This assignment has two objectives. First, you are to select one quantitative and one qualitative peer-reviewed empirical research study article in any area of food and   nutrition within the last ten years (after 2013) based on your group interest. Please do not select a review or mixed-method article). Next, your group will conduct a critical review (questions 1 to 11 below). Peer-reviewed refers to the procedure by which academic journal articles are reviewed by other researchers before being accepted for publication. Much like a book review, the objective is for you to describe and evaluate the research article.

In your review, describe and/or critically analyze (favorably and/or unfavorably) each of the following questions. Do not provide a brief answer for each question. Your detailed explanation is required.

Main questions to be considered in the review of each article are as followed:

Background Information & Topic Importance (2 pages)

1.  What is the background information on this research study?

2.   In what way(s) can this research article potentially affect the quality of food and nutrition practice?

3.  Who in society can potentially use this study’s findings? (e.g., health care

professionals, policy makers, other social agencies, local communities)

4.   How can the findings potentially harm them (Attention to the topic could be used as a political platform and potentially inflate the problem).

Research Question, Variables & Theoretical Position/ Reasoning (2 pages):

**For question 5, please answer either a or b

5.  a. What are the dependent, independent variables or control variables (for a quantitative study)?

b. What are the main ideas that are been examined (for a qualitative study)?

6.  What is the main research question or the main area of inquiry?

7.  What is the identified theoretical position or the underlying reasoning that supports the entire research study?

(The theoretical position is directly related to the study you have chosen. If the  researchers didn't mention this explicitly, discuss their thinking logic or process from which they developed their research.)

8.  Was the associated review of existing literature adequate?

Methodological Assessment (2 pages):

9.   What are the research methods used to investigate the problem (e.g., survey

research, secondary data analysis)? Are the method(s) employed appropriate to study the research problem?

10. What, in your opinion, is the greatest methodological strength and greatest methodological weakness in this quantitative or qualitative peer-reviewed   research article?

11. What ethical issues, if any, are raised by the author(s)? Should an ethical issue(s) have been raised by the author(s) that was not?

A FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER:

.   Be concise, brief and explicit and use clear subheadings.

.   Organize answers by sections and do not write in a question-answer format, but paragraphs that connect your answers logically throughout your paper.

.   Be objective in your critique – do not take an overly negative or positive approach.

.   If you quote a passage(s) from your source, use proper citation (as you would when you write an academic paper). The 7th  Edition of APA guide is available on OWL.

.   Please DO NOT go over the page limit (maximum 12 pages, double spaced).