Soc 280.003, Fall 2006
Extra Credit: Article Review
Due December 13

Read one of the following two articles, available on E-Reserves, and answer the questions below. Type your responses. See Schutt Appendices B and C and the chapters referenced below for reminders on how to construct your responses.

Elwert, Felix and Nicholas A. Christakis. 2006. "Widowhood and Race." American Sociological Review 71 (February): 16-41.

McFarland, Daniel A. and Reuben J. Thomas. 2006. "Bowling Young: How Youth Voluntary Associations Influence Adult Political Participation." American Sociological Review 71 (June): 401-425.

1. In one sentence, what is the basic research question? (chapter 2)

2. Is the purpose of the study explanatory, exploratory, evaluative or descriptive (does it have more than one purpose)? (chapter 1)

3. What is the main theoretical framework presented? (chapter 3)

4. What are the main independent and dependent variables? (chapter 3)

5. How are these variables conceptualized and operationalized? (chapter 4)

6. What are the potential challenges to validity and reliability in the study (particularly regarding the measures used), and how did the authors address them? (chapter 4)

7. What type of sampling procedure was used, and what type of sample was selected (in particular, is it a probability sample or some other sample type)? What was the target population? How would you evaluate the likely generalizability of the findings to other populations? (chapter 5)

8. What were the units of analysis? (chapter 6)

9. Summarize the findings. How clearly were statistical and/or qualitative data presented and discussed? (chapters 9 & 14)

10. What are the implications of the study, particularly in relation to the theoretical framework in which it is situated? What additional research questions and hypotheses are suggested by the study's results? (chapter 3)