Research Articles Summary/Critique (3) EDU 607

You are to read 3 research articles in science education and provide a 2-3 page summary and critique of each article. The article you choose should be a report of research, a review of research on a particular subject, or a research-based discussion of a particular subject in science education. The journals listed below are in the Berry library and might have some research articles and some activity articles. ERIC is another excellent source for specific research in science education areas. Choose research articles from these or other sources, including books. You should ask me review the article to see if it fulfills these criteria.

Your summary/critique should be typewritten (double-spaced) and cogently express both the issues raised in the research and your reaction to their discussion. Include the following areas, as necessary:

A summary that includes the problem identified, its importance, the design of research, the results and the conclusions reached.

A critical analysis of the research design, including brief details of the method along with strengths and weaknesses of the link between the design and the conclusions.

Your reaction, including strengths and weaknesses, to the study or studies. State the facts but also give your reasoned opinions on the validity of the researcher's conclusions and on your ideas for dealing with the issue or problem.

All citations and references APA format.

Available in the Berry College Library:

Journal of Research in Science Teaching
Science and Children & Science Scope & The Science Teacher
Science Education
School Science and Mathematics
Elementary School Journal & Middle School Journal
Many other journals that may include science-related research!

Web sites for ERIC searches 

The ERIC database contains more than 850,000 abstracts of documents and journal articles on education research and practice. The Berry library has a complete collection of ERIC (ED) documents!  These can be searched through GALILEO.

http://www.berry.edu/library/resources/index.html or http://www.galileo.peachnet.edu/Homepage.cgi

Ask the library or me for the current Berry password.  The education search engines are listed on:

http://www.berry.edu/library/resources/educ.html  

This includes full-text sites. Wilson  Omni-file has many education full-text articles.  E*Subscribe has full-text ERIC ED documents.  

http://ericae2.educ.cua.edu/scripts/ewiz/amain2.asp or http://ericir.syr.edu/

This state-of-the-art search engine allows patrons to interactively select terms from the *ERIC Thesaurus* to build high-quality, effective searches. 

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