Grossman, Chaloupka & Sirtalan (1995) conducted a study in which they examined alcohol addiction. This empirical research was carried out to review and enhance the empirical literature regarding sensitivity to alcohol consumption and extreme consumption to variations in prices of alcoholic beverages. These researchers based their study on a model of rational addictive behavior that focuses on the link between past, current, and future consumption of a potentially addictive product. The study found that alcohol consumption among young adults is addictive on the basis that increases in past or future consumption contributes to an increase in current consumption. This paper provides a review and critique of this study based on its structure and content and the recommended content sections of a research study.
Elements Influencing the Believability of the Research
Is the report well written - concise, grammatically correct, avoid the use of jargon? Is it well laid out and organized?
The research article is well written using concise and grammatically correct language. Additionally, the researchers have avoided the use of jargon, which helps in improving readers’ understanding of the report. However, the report lacks a proper structure since some of its sections are not labeled or specified. The researchers did not follow the recommended content of sections for a research study by failing to specify the various segments in the article.
Does the researcher(s') qualifications/position indicate a degree of knowledge in this particular field?
The author’s qualifications/positions demonstrate some level of knowledge relating to the research issue. The complex nature of the research issue requires different perspectives for analysis, which makes the authors’ qualifications suitable for the study and particular field.
Is the title clear, accurate and unambiguous?
The title of this research report is clear and unambiguous since it shows the specific topic that will be studied and the method to be employed by the researchers i.e. empirical analysis.
Does the abstract offer a clear overview of the study including the research problem, sample, methodology, finding and recommendations?
The abstract provides a clear overview of the research by including the phenomenon under investigation,...
However, the researchers do not state their recommendations in the abstract segment though they clearly state the study’s findings.
Elements Influencing the Robustness of the Research
Is the purpose of the study/research problem clearly identified?
The purpose of the study is not only stated in the Abstract but also clearly identified immediately after the Literature Review section. Through the clear identification of the purpose of the study, its easy for the reader to identify the research problem.
Does the research report follow the steps of the research process in a logical manner? Do these steps naturally flow and are the links clear?
Since the researchers did not specify the various segments in this study, the report does not follow the steps of the research process in a logical manner. As a result, it lacks flow and confusing because some of the segments are placed in the wrong place such as study variables, which are included in the data analyses section.
Is the review logically organized? Does it offer a balanced critical analysis of the literature? Is the majority of the literature of recent origin? Is it mainly from primary sources and of an empirical nature?
While the review of literature is logically organized in this study, the researchers primarily focused on analyzing literature relating to the proposed model that acts as the theoretical foundation or framework for the study. The researchers did not review literature relating to the research issue, but primarily focused on how the theoretical model of addictive behavior explains individual’s behavior from a rational perspective. Even though this review was based on primary sources, it did not focus on earlier studies carried out on the phenomenon under investigation. Additionally, the literature review segment is not clearly identified but included as part of the introductory segment of the research report.
Has a conceptual or theoretical framework been identified? Is the framework adequately described? Is the framework appropriate?
Based on a review of literature relating to the proposed model to be included in the study, the theoretical framework for the study has been identified. This framework is sufficiently described…
