:
The part played by a person or thing in
bringing about a result or helping something
to advance.
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“the major contribution of social scientists to
the understanding of political life”
“there was scarcely a branch of art to which
Leonardo de Vinci did not make a
contribution”
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When a researcher undertakes a PhD or publishes
a paper, they must show they are making an
original contribution to research.
What does this mean?
They have added (usually in a very small way) to
the body of knowledge about a subject. This can
mean by focussing very narrowly on a topic (the
use of modal verbs in Shakespeare’s Romeo and
Juliet) or applying an established theory to a new
situation.
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1. Has it influenced other thinkers?
2. Has it started a new way of thinking about
the subject?
3. Has it invented a new way of collecting or
analysing data?
4. Is it a core theory that you have studied (
or will study) in your discipline?
These are highly unusual and would only be
pertinent to seminal works.
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1. Has it been cited and used as an example by
lots of other researchers? Have other writers used
it to influence their own work?
2. Does it have a real world application?
3. Does it build on other research by applying an
established theory to a new topic or a new
situation?
4. Does it make any contributions to society or
government policy?
Can you think of examples of how this might be
done in your field?
Most researchers will acknowledge the
limitations of their own work in the
discussion section of an article.
 You can also find criticisms of the article/
theory/author in other’s work (if you use the
right search terms!)
 You can think about some of the weaknesses
of the research yourself….
* But do try to supplement your ideas with
sources
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1. Is the methodology appropriate for the
study? (e.g. a questionnaire to find out
whether people eat healthier after exercise)
2. Are the findings/ theories of the study
supported by other writers or are they
criticised?
3. Do the ideas only apply to one context
(e.g. male university students in Shanghai) or
are they generalisable to other contexts?
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Research indicates that the quality of teaching
directly affects student achievement and
identifies the teacher as the single most
important factor that impacts student learning.
In fact, the gain in subject grades over three
years for students with the most effective
teachers has been shown to be as much as 54
points higher than that of students with the
least effective teachers.
Marzano, R.J. (2003). What works in schools: Translating research into action. Virginia: Association for
Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Can you think of any problems or criticisms of this research
finding about teachers’ effectiveness?
Do you think there are other factors which contribute to
students’ improved grades?
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Other factors?? E.g. students’ own
responsibility, outside help like getting a
tutor?
How was teacher effectiveness measured?
Can we measure ‘effectiveness’?
Research took place over three years. would
results still be same over smaller time period?
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1. Karl Marx’s Das Kapital
2. An article on how marketing strategies of
Coca Cola can be applied to a new brand of
soft drink in the developing world (published
2012)
3. A case study of child adoption law in the
EU and its impacts on one family in Ukraine.
4. A thematic analysis of American Wild West
films and their impact on masculine identity.
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1. Karl Marx’s Das Kapital – read what others say about Marx’s theories both
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2. An article on how marketing strategies of Coca Cola can be applied to a
new brand of soft drink in the developing world (published 2012)- look to
in support and in criticism. Consider the way Marx’s theories have been used
in the real world. Have there been any changes in economic thinking?
see if anyone has cited this research. If not, analyse its methodology and
think about the theories it has used itself. Has it made a contribution to
society? Do the authors acknowledge any weaknesses? Have there been any
similar studies recently?
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3. A case study of child adoption law in the EU and its impacts on one family
in Ukraine.- what are the claims being made about the impacts( + or -)?
Have similar studies been done either in the Ukraine or in other countries
which support these claims? How accurate are its methods of argument> has
anyone cited this study? Does it make any suggestions or recommendations
for changes in the law?
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4. A thematic analysis of American Wild West films and their impact on
masculine identity. – is the analysis accurate and do you agree( this is
subjective!)? Do other academics agree? What are the claims about impact
being made? Do they consider other factors? Are there other interpretations
of these movies other than in terms of gender?
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Unreal conditionals- used for a past situation
that cannot be changed now
If the writer had used a wider sample, it
would have been more statistically significant
Hedging- used to make cautious claims or
criticisms
It is possible/likely that..
may/might/could etc