Journal Article Review and Critique Writing Assignment (Article Critique Sample)

Journal Article Review and Critique
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Journal Article Review and Critique
Summary
The research question of the study is “Does school mobility place elementary school children at risk for lower math achievement? The mediating role of cognitive dysregulation.” The researchers tried to determine whether school mobility had any influence on poor performance in math by elementary children. They have researched the causes of school mobility, and poverty was detected as the main cause. Children from low-income families changed schools frequently compared to those from well-off families. Children of head start and third grade are mainly affected and tend to perform poorly in the fourth grade. Change in school causes cognitive dysregulation; hence, children demonstrate poor performance in math.
The data for the study was obtained from Chicago School Readiness Project, a cluster-randomized efficacy trial. The random data was collected from eighteen head start centers of high poverty sites. According to Friedman-Krauss and Raver (2015), the population sample of 602 3-4 years children was used for the study. Hierarchical linear models were applied to analyze the data. The results showed that 86 percent of the children moved at least one time while 10 percent had frequent mobility changing schools. It is evident that children’s cognitive dysregulation is associated with frequent school mobility and math achievement.
Introduction
The researchers have dwelt on a topic that is relevant to how we raise children in their early education. Meeting children's needs would mean that they would have smooth learning in their head start to grade four without disturbances. It would relieve them from stress that results to poor performance in math. In addition, the research provides important information on the impacts of poverty on education. The results from the analysis of the data prove that vulnerable early childhood children are at risk of performing poorly as they progress with their classes CITATION All15 \l 1033 (Friedman-Krauss & Raver, 2015). The solution to combat the threat is to alleviate poverty and reduce school mobility rate.
The researchers carried out an intensive study and have a relevant literature review. When children change schools, it takes long to adopt the new environment. The disruption of the environment they were used to causes stress. Their performance deteriorates due to stress, missing school for some days, change in curricula, and change in the social environment as they have to make new friends. The introduction of the article provides essential information about the study. It informs the reader about the major findings of the study. By going through the introduction, the reader acquires the justification for the research.
Methods
The information provided by the researchers on method is well detailed, and it can be used for the replication of academic work. The data were randomly collected in eighteen head start centers. They were selected from high poverty neighbors of Chicago. The sample contained 602 children below four years CITATION All15 \l 1033 (Friedman-Krauss & Raver, 2015). However, the participant setting did not reflect a true picture, taking into account that the research was conducted for children. During the direct assessment of the math test, some factors other than school mobility could have led to poor performance. For instance, some children could have feared the exam and the panic could have caused poor performance.
The data collection procedures were well conducted by master’s degree holders. They had been adequately trained on how to conduct the assessment. They closely administered each child with a math test. School provided researchers with records data for the past two years. The measures were taken to reduce possible confounds within the study, and the final exam was mainly administered by the master's degree holders. Minimal assistance was sought from the primary caregivers. The level of biasedness was limited; however, it could emerge from recordings by the school for the two consecutive years.
Results
The experiment tried to demonstrate the relationship between performance in math (dependent variable) with school mobility, cogniti...