Overview
Critical Review Assignment It is important that you learn how to critically review research. In our current society, we are exposed to many studies. Some are excellent, some are useful, and some are invalid and unreliable. How can you determine what information is useful and what is dangerous? The most important thing you will learn from this course, and from your college education, is how to critically evaluate the information presented to you. Critical thinking involves asking five questions: who, what, when, where, how. Directions: Find and read a news media article that reports the results of a scientific study on addiction. Find the original scientific study using Keiser Library or Google Scholar. This should be the original study referenced by the reporter in the news media article they found. The news article is considered a secondary source, while the original study is considered a primary source. Compare the original journal article (primary source) with the article that reported on it (secondary source). How accurately did the media report the study? Discuss these questions in your assignment: Where: Where did this article/webpage appear? Is it reasonable? Is the publishing entity reputable/responsible? Who: Who wrote/published the article/webpage? What are their credentials? Are they appropriate for their argument? When: Is this information current? If so, do you think it will stand the test of time? If not, is it outdated or classic? What: What argument is/are the author(s) making? Is it logical? Based on what you know, is it reasonable? What evidence is given to support the argument? Can you think of evidence to refute it? How: How was the supporting/refuting evidence gathered? Is this credible? What type of evidence do you think needs to be gathered to prove the argument? Did the author(s) do this? Be sure to cite the news article and the research study you are referencing. See examples below the grading rubric: Critical Review Point Value Cover all 5 questions in at least 200 words 12 points each (60) References for both sources (news article and original study) 20 Points Spelling/Grammar/Word Count 20 Points CRITICAL REVIEW EXAMPLE Jane Doe Critical Review Secondary Source: Healy, M. (2019). Opioid addiction can be overcome with mindfulness, study suggests. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2019-10-17/addiction-to-opioids-can-be-overcome-with-mindfulness Primary Source: Garland, E. L., Atchley, R. M., Hanley, A. W., Zubieta, J.-K., & Froeliger, B. (2019). Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement remedies hedonic dysregulation in opioid users: Neural and affective evidence from objective engagement. Science Advances, 5(10), eaax1569. doi:10.1126/sciadv.aax1569 Where: The LA Times is a nationally syndicated newspaper and the largest daily metropolitan newspaper in the country. This particular article was published online; it is unclear whether it was also published in print. This is a well-known and reputable source. Who: Melissa Healy is a staff writer for the LA Times. She is credited as a health and science reporter and has been with the LA Times for over 30 years. She appears to be a very reputable reporter. When: The LA Times article was published online on October 17, 2019, at 6:00 AM. What: This news article analyzes the results of a recent peer-reviewed article published in the journal Science Advances by Garland et al. (2019). The news article discusses the findings of a study on the use of mindfulness techniques to treat opioid addiction. The new article links to the peer-reviewed study (primary source), making it easier for readers to retrieve the original source of the information. Additionally, the news article includes multiple quotes from experts in the field, including the authors and co-authors of the primary source of this study. The writing here is tempered and appears unbiased; it does not make any outrageous claims about the research being reported. How: As mentioned above, the news article provides quotes from the study authors and includes a link to the study as well. In summary, this news article reports on an important new study that showed that mindfulness can be an effective psychotherapeutic technique to help alleviate problems related to opioid use disorder. Date of submission: The week one assignment must be submitted through the platform with "SafeAssign" before midnight on Sunday of the respective week. Submissions received after 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on Sunday will lose 10% of the daily weight. No submissions will be accepted after Wednesday 11:59 PM (Eastern Time). Submission Text Editor Word count: 0 Details & Information Assessment due date No due date Attempts 3 attempts left Originality Report Grading Maximum points 100 points Description It is important that you learn how to critically review research. In today's society, we are exposed to many studies. Some are excellent, some are useful, and some are invalid and unreliable. How can you determine what information is useful and what is dangerous? The most important thing you will learn from this course, and from your college education, is how to critically evaluate the information presented to you. Critical thinking involves asking five questions: who, what, when, where, how.