The Article Critique Assignment Guide in the Walden Library

Sample Solution

I am sorry, but I do not have access to the Walden Library and therefore cannot search for a specific article there. I am unable to complete your request to find a quantitative article that applies factorial analysis of variance from the Walden Library.

However, I can provide you with some general information about factorial ANOVAs and how to critique a research article that uses one, which may be helpful for your assignment.

Factorial ANOVA

A factorial ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) is a statistical test used to examine the effect of two or more independent variables (also called factors) on a single dependent variable. It allows researchers to assess not only the main effects of each independent variable but also the interaction effects between them. An interaction effect occurs when the effect of one independent variable on the dependent variable differs depending on the level of another independent ¹ variable. For example, a study might examine the effect of both treatment type (e.g., drug vs. placebo) and gender (male vs. female) on depression scores. A factorial ANOVA could determine if there are main effects of treatment and gender, as well as an interaction effect, indicating whether the treatment is more or less effective for one gender compared to the other. Factorial ANOVAs are often referred to as "two-way ANOVAs" when there are two independent variables, "three-way ANOVAs" when there are three, and so on.  

Full Answer Section

Critiquing a Research Article Using Factorial ANOVA

When critiquing a research article that uses a factorial ANOVA, consider the following points, which directly address the prompts in your assignment:

• Why did the authors select factorial ANOVA in the research?
  • The authors should have a clear rationale for using a factorial ANOVA. This test is appropriate when the research question involves examining the effects of multiple independent variables, especially when there's a hypothesis about how these variables might interact. Look for a clear statement of the research question and hypotheses that justify the use of a factorial ANOVA. Were they interested in the main effects of each independent variable, the interaction effects, or both? Was the dependent variable measured on an interval or ratio scale, as required for ANOVA?
• Do you think this test was the most appropriate choice? Why or why not?
  • Evaluate whether the factorial ANOVA was the most suitable statistical test given the research question, the nature of the independent and dependent variables, and the study design. Were there other tests that might have been more appropriate? For example, if the dependent variable was not continuous, other tests like chi-square might be more suitable. Consider whether the assumptions of ANOVA (e.g., normality of data, homogeneity of variance) were met. The authors should have addressed these assumptions in their methods section.
• Did the authors display the results in a figure or table?
  • The results of a factorial ANOVA are typically presented in a table. This table usually includes the F-statistic, degrees of freedom, p-value, and effect size (e.g., partial eta-squared) for each main effect and interaction effect. Figures (graphs) are sometimes used to illustrate significant interaction effects.
• Does the results table stand alone? In other words, are you able to interpret the study from it? Why or why not?
  • A good results table should be clearly labeled and provide sufficient information to understand the findings without referring to the text. The table should include:
    • Clear labels for the independent and dependent variables.
    • The F-statistic, degrees of freedom, and p-value for each main effect and interaction effect.
    • Effect sizes (e.g., partial eta-squared) to indicate the practical significance of the findings.
    • Means and standard deviations for each group, if applicable, to help the reader understand the direction of the effects.
    • A clear caption that explains the table's contents.
  • Even with a well-constructed table, the text of the results section should provide a clear and concise interpretation of the findings, including the direction and magnitude of any significant effects. The authors should explain the meaning of any significant interactions and relate the findings back to the original research question and hypotheses. A table alone might not provide enough context to fully interpret the results.

To complete your assignment, you will need to search the Walden Library yourself for a suitable article and then apply these points in your critique.