This document summarizes a workshop on constructing research articles. The workshop covers identifying the components of a research article, learning strategies for constructing each section, and applying these strategies. Key sections discussed include the introduction, literature review, theoretical framework, methods, findings, discussion and implications. Participants learn how to identify a research problem, review relevant literature, develop a framework, describe their methods and data analysis, present findings, discuss results, and discuss implications. The goal is for participants to understand research article components and begin constructing their own.

1. Breaking it Down:
Critical Evaluation
of Research
Tuesday, July 30th, 2019

2. LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this workshop, you should be able to:
– Identify the main components of a research article
– Identify the core functions of each component of a
research article
– Learn at least one strategy to construct a research
article
– Apply this strategy to begin to construct a research
article

3. ENTRY SURVEY
https://tinyurl.com/aceresearchentry6

4. OVERVIEW OF THE WORKSHOP
– Part IA: Learning about each section of the research
article
– Part IB: Identifying and critiquing each section of a
research article
– Part II: Begin to think through the construction of
a research article
– Part III: Questions and Lingering Thoughts

5. WHAT IS RESEARCH?
Research is a cyclical process of steps that typically
begins with identifying a research problem or issue of
study. It then involves reviewing the literature,
specifying a purpose for the study, collecting and
analyzing data, and forming an interpretation of
information. This process culminates in a report,
disseminated to an audience, that is evaluated and
used in the educational community.

6. WHAT IS RESEARCH?
– Asking Questions: Research starts with one large question (which
can shift) and can be threaded with smaller questions.
– Great research leads to more questions and flawed research begins
with an answer
– Answering Questions
– Systematic: Researchers follow a sequence or a process that is
documented
– Approach: Aspects of methodology, ethical considerations, and
the use of theory
– Learning: Open to discovery and skeptical of existing knowledge

7. OVERVIEW OF THE WORKSHOP
– Part IA: Learning about each section of the
research article
– Part IB: Identifying and critiquing each section
of a research article
– Part II: Begin to think through the construction of
a research article
– Part III: Questions and Lingering Thoughts

8. PART I: THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF
A RESEARCH ARTICLE
1. Introduction
2. Review of Literature
3. Conceptual or Theoretical Framework
4. Methods
5. Findings
6. Discussion
7. Implications

9. THE INTRODUCTION OF
A RESEARCH ARTICLE
– The introduction identifies the problem, and therefore, why the
research matters, and the question that helps to answer the
problem.
– A research problem is a clear statement about an area of concern, a
condition to be improved upon, or a difficulty to be eliminated in
literature or within existing practice that points to a need for
meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation.
– Identifying the problem should help the reader understand why the
research matters- on an individual, institutional, and societal level.
– Often leads in to a research question or research purpose

10. PART I: THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF
A RESEARCH ARTICLE
1. Introduction
2. Review of Literature
3. Conceptual or Theoretical Framework
4. Methods
5. Findings
6. Discussion
7. Implications

11. THE REVIEW OF LITERATURE FOR A
RESEARCH ARTICLE
– A review of literature must critique and synthesize a body of
literature and draw conclusions about the topic in question
– Primary purpose is to provide the reader with comprehensive
background for understanding current knowledge and
highlighting the significance of new research
– Where is the gap?
– A research question should be conceptualized prior to
undertaking a literature review, but the literature review can
narrow the question.

12. THE REVIEW OF LITERATURE FOR A
RESEARCH ARTICLE
1. Select a review topic
– Start with a narrow and focused topic
2. Search the literature
– Identify the appropriate and related “buckets” of literature
– Alternative keywords
3. Analyze and synthesize the literature
– Scan articles to ensure they are relevant
– Read and ask questions, while memoing, about the article
– Summarize ➡️Synthesize ➡️Critique

13. THE REVIEW OF LITERATURE FOR A
RESEARCH ARTICLE
4. Write the review
– Begin with the purpose of the review and roadmap
– Main body
– Synthesis- not just a description of a series of studies
– Critique (methods, population, framing)
– Conclusion: Summarize current knowledge and more so,
point out the gap one more time!

14. PART I: THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF
A RESEARCH ARTICLE
1. Introduction
2. Review of Literature
3. Conceptual or Theoretical Framework
4. Methods
5. Findings
6. Discussion
7. Implications

15. THE FRAMEWORK FOR A RESEARCH ARTICLE
– The framework is the structure that supports a research study
– Guided by a relevant theory, the researcher is provided with a
basis for the hypotheses and choice of research methods
– Frameworks help to identify the limits to the researchers
generalizations.
– A theoretical framework specifies which key variables influence
a phenomenon of interest and highlights the need to examine
how those key variables might differ and under what
circumstances

16. THE FRAMEWORK FOR A RESEARCH ARTICLE

17. PART I: THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF
A RESEARCH ARTICLE
1. Introduction
2. Review of Literature
3. Conceptual or Theoretical Framework
4. Methods
5. Findings
6. Discussion
7. Implications

18. THE METHODS FOR A RESEARCH ARTICLE
– The methods section explains to the reader how you are going
to explore, or answer, your research question. The methods
section often includes:
– Approach (quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods)
– Data collection
– Research sites
– Recruitment of participants/who are the participants
– What is the data and how did you collect it
– Data analysis- Use your framework!
– Trustworthiness or validity
– Positionality

19. PART I: THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF
A RESEARCH ARTICLE
1. Introduction
2. Review of Literature
3. Conceptual or Theoretical Framework
4. Methods
5. Findings
6. Discussion
7. Implications

20. FINDINGS, DISCUSSIONS, AND IMPLICATIONS
OF A RESEARCH ARTICLE
– The findings section shows (not tells) the reader what was found through
data collection and analysis. It presents the data, or the story, and not
much more.
– The discussion section interprets how, or in what ways, the findings
answer the research question and address the research problem.
– What does it do for existing knowledge? e.g., challenge, support, add
– Use your framework!
– Implications for research and practice: Now that we have know this
information, what do we do with it?

21. PART I: QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DIFFERENT
SECTIONS OF A RESEARCH ARTICLE?
1. Introduction
2. Review of Literature
3. Conceptual or Theoretical Framework
4. Methods
5. Findings
6. Discussion
7. Implications

22. OVERVIEW OF THE WORKSHOP
– Part IA: Learning about each section of the research
article
– Part IB: Identifying and critiquing each section of a
research article
– Part II: Begin to think through the construction
of a research article
– Part III: Questions and Lingering Thoughts

23. PART II: CONSTRUCTING YOU/ A
RESEARCH ARTICLE

24. OVERVIEW OF THE WORKSHOP
– Part IA: Learning about each section of the research
article
– Part IB: Identifying and critiquing each section of a
research article
– Part II: Begin to think through the construction of a
research article
– Part III: Questions and Lingering Thoughts

25. EXIT SURVEY
https://tinyurl.com/aceresearchexit6

26. CONTACT INFORMATION
Jessica Harris
Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Education
jharris@gseis.ucla.edu
@DrJessicaHarris