SOC110: Introduction to Sociology Dr. Sarah Goodrum

1. SOC110: Introduction to SociologyDr. Sarah Goodrum Tips for Critical Reading

2. Reading a Research ArticleAdapted from: Babbie, Earl. 2001. The Practice of Social Research, 9th Ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing • What is the basic research question or problem? (try to state in one sentence) • What was the hypothesis, if any? • What were the independent and dependent variables in the hypothesis? • Was a particular theoretical framework (or sociological theory) used? Which one? • Would a different framework/theory yield different findings? • What prior research was reviewed? Was the review adequate? • Describe the methods used (e.g., population, sample selection, questions/measures, analysis techniques). • Were the methods used appropriate? Were they ethical? • What were the findings? (try to state in 2-3 sentences) • Did the findings confirm or refute the hypothesis, if any? • Did they confirm or refute previous research? How so? To what extent? • How can the findings be used to understand other populations or problems?

3. Critical Thinking • first, understand the material (before critiquing it) • then, examine and evaluate it: • don’t just accept what you read at face value • look for any underlying assumptions • ask yourself, if the findings would be different: • with a different theoretical approach? how so? • in a different time period or place? how so? • with a different methodological approach (e.g., population, sample selection, interview questions, analysis)? explain.