CRITIQUE OF MASS MEDIA ARTICLE ABOUT A SOCIAL SCIENCE
RESEARCH PROJECT
You will write at minimum a 3 page critique of a print mass media article (online, magazine, etc.) and present your critique to the class. The point of this exercise is for the student to take the learned material and apply the concepts to a research study reported in a mass media article.
(1) SELECT A MASS MEDIA ARTICLE
The article may be a description of a study carried out by the newspaper (or magazine, etc.) or a news report for social research conducted by others. Your article must be published since November 2013. Do not use a scholarly journal article. You may not duplicate an article already presented by another student. Mass Media Article Due for Approval: October 17, 2018.[unique_solution]
- CRITIQUE & EVALUATION
Your critique should include (but is not limited to) comments and proper identification and application on the following: relative importance of the topic studied (in general, not to just you personally); unit of analysis; time dimension of the study; study design used; identification of the x and y; the causal relationship being studied (the x and y); working hypothesis(es); satisfaction of the causal inference; threats to causal validity; conceptualization and operationalization (x and y); evaluation of the study’s measurements (exhaustive, exclusive, reliability and validity); adequate data collection methods; relevance and/or adequacy of the sample used for the study; quality of the specific questions asked of study participants; and conclusions or inference drawn from the study. Apply the research methods concepts learned in the class to critique and evaluate the mass media article (NO Summary). Remember that a critique should include both strengths and weaknesses (assuming the study has some of each). Be sure to include your own conclusions as to what, if anything, can be learned from the study and what impact the report in the mass media might have. Helpful Hint: Think in terms of the sequence of material covered in the course so that the critique flows analytically and logically.
Presentation critique reports will be due in class, on the day of your scheduled presentation. Be here on the day you are scheduled to present, because there are NO MAKE-UPS FOR THE PRESENTATION! You must present in order to receive credit for this assignment. An electronic (turnitin.com via Titanium) and hard copy of the paper needs to be submitted by the beginning of class. The assignment is not considered as completed until I have both the hard copy and electronic copy.
As a given, the critique must be well written, structured, and organized (poor grammar and writing mechanics will result in severe point deductions). Keep the paper in a professional tone. Do NOT use direct quotes (everything must be paraphrased into your own words). It must be typed, double-spaced, at minimum 3 full pages (maximum 4 pages), 12 -point Times New Roman font, 1 inch margins, stapled, and paginated. A title page must be included (which does not include as one of the three required pages J).
YOU MUST PROVIDE A COPY OF YOUR ARTICLE TO THE INSTRUCTOR PRIOR TO YOUR PRESENTATION & INCLUDE IT WITH YOUR WRITTEN CRITIQUE.