Critical Evaluation of a Research Paper - Assignment Example

? Critical Evaluation Critical evaluation of research papers is a constructive scientific approach that aims at improving scientific studies. It identifies both strengths and weakness in scientific research articles in an attempt to establish their conventional acceptance. Perfect material possesses all qualifications for goods scientific content, which in turn present factual information. Flaws in research papers are likely to reduce the level of accuracy of scientific content. In order to verify a given material scientifically, one has to examine its introduction, appropriate use of theory, selection of methods and materials, results obtained and the conclusion with further examination of new findings and their implications. In this perspective, this paper examines a research paper by Kim, M.E et al. (2010) and puts it under evaluation of all of the above mentioned requirements of scientific expectation. Critical Evaluation After repeatedly readily this paper, one can start to understand that the introduction is appropriate for the problem to be investigated in their research. The research paper offers an appropriate scientific background relevant to neurogenesis and associated effects. Although the authors do not begin with clear definition of the problem, theoretical background offers a good start of this paper. With revealing information from previous research and evidences available on the effects of Bisphenol A (BPA), the authors give wide-scope insight into how this chemical affects the body, specifying which particular parts are affected and further revealing the sources of this chemical. They narrow their argument down to a specific part of the brain which is largely affected, and the reasons for investigation. With consideration of the effects of the chemical on the human brain, the authors provide a good rationale for conducting their investigation on the hippocampus. This makes the paper unambiguous and thus clear on chosen rationale. However, the authors do not present deeper information in their theoretical part. There are assumptions that every reader will comprehend the introduction part and thus the authors have used confusing language and terms. Choice of methods and materials This is an essential part of any scientific investigation. When there is extreme clarity and accuracy on choice of methods and materials to be used in a study, the level of accuracy in research conclusion increases and thus increase credibility of a research. Considering the above research paper, the authors commence by indicating the materials to be used in their scientific investigation. By dividing the section into eight subsections, which is from 2.1-2.8, they present both the materials and methods as a combination. Methods and materials are thus not given a proper identification in different sections so that a reader can understand which part consists of methods and which one consists of materials. Secondly, the authors create another serious confusion in this section. When presenting both materials and methods, they also bring into the section, some content that is of theoretical background. This information thus creates a shift away from understanding methods and materials used to theoretical background understanding, especially in section 2.2. Sections 2.3 (Kim, et al. 2011) onwards provide clear layout of methodologies through depiction of experimental procedures. Sections 2.2-2.5 provide detailed information that would enables or creates ability for the experiment to under replication in another lab. These sections cover basic information of mice brain acquisition, quantification, storage and labeling. Section 2.6 gives vague information that might prove hard to replicate in a distant laboratory. Although, the authors give detail on Nissi staining, replication of this step somewhere else might be a hindrance to replication of the entire experiment. Section 2.9 gives the statistical approach to be used in analysis of obtained results and thus indicates on how to derive conclusions from data obtained in their scientific investigation. Results section The results section of the research provides gathered information obtained from the research above. Under different subheading, different results obtained from the study. The different subheadings give detailed results as acquired from the study. The authors bring clarity in this section by properly presenting their results in a concise way by showing levels of BPA and brain effects over a period of two weeks (Kim, et al. 2011). Although written for higher learning institutions, clarity of the results through statistics gives appropriateness to the study. While statistics presented are not in abundance for comprehensive analysis and thus more accurate conclusion drawing, the sections reduces ambiguity and thus remains appropriate. Discussion and conclusion The discussion section an experiment is where more information is provided as regards study findings and relevance to the study. This section needs to discuss, in deep detail, the results obtained from an experimental study; such as the one under evaluation. In this respect, the authors shed light on the results by explaining statistics presented above. They argue that different doses of BPA had different effects on the brain of mice. With high doses impeding neuron regenerations, high levels had a reverse effect. Further revelation indicates that higher levels, such as 500 micrograms per Kilogram of body weight, led to death of brain cells. These discussions create a good connection between the first three sections of the paper and lead towards understanding the conclusion. The discussion section also gives fundamental knowledge required for a reader to critically understand analysis of the results provided. The section of the conclusion therefore becomes an important and justified part of the study with clarities in the research, justification of the methods of data collection employed and the findings. They eventually related these findings towards the objectives of the study. With this consideration, the discussion gives appropriate address to the results obtains and therefore lessens dubiousness in this scientific investigation. Also, presentation of images obtained during the study cement credibility in the research since all data obtained during the study are presented in the paper. This paper thus becomes sound and directed at accuracy. The conclusion part is also as important as other parts of the research paper. With a link to objectives of the study, this section declares whether the study was successful or not. Bys considering the discussion section of the research paper, the conclusion provide by the authors indicate that there are associations of abnormalities in the brain to physical behavior. Likewise, under influence of chemicals, the brain functions differently. This part provides relevance of the study on how the chemical under investigation impairs a part of the brain. Although the conclusion is not vividly stated in a different independent section, it fuse into the end of the discussion provides a clear link of the success of the research in attaining its objectives. Thereafter, the authors indicate that the new discovery that BPA impairs a part of the brain, which is the hippocampus (Kim, et al. 2011), creates a new finding in scientific research and thus completes a criterion for qualification of given content as wholly scientific. References Kim, M.E., et al. (2011). Exposure to Bisphenol A appears to impair hippocampal neurogenesis and spatial learning and memory. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 49, 33-83-3389. Read More