Mastery of statistics involves not only the ability to generate sound statistical results, but also the ability to critically evaluate the statistical analysis of others.  This is the focus of this assignment.  A critique is not a summary or a simple retelling of the major findings in a research article.  It is more than that and the results may make the difference between believing research results and using them, or not believing results and not using them.
The critique should critically review (not summarize) the article discussed.  You should concentrate your analysis and critique on the data and the analysis of the data (statistics) presented.  Do they support the conclusions reached by the author(s)?  Why or why not?  You do not have to agree with the conclusions reached during the discussion.  If you do not agree, you should argue why you do not based on information contained in the article you are critiquing.  If you believe important information or analysis is missing, you should also reference that.   Similarly, if you agree, you should state why based on information presented in the article.
The paper should be three pages not including the title page.  Points will be deducted if the paper is longer than four pages.
Suggested Content:
The critique should contain a title page, brief introduction and supporting paragraphs.
Title Page:
Includes title of the research article and author’s name(s), your name, and date.  
Introduction:
• In the opening sentences, introduce the research topic, including the rationale or purpose for conducting the research and its objectives. What question(s) is the researcher trying to answer?  Include identification of independent and dependent variables.
• State the author’s hypothesis or research question(s)?
• Briefly state the research methodology.  How did the researcher study the topic?  Survey?  Experiment? Statistical Analysis?  A combination of methods?
Supporting paragraphs:
An in-depth critique of the article (Discuss how well the research is conducted) 
Consider the following: (Do not do include any checklists.  This must be a narrative discussion)
• Purpose
Is the research problem clearly stated?  Is it easy to determine what the researcher intends to research? 
• Objectives/hypotheses
Has a research question or hypothesis been identified?  Is it clearly stated?  Is it consistent with discussion in the article's introduction and purpose?
• Operational Definitions
Are all terms, theories, and concepts used in the study clearly defined?
• Methodology
Is the research design and methodology clearly identified?  Has the data gathering instrument been described? Is the instrument appropriate?  How was         it developed?  Were reliability and validity testing undertaken and the results discussed?  Was a pilot study undertaken?

Also consider the following in your discussion:
• Was the population defined?
• What is the source of data used in the article?
• How the sample was selected (probability or nonprobability)?  Was the size of the sample appropriate?
• Which descriptive statistics were used?  Are they meaningful?