Psychology Assignment: Critical Review Of A Research Article

Question

Task: This task focuses on developing the ability to access, interpret and critically evaluate the research conducted by academics in your field (specialisation). For this assignment you will have to critically review (critique) research presented in an academic article.
Choose one scholarly, primary research article in the area of your interest from a peer-reviewed academic journal. Primary research means that the authors report on their own original research including their research aims, participants, methods of data collection and the findings. Peerreviewed (or ‘refereed’) means that the journal uses a peer-review system where other academics review submitted articles to ensure high quality of published work. You can find whether a journal is peer-reviewed by looking up the journal and finding information on submission procedures or aims of the journal.
For the article you will need to write a critical evaluation of the article which should include (at a minimum) the following information:
• Introduction of the article (authors, title) and its field of study (using additional references); evaluation of whether the article provides a sufficient overview of previous studies on this topic. If you were unfamiliar with this field, would the literature review give you a clear identification of a gap in the literature?
• Evaluation of the design. What were the aims and research questions? What type of design was used? Was this design appropriate to the research paradigm, and related to the aim and research questions? Why? How?
• Evaluate the methodological decisions: Who were the participants and how were they recruited? Were the ethics principles followed? Did the authors include enough information for the reader to understand what they did? Did they sufficiently explain all the data collection methods and procedures?
• Do you agree with the interpretation of the results? Why or why not? Do they fit with the methodological decisions made?
• Has the article discussed the results using other research for support? Do you agree with the implications and limitations of the study? Why or why not? The aim of this assignment is to critically evaluate the research process, which is not the same as being negative. The questions to consider while critiquing an article are: does the research design and methodology of the study fit its aim and research questions? What are the strength and limitations of the design or methods used to collect the data (e.g. what type of questions can you not answer using this design)? This requires you to extend beyond simply describing the research presented in the article (although some description of the major steps of their research will be required in order to provide explanation for your evaluation), with a particular focus on the process of research (rather than the specific content). Use the questions above to guide your answers.
A minimum of 5 scholarly references is expected. These are in addition to the article that you review which also should be listed in the reference list and referred to in the text.

Answer

1. Introduction
The current research on psychology assignment aims to find the relationship between the teachers and children. The psychology of the children, their learning capabilities and behaviours are the key findings of this paper. It aims to find out the problems that the children go through during their learning process. The study emphasizes the role of the teachers in the independent classrooms and moderating the overtly dependent children of the class. The lack of independent classroom has impacted negatively in the past. It is quite necessary for the development of the cognitive competencies of children. The study finds out that the teacher’s sensitivity also influences the self-regulation of the children which overtly dependent issues.

1.1 Authors
More than one author has written this journal which is going to be examined in the segments of psychology assignment. One of them is Dr. J.L Split, who is an expert in human psychology. He had pursued psychology and education from the Faculty of Psychology and Education at the University of Leuven. The next author is Dr. E. Vervoort, who is also an expert on children's psychology and pursued the same subject as the previous author of the same university. The Last one is Prof. K. Verschueren is also a scholar from Leuven University. He is currently a professor of the same university and has researched human psychology and education.

1.2 Title
"Teacher-Child Dependency and Teacher sensitivity predict Engagement of Children with Attachment Problems."

1.3 field of study
The study's current study design is adequate for the ongoing research paper as it caters to all the factors needed. It caters to the aims and objectives of the research paper on psychology assignment. The study design provides a detailed analysis of children's psychology through different existing literature and surveys. It has further engaged in independent classroom sessions and the peer engagement of the overtly friendly students to see the social withdrawal among them. Independent classroom participation was considered to be associated with lower levels of dependency. The study developed within this psychology assignment mainly focuses on increasing teachers' sensitivity to reduce the problems of overtly dependent children. The sample used in this method was a part of a larger project on the mental health of the children. The individual education schools in Flanders were invited to participate in the survey (Spilt, Vervoort, & Verschueren, 2018).

1.4 evaluation of the overview of the article
The current article illustrated in the psychology assignment provides with a wholesome idea about the children suffering from attachment issues. The children who have internalizing problems of anxiety or depression may go through such problems along. Most of the times a sense of insecurity give birth to the attachment issues. The article goes on mentioning three test models through which it had tried to evaluate the teacher-child relationship and the impacts of it. It mentions an independent classroom model and the social withdrawal model. These two are the tools which helped the authors to further proceed with the research.

1.5 identification of gap from the literature review
The children who suffer from depression, anxiety and aggression during the preschool period, the learning process becomes very difficult to them. Negative relationships with teachers influence very negatively on the children. The existing literatures have found out that the children having good relationships with their teachers have a positive upbringing. The study contains three models and directions to evaluate the psychological factors of both the children and the teachers. These three models cater to the internalizing problems of children. An effective teacher-child relationship may help reducing these factors (Spilt, Vervoort, & Verschueren, 2018).

2. Evaluation of the design
2.1 What are the aim and research questions associated with the case of psychology assignment?
The current research on psychology assignment aims to find the relationship between teachers and children. The psychology of the children, their learning capabilities, and their behaviours are the key findings of this paper. It aims to find out the problems that the children go through during their learning process. The foremost intention is to find out the perceptions of the friendly children regarding their self-control, learning, and behaviour (Spilt, Vervoort, & Verschueren, 2018).

The research question is “How do the children act during their learning process/ what are the responsibilities of the teacher apart from giving lessons to the children?”

1.2 type of design
The findings of the psychology assignment are made through different existing works of literature as well as first hand experiences. It evaluates the different case studies of children and their attachment related issues. The development of teacher's sensitivity is very much essential for such matters. A line of clinical observation has been conducted to find the factors regarding the children having attachment issues.

1.3 Was this design appropriate to the research paradigm, and related to the aim and research questions?
The study's current study design is adequate for the on-going research paper as it caters to all the factors needed. It caters to the aims and objectives of the research paper. The study design of the research on psychology assignment provides a detailed analysis of children's psychology through different existing literature and surveys. The issues are identified, and the preventions are stated in this study design. The personal and professional development of the teachers apart from teaching is mentioned in this report (Spilt, Vervoort, & Verschueren, 2018).

1.3.1 Why
The given study design is appropriate as it caters to the aims, objectives, and the research question of this ongoing research paper. It presents descriptive statistics that state that dependency could become a negative factor in the children's life at times. It is closeness but conflict which can make the learning procedure for the children a little better. It further says that the receptive variables are more useful than the control variables. The teachers and the authorities need to understand the minds of the children and then involve communication through different activities.

1.3.2 How
The study design contains a linear growth model which is separated from the independent classroom engagement and social withdrawal. It researches the influence of teacher-children relationships on the development of the children. This psychology assignment intends to explore areas of children with mild attachment issues during special education. The study emphasizes the role of the teachers in the independent classrooms and moderating the overtly dependent children of the class. The lack of separate classrooms has impacted negatively in the past. It is quite necessary for the development of the cognitive competencies of children. The study finds out that the teacher's sensitivity also influences the self-regulation of the children, which overtly dependent issues (Spilt, Vervoort, & Verschueren, 2018).

1.4 Evaluate the methodological decisions:
1.4.1 Who were the participants, and how were they recruited?
The survey contains the participation of more than 85 Belgian children suffering from mild to severe attachment issues and 70 teachers from various individual schools. The psychology assignment collected the data on the teacher-child relationship and teacher sensitivity during the first trimester of the session. The survey has used different questionnaires for the teachers and kept observing the children and their progress and outcomes. It has further engaged in independent classroom sessions and the peer engagement of the overtly friendly students to see the social withdrawal among them. Independent classroom participation was considered to be associated with lower levels of dependency. The study mainly focuses on increasing teachers' sensitivity to reduce the problems of overtly dependent children.

1.4.2 Were the ethics principles followed?
The current research on psychology assignment has followed the ethics principle. It credits and acknowledges the participants in the survey process. It mentions the 85 children of Belgium and 70 teachers from special schools. The personal data have not been disclosed and all the prior permission and consent were taken. It also acknowledges the individuals and the groups of people helped in this survey process.

1.4.3 Did the authors include enough information for the reader to understand what they did?
The authors have elaborately discussed all the necessary factors regarding the topic explored in the psychology assignment. They have finely described the mental health issues of the children and the ways which could prevent such problems. The overt dependency problems of children give birth to different sorts of insecurity and anxiety. The authors have emphasized upon the teachers' sensitivity through which these problems could be reduced. The authors have further stated the teacher-child relationship and evaluated all the correlative factors of it. The sense of consideration and empathy towards these types of children are the most important in this case. The authors have undergone several surveys where they have indulged 85 children and 70 teachers from Belgium and observed the different characteristics of them. They have provided with different questionnaires to the teachers and found out the results. Apart from that, different individual case studies have been dissected examined (Spilt, Vervoort, & Verschueren, 2018).

1.4.4 Did they sufficiently explain all the data collection methods and procedures?
The authors of this report on psychology assignment have elaborately mentioned the methods and the data collection procedures in it. They have said the factors regarding the survey they have made with children and teachers. The children they have examined were diagnosed with more than one mental health issue. The examination has stated that 30% of the children have severe attachment issues. 40% of children have a history of physical and emotional maltreatment and sexual abuse. The sample used in this method was a part of a larger project on the mental health of the children. The individual education schools in Flanders were invited to participate in the survey. The data collected on the teachers' sensitivity was performed at the beginning of the school session. The teachers were provided with questionnaires on children's engagement. Along with that, an individual verbal intelligence test was conducted in the schools.

1.5 Do you agree with the interpretation of the results?
1.5.1 Why or why not?
There are two tables in the study design, presenting the results of the examination. The way it has been evaluated is quite reliable, and I agree with it. The table 1 provided in the psychology assignment has shown the descriptive statistics of the negative impact of independent classroom participation. It did not correlate with either of teachers' sensitivity or social withdrawal. I agree with the result because it has pointed out both the positive and negative sides of the survey. There is still a problem regarding the result as it fails to find the intercept and slope levels of independent classroom participation. In table 2, the growth models are described. The survey has resulted that closeness has higher impact than conflict on the children (Spilt, Vervoort, & Verschueren, 2018).

1.5.2 Do they fit with the methodological decisions made?
The methodology aims to cater to the behavioural problems of the children suffering from attachment issues and insecurity. The results have been made with all these given elements. The result of the research on psychology assignment has followed those methodological decisions.

1.5.3 Has the article discussed the results using other research for support?
The results of the research paper have not taken help from any other existing literature. It has conducted surveys, interviews and questionnaire to proceed with the report. The first hand encounters have been observed and resulted. The participants were the 85 children from Belgium and 70 teachers from the different special schools (Spilt, Vervoort, & Verschueren, 2018).

1.5.4 Do you agree with the implications and limitations of the study?
The given study on psychology assignment has quite a few limitations to look into. The study has used a longitudinal design and obtained casual conclusions. It has conducted a special educational sample f the kids suffering from mild to severe attachment issues. The results are not very specific and pointed. The cultural differences between the populations have not been mentioned in the study. The psychology assignment has observed the teachers’ sensitivity during the 1^st half of the school year and not for long.

1.5.5 Why or why not?
I do agree with the limitations given in the project. Since, the study on psychology assignment has examined a particular sample of children suffering from mild to severe attachment issues, the general conclusion and population-based statement are vague and they need to be specific. During the observation process, the issues of cultural differences are not mentioned in the study. The study has further made casual conclusions regarding the result of the longitudinal design of study which is also a critical limitation. The sensitivity of the teachers was examined only in the beginning of the school year. This is a psychological issue which undergoes several transitions and transformations through time. It is necessary to conduct these examinations throughout the school year to get effective and absolute results (Spilt, Vervoort, & Verschueren, 2018).

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