The Task
Critically analyse the research process used in:
WHERE DO CHILDREN USUALLY PLAY? A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF PARENTS’ PRECEPTIONS OF
INFLUENCES ON CHILDREN’S ACTIVE FREE-PLAY
in Health and Place 12 (2006) 383 – 393
Jenny Veitch, Sarah Bagley, Kylie Ball, Jo Salmon
Word limit: 1300 words +-10%
Student Instructions:
 You are to present your response in a report format – this means using headings (and subheadings)
to organise your writing
 Refer to the following site for guidelines to writing a critical analysis:
www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/pdf/critical_review.pdf
 Your response should be written in academic style using sentences and paragraphs
 Edit your work to make sure there are no errors in grammar, spelling etc.
 You need to include at least two references (one including the research paper and at least one other
reference)
 You must follow Taylors College guidelines for referencing and plagiarism
 You are required to submit this task through Turnitin – Turnitin will be open a week before the due
date and you are able to submit multiple times before the due date.
 You must include a cover sheet which contains the following information – Full Name; Student
Number; Class; Teacher: Assessment Number/Title; Due Date
 You must include an anti-plagiarism declaration available on study smart, signed and dated.
 If you submit after the due date and time without a medical certificate, 20% of the possible marks
will be deducted for the first 24 hours and a further 20% for the next 24 hours. After that point a zero will
be awarded.
3
Writing your Critical Analysis
You must include the following headings AND you should consider the questions included below:
TITLE
Decide on an appropriate title for your report.
INTRODUCTION – (100 words)
The introduction should briefly outline the purpose of your report, introduce the research paper and topic
area, and state your overall evaluation of the paper.
The body of you report should include the following 3 areas:
A: THE RESEARCH – (250 words)
This part of your report should outline the key aspects of the research paper:
 What are the aims of the research? What are the researchers trying to do?
 What methods were used?
 Briefly, what were the findings and recommendations? (Briefly = no more than 2 paragraphs)
B: CRITICAL ANALYSIS – METHOD AND SAMPLE – (600 words)
This part of your report should analyse the methods and sample used in the research:
 Were the research methods appropriate? Why? Why not?
 Could any other research methods have been used to better achieve the aims of the research? Justify
your answer.
 Was the sample group satisfactory? Explain.
C: CRITICAL ANALYSIS – OTHER ISSUES – (250 words)
This part of your report should briefly analyse other aspects or issues with the research:
 Did the researchers make appropriate use of secondary materials? Explain
 Did the researchers make appropriate use of ethical considerations? Explain
 Are there any other critical comments you would make? (eg. related to research conclusions, structure
of research paper or recommendations)
CONCLUSION – (100 words)
You must come to some overall conclusion about the research & the methods that have been used. Is it a
useful piece of research? Justify your comments.
Marking Criteria:
Outcomes Assessed:
 applies appropriate language and concepts associated with society and culture
 selects, organises and evaluates information and sources for usefulness, validity and bias
 applies appropriate language and concepts associated with society and culture
 plans an investigation, analyses and synthesises information from a variety of perspectives and
sources
 communicates information, ideas and issues using appropriate written and/or graphic forms.
4
Mark /20 General Descriptors Task Specific Criteria
19 – 20
Excellent understanding & content. All
sections addressed. Clear reasoning &
meaning. Well organised. Explicit.
Scholarly argument. Subject specific
skills, language & vocabulary used
effectively. Evidence of a variety of
data sources. Illustrative examples to
support argument.
 Excellent response – sustained,
logical, well structured, detailed
understanding
 Clear, well organized report format
 Clear outline of research aims,
methods, findings, recommendations
 Comprehensive analysis of methods
& sample group- good detail
 Clear, specific reference to relevant
alternative methods with justification
 Inclusion of brief analysis of other
relevant aspects/issues
16 – 18
Consistent. Good understanding &
content. Most sections of task
completed or some parts less fully
developed, misinterpreted or answered
in a cursory way. Explanatory.
Factually correct. Attempt to justify
generalisations. Good use of subject
specific skills, language & vocabulary.
 Very good response – sustained,
structured, sound understanding
 Well organized report
 Clear outline of research aims,
methods, findings, recommendations
 Analysis of methods & sample group
– some detail
 Some reference to relevant
alternative method/s with some
justification
 Some reference to other relevant
aspects/issues
13 – 15
Basic content used appropriately. Most
sections completed to a satisfactory
level. Some sections may be too lightly
treated, missed or misinterpreted.
Somewhat descriptive, little
elaboration but relevant to the question.
Conclusions consistent with argument
presented. Limited range of subject
specific skills, language & vocabulary
used.
 General response – descriptive,
structured, some understanding
 Features report format
 Basic outline of research aims,
methods, findings, recommendations
 Description of methods & sample
group – little detail
 Some reference to other method/s
with little/no justification
 Brief reference to other aspects
9 – 12
Limited understanding & content.
Many sections of the task missed or
treated incorrectly. Many inaccuracies.
Meaning is unclear. Little use of
factual data to support generalisations.
Conclusions inconsistent with data or
argument, or no conclusions given.
Poor use of subject specific skills,
language & vocabulary.
 Limited response – limited structure
& understanding
 Some report features
 Brief, basic outline of research –
may not cover all areas
 Brief, basic description of methods
&/or sample
 May/may not refer to other method/s
 May/may not refer to other aspects
1 – 8
Little understanding & content. Very
few sections attempted. Absence of
factual data. Much irrelevant or
inaccurate material. Incoherent or
incomprehensible. Little attempt to
address task
 Insufficient response – very basic &
limited understanding
 Little/no report format
 Limited, brief, basic response –
outline or description
 May/may not refer to all areas of Q
 Incomplete, unclear, some relevance