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Video Extract

Use extract from film from beginning to 11.03 and also from 31.35 -1.04.54

https://youtu.be/O87fo_Mfd4I

Critiquing a research article

You should also refer to the table in chapter 5, which provides an example of how to read an article critically when writing your literature review.

1. The research question:
   • Is it stated clearly?
   • Do the research aims link to the overall question to be answered through the research?
   • Is the relationship of the research issue and previous research outlined?
2. The literature review
   • Does the review provide a critique of relevant studies? –you will need to demonstrate your wider knowledge of the topic area and use references to back up what you say. You might be aware of some important research that has not been mentioned, for example.
   • Does it identify gaps in existing knowledge?
   • Does it demonstrate how the review has informed the theoretical perspective of the researcher?
3. The methodological approach
   • Does the researcher outline her/his theory of knowledge
   • Is the theory of knowledge appropriate to the question/s asked?
   • Are the claims made by the researcher appropriate to the theory of knowledge that has informed the study? For example, if generalisations made on the basis of a small in-depth sample then this is inappropriate.  Note that you will need to be clear about the criteria by which you judge different types of research. For example in a small scale in-depth study you would not be expected to criticise it on the grounds that the results cannot be generalised unless the researcher her/himself has made an inappropriate generalisation. In other words don’t criticise a researcher for something that s/he didn’t set out to do in the first place. In an in-depth study you should focus on the way in which the researcher tried to maximise validity. In a large scale study you will need to look carefully at how clearly concepts were defined and operationalised – be sure that the questions measure the concepts they are supposed to measure and not something else in order to comment upon the validity; consider whether the sample was representative of the defined population; whether the method of selecting the sample was appropriate; whether there is any acknowledged sampling bias.
   • Does the researcher provide adequate information about the research methods that were used? If appropriate, could it be replicated?
   • Were there any practical issues that affected the design, for example problems of access, and how were they resolved.
4. The mode of analysis
   • Does the researcher provide sufficient information about the way in which the data were analysed?
   • Are the claims made convincing? On what basis?
   • Have the research questions been answered?
5. Ethical issues
   • Did the researcher discuss any ethical dilemmas and how were they resolved?
6. Strengths and Limitations
   • Did the researcher identify the strengths and limitations of the approach taken for her/himself?

 In summary you should demonstrate your own understanding of research through your critique. You should be able to:

• identify the overall theory of knowledge underpinning the article;
• develop a critical discussion which identifies both strengths and limitations of the research being discussed;
• be consistent in your own comments and identify any inconsistencies in the research you are discussing;
• evaluate the extent to which the research questions have been answered and to which the findings are convincing;
• use references to relevant sources from within the research under study and from wider relevant literature to support your comments.

Take another look at the article entitled ‘In the Club’ by Sanders (full reference provided in chapter 3 resources) and make an essay plan for a critical review.

Focus Group Moderator Guide

Thinking back to the articles on young people in prison that you summarised earlier:

1. Make a list of the key ideas that you gained from summarising the two articles you read noting the similarities and differences between them.
2. Jot down any ideas embodied within these arguments that started you thinking about the different ways in which research on the issue of children in Young Offender Institutions could be carried out.
3. Think about the ways in which the issues raised by Moore and Goldson could be highlighted through empirical research. 

Look up the following article in your University library:
Hill, J. (2007) ‘Daring to Dream: Towards an Understanding of Young Black People’s Reflections Post-custody’, Youth Justice, 7(1): 37–51.

1. Using the above research as a guide think about the ways in which an ethnographic approach to research might highlight the issue of violence in Young Offender Institutions.
2. What sensitive issues would you need to take into account?

Children in prison

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/from-care-to-incarceration-the-relationship-between-adverse-childhood-experience-and-10409737.html

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/sep/15/research-children-young-people-custody

Goldson, B. and Coles, D. (2005) In the Care of the State? Child Deaths in Penal Custody. London, INQUEST. Google Scholar

O’Leary, J. (2017) Protecting Children from Harm in Juvenile Detention, Alternative Law Journal, 41:4 pp239-243