Affiliated School;
Now read the titles and abstracts of the 14 articles in the attached file. Using criteria described in the Pyrczak's guide, answer the following questions:
1) Best title:
The best title is: Why Does Early Sexual Intercourse Predict Subsequent Maladjustment? Exploring Potential Familial Confounds
Explain why:
The first part of the title is a question that begs for an answer from the reader, the second part tells the reader what is the research is all about (Pyrczack, 2012). The research is based on the findings of another research that proved that early sexual intercourse indeed leads to maladjustments; the title covers that aspect by clearly indicating that. The research intends on exploring the familial confound and the title captures it clearly as well.
2) Worst title:
Genetic Influences On The Stability Of Low Self Esteem: Results From A Longitudinal Sample Of Twins.
Explain why:
The title gives the results of the entire research in the title. This is because it declares that genes do influence the stability of low self esteem. This is not based on any other research i.e. the research is does not build on work done by another researcher. The title should pose the question of whether genes have an influence on the stability of low self esteem.
3) Best abstract:
The best abstract, is from the research with the title, Risk factors for child and adolescent maltreatment: a longitudinal investigation of a cohort of inner city youth.
Explain why:
- Correlation between the title and the abstract- The abstract clearly describes the title. It clearly indicates the difference between the child and the adolescent period of time taken.
- The highlight of the study is clearly indicated- it highlights the conclusion that maltreatment in children is influenced during the gestation period and the post natal time. In adolescent it is caused by lack of care and attention especially in school performance.
- Preventive and curative measures are lightly indicated- this gives the reader a tip of the information and leaves room for more to be indicated in the research itself.
- It opens new question for more research
- The research methodology is mentioned- it is a longitudinal analysis of the same population over a period of time.
4) Worst abstract:
A natural experiment on Residential Change and Recidivism: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina.
Explain why:
The abstract starts off well however, it starts to wonder off because it brings in a bigger natural cause. The mention of Hurricane Katrina in the title and the abstract takes the attention away from the research of crime and parole ex-convicts and brings in the aspect of suffering and losing all they had (Pyrczack, 2012). The mention of the hurricane takes away the attention. The hurricane should be mentioned as an example within the research and not the main source of knowledge for the research. It creates a big destruction away from the highlight, the conclusion and findings of the research.
References
Pyrczack, F. (2012). Evaluating Research in Academic Journals: A Practical Guide to Realistic Evaluation, 5th Edition, McGraw Hill Publishers
