Critical Reading Critical Reading Strategies: Overview of Strategies: Overview of

Research ProcessResearch Process

Week 3/4Week 3/4

Critical Reading & ThinkingCritical Reading & Thinking CriticalCritical reading reading is a technique foris a technique for discovering discovering

information and ideas within a text.information and ideas within a text. CriticalCritical thinking thinking is a technique foris a technique for evaluating evaluating

information and ideas, for deciding what to information and ideas, for deciding what to accept and believe.accept and believe.

Critical Critical readingreading refers to a careful, active, refers to a careful, active, reflective, analytic reading. reflective, analytic reading.

Critical Critical thinkingthinking involves reflecting on the involves reflecting on the validity of what you have read in light of the validity of what you have read in light of the prior knowledge and understanding.prior knowledge and understanding.

Goals of Critical ReadingGoals of Critical Reading To recognize an author’s purpose            To recognize an author’s purpose            To understand tone and convincing elements To understand tone and convincing elements To recognize strengths & weaknessesTo recognize strengths & weaknesses Avoid asking: What information can I get out of Avoid asking: What information can I get out of

it? it? Rather Ask: Rather Ask:

How does this text work? How does this text work? How is it argued? How is it argued? How is the evidence used and interpreted? How is the evidence used and interpreted? How does the text reach its conclusions?How does the text reach its conclusions?

Four tips for Critical ReadingFour tips for Critical Reading

1.1. Read the paper 3 times:Read the paper 3 times: First read the abstract, the introduction and the conclusion and look First read the abstract, the introduction and the conclusion and look

through the references. through the references. Next read through the entire paper starting with the abstract again. Next read through the entire paper starting with the abstract again.

Don't skip over figures, re-read parts that you don't understand. Write Don't skip over figures, re-read parts that you don't understand. Write down questions you have as you go along. down questions you have as you go along.

Finally, re-read the paper critically. Finally, re-read the paper critically. Did the authors do what they said they were going to do? Did the authors do what they said they were going to do? What are the important ideas? (May be unimportant ideas)What are the important ideas? (May be unimportant ideas) Do their results make sense? Do their results make sense? Are their methods sound? Are their methods sound? What assumptions are they making? What assumptions are they making? How does their work fit in with other similar work? How does their work fit in with other similar work? What improvements/extensions do they contribute? What improvements/extensions do they contribute?

Four tips for Critical Reading (Cont.)Four tips for Critical Reading (Cont.)

2.2. Make an outline of the paper Make an outline of the paper Create some organized information about the paper that Create some organized information about the paper that

will help to sort out the detailswill help to sort out the details Highlight the major points of the paper Highlight the major points of the paper This can be as detailed as you need it to be This can be as detailed as you need it to be

3.3. Create a list of questions Create a list of questions About parts that you don't understand About parts that you don't understand About parts where you question their solution/ proof/ About parts where you question their solution/ proof/

methods/resultsmethods/results

4.4. List comparisons of this paper to other related work List comparisons of this paper to other related work with which you are familiar.with which you are familiar.

We can summarizeWe can summarizeFour Levels of Critical ReadingFour Levels of Critical Reading

Preliminary understandingPreliminary understanding: skimming: skimming TitleTitle AbstractAbstract Identify main themeIdentify main theme

Critical Reading Levels (cont)Critical Reading Levels (cont)

Comprehensive understandingComprehensive understanding:: Variables and conceptsVariables and concepts TerminologyTerminology Main idea or themeMain idea or theme Restate in own wordsRestate in own words

Critical Reading Levels (cont)Critical Reading Levels (cont)

Analysis understandingAnalysis understanding: : Understand partsUnderstand parts Begin to critiqueBegin to critique Summarize in own words each partSummarize in own words each part

Synthesis understandingSynthesis understanding: : Put togetherPut together Explain relationshipsExplain relationships CritiqueCritique

CritiquingCritiquing

A process of objectively and critically A process of objectively and critically evaluate content for scientific merit and evaluate content for scientific merit and application to practice, theory, and application to practice, theory, and education.education.

Uses criteria: research processUses criteria: research process Find strengths as well as weaknessesFind strengths as well as weaknesses

Five Elements of a Scientific Paper Five Elements of a Scientific Paper (IMRAD)(IMRAD)

Introduction (I)Introduction (I) Materials and Methods (M)Materials and Methods (M) Results (R)Results (R) Analysis (A)Analysis (A) Discussion or Conclusion (D)Discussion or Conclusion (D)

General form of a research paperGeneral form of a research paper

An objective of organizing a research paper is to An objective of organizing a research paper is to allow people to read your work selectively. allow people to read your work selectively.

In all sections of your paper:In all sections of your paper: Stay focused on the research topic of the paper Stay focused on the research topic of the paper Use paragraphs to separate each important point (except for Use paragraphs to separate each important point (except for

the abstract) the abstract) Present your points in logical order Present your points in logical order Avoid informal wording, don't address the reader directlyAvoid informal wording, don't address the reader directly

AbstractAbstract Normally 50 to 200 words. Normally 50 to 200 words. May be written after the rest of the research is May be written after the rest of the research is

completed. completed. Writing an Abstract:Writing an Abstract:

Purpose of the study - hypothesis, overall question, Purpose of the study - hypothesis, overall question, objective objective

Model organization/system and brief description of the Model organization/system and brief description of the experiment experiment

Results, including Results, including specific dataspecific data - if the results are - if the results are quantitative in nature.quantitative in nature.

Important conclusions or questions that follow from the Important conclusions or questions that follow from the experiments. experiments.

IntroductionIntroduction The purpose of an introduction is to explain the reader The purpose of an introduction is to explain the reader

with the rationale behind the work, with the intention with the rationale behind the work, with the intention of defending it. It places the work in a theoretical of defending it. It places the work in a theoretical context, and enables the reader to understand and context, and enables the reader to understand and appreciate the objectives.appreciate the objectives.

Writing an introductionWriting an introduction Describe the importance (significance) of the study - why was this worth Describe the importance (significance) of the study - why was this worth

doing in the first place? Provide a broad context. doing in the first place? Provide a broad context. Defend the model - why did you use this particular organism or system? Defend the model - why did you use this particular organism or system?

What are its advantages? What are its advantages? Provide a rationale. State your specific hypothesis or objective, and Provide a rationale. State your specific hypothesis or objective, and

describe the reasoning that led you to select them. describe the reasoning that led you to select them. Very brief describe the experimental design and how it accomplished the Very brief describe the experimental design and how it accomplished the

stated objectives. stated objectives.

Materials and MethodsMaterials and Methods The objective is to document all specialized The objective is to document all specialized

materials and general procedures, so that another materials and general procedures, so that another individual may use some or all of the methods in individual may use some or all of the methods in another study or judge the scientific merit of your another study or judge the scientific merit of your work. work.

Writing a materials and methods sectionWriting a materials and methods section Include only specialized computing devices and any Include only specialized computing devices and any

equipment or supplies that are not commonly found in equipment or supplies that are not commonly found in labs.labs.

Report the methodology used in experiments.Report the methodology used in experiments. Describe the methodology completely.Describe the methodology completely.

ResultsResults

The purpose of a results section is to present and The purpose of a results section is to present and illustrate your findings. Make this section a illustrate your findings. Make this section a completely objective report of the results, and save all completely objective report of the results, and save all interpretation for the discussion.interpretation for the discussion.

Summarize your findings in text and illustrate them, if Summarize your findings in text and illustrate them, if appropriate, with figures and tables. appropriate, with figures and tables.

Provide a context, such as by describing the question that Provide a context, such as by describing the question that was addressed by making a particular observation. was addressed by making a particular observation.

ANALYZE your data, then prepare the analyzed ANALYZE your data, then prepare the analyzed (converted) data in the form of a figure (graph), table, or in (converted) data in the form of a figure (graph), table, or in text form. text form.

DiscussionDiscussion The objective here is to provide an interpretation of your results The objective here is to provide an interpretation of your results and support for all of your conclusions, using evidence from your and support for all of your conclusions, using evidence from your

experiment. experiment.

If your results differ from your expectations, explain why that If your results differ from your expectations, explain why that may have happened. may have happened. Decide if each hypothesis is supported, rejected, or if you cannot make a Decide if each hypothesis is supported, rejected, or if you cannot make a

decision with confidence. decision with confidence. You may suggest future directions, such as how the experiment might be You may suggest future directions, such as how the experiment might be

modified to accomplish another objective. modified to accomplish another objective. Explain all of your observations as much as possible. Explain all of your observations as much as possible. One experiment will not answer an overall question, so keeping the big One experiment will not answer an overall question, so keeping the big

picture in mind, where do you go next? The best studies open up new picture in mind, where do you go next? The best studies open up new avenues of research. What questions remain? avenues of research. What questions remain?

Literature Cited/ReferencesLiterature Cited/References List all literature cited in your paper, in alphabetical List all literature cited in your paper, in alphabetical

order, by first author. (Standards vary)order, by first author. (Standards vary) In a proper research paper, only primary literature is In a proper research paper, only primary literature is

used (original research articles authored by the used (original research articles authored by the original investigators). original investigators).

Avoid to include a web site as a reference.Avoid to include a web site as a reference. If you are citing an on line journal, use the journal If you are citing an on line journal, use the journal

citation (name, volume, year, page numbers). citation (name, volume, year, page numbers). Some of papers may not require references, and if Some of papers may not require references, and if

that is the case simply state that “No references were that is the case simply state that “No references were consulted."consulted."

Critiquing a research paperCritiquing a research paper1.1. Is the hypothesis clearly stated? Is the hypothesis clearly stated?

2.2. Does the introduction give relevant background information Does the introduction give relevant background information that helps you that helps you understand what was studied, and why?understand what was studied, and why?

3.3. Is the procedure (method) clearly stated?Is the procedure (method) clearly stated?

4.4. Did they compare like (analogous) units? Did they compare like (analogous) units?

5.5. Are all graphs and tables labeled correctly, and do they clearly explain Are all graphs and tables labeled correctly, and do they clearly explain the results? the results?

6.6. Does the data relate to the hypothesis/question? Did they collect data on Does the data relate to the hypothesis/question? Did they collect data on all relevant variables to answer their question? all relevant variables to answer their question?

7.7. Were the results explained? Do the results support or disprove the Were the results explained? Do the results support or disprove the question or hypothesis? question or hypothesis? Did the authors consider any alternative hypotheses? Do you Did the authors consider any alternative hypotheses? Do you notice a pattern in their results (graphs) that they don't address in the paper?notice a pattern in their results (graphs) that they don't address in the paper?

8.8. Do you agree with the conclusions? Do you agree with the conclusions?

9.9. Did they address any problems in their research, Did they address any problems in their research, exploring how they might do exploring how they might do things differently next time? Do they consider what future research might be done to further things differently next time? Do they consider what future research might be done to further answer the question?answer the question?

NEXT WEEK’S ACTIVITYNEXT WEEK’S ACTIVITY

SELECT A RESEARCH PAPER OF YOUR SELECT A RESEARCH PAPER OF YOUR OWN AREA OF INTEREST FROM IEEE OWN AREA OF INTEREST FROM IEEE OR ACM JOURNAL, CRITIQUE AND OR ACM JOURNAL, CRITIQUE AND PRESENT YOUR VIEWS. PRESENT YOUR VIEWS.