Critique #1, Worksheet, Part A
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Communications
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Feb 20, 2024
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Uploaded by MasterLlama2611
Group number: _______Name(s): Payton Peach
A.
Journal Article Critique Worksheet
(J. Aubin, 2018, pers.comm.)
The following worksheet offers several critique-writing prompts to help you evaluate the work you are reading. Consider these questions when writing your own critique and choose the aspects which
are most relevant to the article at hand. A critique should include both positive and negative aspects: even the worst article has at least one redeeming feature, and even the best article still has its flaws. Title of the article: The impact of mindfulness education on elementary school students: Evaluation of the Master Mind Program
Authors: Alison E. Parker, Janis B. Kupersmidt, Erin T. Mathis, Tracy M. Scull and Calvin Sims
Summary-oriented Questions
1.
What is the research question?
Is mindfulness education effective on elementary student’s self-regulatory abilities (cognitive, behavioural, emotional regulation) and reduce the risk of substance abuse in these children.
2.
How did the authors answer the research question (basic method)?
The authors answered the research question by using an intervention group and a control group to test the effectiveness of the Master Mind program and used several methods to report the findings such as the Flanker Fish task, questionnaires, SCRS (self-control rating scale), likert scales and pre-test and post-
test surveys. 3.
What are their findings?
There were significant improvements in executive functioning skills (girls and boys), and a small significant increase in self-control abilities (boys only). Significant reductions were found in aggression and social problems (girls and boys), as well as anxiety (girls only). No significant differences in either group for intentions on substance use. 4.
What are the implications of these findings (take-home message)? The Master Mind program is effective in improving elementary student’s self-regulatory abilities and mindfulness education should be implemented because of its benefits.
Group number: _______Name(s): Payton Peach
Critique-oriented Questions
5.
What is the study population (species/breed, location)? Is it suited to the research question?
The study population is fourth- and fifth-grade students in elementary school. It is suited to the research question because the focus of the research study is to find out whether mindfulness education has an effect on late elementary school students’ self-regulatory abilities and substance abuse prevention. 6.
What is the sample size? In your opinion, is it sufficiently large?
The sample size is 111. In my opinion, I do not think the sample size used in the study is sufficiently large and generalization of the results may be limited by the insufficient sample size. 7.
What factors may have constrained the authors’ choice of study population and sample size?
Some factors that may have constrained the authors’ choice of study population and sample size are that
the study population was fourth- and fifth-grade elementary students, so the researchers undoubtedly had to receive parental consent for the students to partake in this study. Other factors might have been teacher willingness, funding, and location of the study.
8.
Did the authors choose appropriate methods to test their research question? Can you suggest any improvements to the methods?
Yes, the authors chose appropriate methods to test their research question. One suggestion to improve the methods used would be to use students from the same elementary school for both the intervention group and the control group, rather than using one elementary school for the intervention group and a different elementary school for the control group. 9.
Did the authors logically interpret their results? Can you suggest an alternate interpretation of the data?
Yes, the authors logically interpreted their results. Each of the student outcomes were tested for statistical significance and the authors then explained whether mindfulness education had a significant effect on each student outcome.
Group number: _______Name(s): Payton Peach
10.
Keeping in mind the population studied and the results obtained, are the author’s conclusions justified? Why / why not?
Keeping in mind the population studied and the results obtained, I do not think the author’s conclusions are justified because the sample size is too small to generalize the results to a population. Every educational setting is different and has its own environment, and I think with a sample size of 111 and only two elementary schools being used in the study, it is not very generalizable. 11.
Identify and describe a potential source of error not described by the authors.
A potential source of error not described by the authors is using students from different elementary schools for the intervention group and the control group. 12.
What does this article contribute to our current understanding of the research area?
This article contributes the knowledge of how important it is for students, especially children, to be exposed to mindfulness education and how it has positive effects on children’s self-regulatory abilities. 13.
Comment on the writing of this article. Is it clear, concise, sufficiently descriptive? Does the writing flow well? Were appropriate word choices made?
The writing of this article is clear and sufficiently descriptive, however it is not concise. The authors went into lots of detail regarding every step of the research study. However, I do think this was necessary for the readers to understand the research study and the importance of each student outcome being tested. The appropriate word choices were made. 14.
Keeping in mind your answers to questions 5-13, identify one strength of the article:
One strength of the article is repeatability. The repeatability of a research study enables other researchers to carry out the same study and see if it will have the same outcomes as the original study. This may improve some weakness of the study (such as selecting a larger sample size) to make the results
more generalizable. 15. Keeping in mind your answers to questions 5-13, identify one weakness of the article:
One weakness of the article was not using an active control group (a group in which the elementary school students in the intervention group would have engaged in some other tasks that might have had the same potential to improve student outcomes and reduce the risk of substance abuse) to determine whether mindfulness is the main element in improving student outcomes.
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