in class work 2-13 -> 2-15

Here's an example of another student from a different semester doing a synthesis matrix.

Our's is close to this, but not quite, because, to obviate redundancy, I'm collapsing two assignments into one: that's why this assignment is called the "critical appraisal/synthesis matrix."

These questions might help you critically evaluate.

By "critical appraisal," part of what I mean is in Aveyard (p. 144):



Pay particular attention to the strengths and limitations on the far right. A full critical appraisal would also seek to answer questions such as these (p. 109):



These questions are similar to these, which I also linked above. Use these above questions not only to trigger critical thinking but also to input the strengths and limitations you need for the critical appraisal/synthesis matrix. You'll also have to consider the context:



Notice how the setting in which the research was conducted directly bear on how strong the evidence is for this research question (i.e., your research question).

Ok. I just made a rudimentary critical appraisal/synthesis matrix grid. Don't feel obligated to use this exact grid. In fact I really dislike it. But it'll work. But you have to make one with all of these categories. And you have to do it for all ten of your required sources. That is, you will need to find and tentatively work with ten sources via both research journals, but you will have to re-work with the same ten sources through the synthesis matrix/critical appraisal grid. The first five are due not this Friday but next (2/24). All ten are due by 3/3.

What you have to do isn't simple, but you simply have to fill in the boxes. Here is the example of me filling it out.