Critical resources review critical thinkings examples

During research, there are many resources encountered which include books, websites and articles. However, the suitability of the resources stands to question in terms of the problem or the project under study (Cozby, 1973). The researcher needs to make sense of the level of accuracy of the resources utilised in the research process.

Scope of the Resource

The scope encompasses how broad the resource like a book or article has covered the topic under study (Hart, 1998). This focuses on whether the resource covers the topic in general or if it focuses on a specific feature of the topic. For an effective source, the scope of the work needs to match the expectations of the researcher (Jong, 2002). Should also be within the time frame that the researcher needs the information. It

Audience Present

The intended audience of the source also needs to be put into consideration. The technicality and clinical level of the research material since it determines how much the audience will understand the content presented to them in the research (Machi & McEvoy, 2009). As a researcher, there is a high likelihood of acquiring the correct article written for a particular audience if you begin with the correct index. For instance, for a research problem dealing with acquiring the current statistics for patients of heart disease, it is better to use articles from practicing clinicians rather instead of social science researchers (Stuck et al., 1999).

Timeliness

Timeliness points to the period when the resource was published. In the case of a website, one needs to consider the time when it was last updated. Researchers need to avoid using websites that have not been updated. Obsolescence makes the information inaccurate since it fails to reflect the current state of affairs, which may have changed drastically compared to what was previously experienced (Doebling, Farrar, Prime & Shevitz, 1996). Periodical indexes and library catalogs often show the date of publication and the date within the citation of the bibliography.

Objectivity

Objectivity looks at the main subject being addressed by the author (Ridley, 2008). The article may be an editorial of what has been previously discussed or a first time documentation of the author’s own ideas. An editorial tries to argue out position that has already been taken by another author (Guillemin, 1993). Websites may present certain principles and philosophies upheld by particular companies and organizations. In original and editorial resources, authors often analyze data that has been primarily derived from the field. They may also examine secondary data that has already been collected and analyzed.

Authority of the author

The identity of the author must be well known. Their academic qualification in the particular field that they are examining must be looked at since information must come from sources (authors) that are credible and well qualified so that the researcher does not mislead the audience when they make reference to the sources of their research (Punj & Stewart, 1983). A background check on the author may help determine how vast they are with the particular subject.

Documentation of the Author

In their presentation of data, the author of a source may refer to other sources. The authors need to disclose the information or the ideas of another author in case they used them in their research (Aveyard, 2007). This helps to authenticate the data being presented and avoids incidences of plagiarism. Documentation ensures that the original ideas of the author are preserved and thus keeps in line with the intellectual property rights of other people.

References

Aveyard, H. (2007). Doing a literature review in health and social care: A practical guide. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Cozby, P. C. (1973). Self-disclosure: A literature review. Psychological Bulletin. doi: 10. 1037/h0033950
Doebling, S. W., Farrar, C. R., Prime, M. B., & Shevitz, D. W. (1996). Damage identification and health monitoring of structural and mechanical systems from changes in their vibration characteristics: A literature review. doi: 10. 2172/249299
Guillemin, F. (1993). Cross-cultural adaptation of health-related quality of life measures: Literature review and proposed guidelines. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. doi: 10. 1016/0895-4356(93)90142-N
Hart, C. (1998). Doing a literature review: Releasing the social science research imagination. London: Sage Publications.
Jong, H. D. (2002). Modeling and Simulation of Genetic Regulatory Systems: A Literature Review. Journal of Computational Biology. doi: 10. 1089/10665270252833208
Machi, L. A., & McEvoy, B. T. (2009). The literature review: Six steps to success. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Corwin Press.
Punj, G., & Stewart, D. W. (1983). Cluster analysis in marketing research: Review and suggestions for application.
Ridley, D. (2008). The literature review: A step-by-step guide for students. London: SAGE.
Stuck, A. E., Walthert, J. M., Nikolaus, T., Büla, C. J., Hohmann, C., & Beck, J. C. (1999). Risk factors for functional status decline in community-living elderly people: a systematic literature review. Social Science & Medicine. doi: 10. 1016/S0277-9536(98)00370-0