158.729 Assignment 2. Critically Review an STS Paper

 

Aim: Working in pairs or individually, briefly summarize the main point(s) of a current STS research paper (as in assignment 1), and provide a critical 2-5 page review of the paper, leading to a final recommendation. The goal is to show that you understand STS research and can think critically about an STS research paper.

 

Scenario: Imagine you have been asked to review a paper for publication (or not) in a new book, and have to make your recommendation based upon your informed analysis.

 

Details: You may wish to use the Research Roadmap to help with your review. Your grade depends on showing you read the paper carefully and thought about it critically, e.g. limitations, illogical statements, views not supported by evidence, lack of current knowledge, poor method, assumptions not stated, inadequate references, false generalizations, insufficient data, etc. You need to assess good points as well as bad points. Finally, based upon your critical analysis, recommend whether to publish or not, where “publish” means you would want to read it.

Notes:

  1. If you suggest a fault that on examination turns out to be not actually a fault (but your error) you obviously lose some points.
  2. Quote from the paper to support your point, e.g. if you find spelling errors, quote an example from the paper in quotes, and give page number.
  3. Give some support references, e.g. if arguing the paper ignores recent research work give a reference to support your view.  
  4. Organize your review comments under the numbered review criteria 1-7. The YOUR REVIEW COMMENTS section should support your evaluation ratings (ie. how you rated 1. Relevant? 2. Valid?  etc). You cant just rate, you have to also justify your ratings (which is more difficult than Assignment 1).

 

Deliverables:

a. Submit a print version of the Paper Review Form in class.

b. Send the review as an email attachment to bwhitworth@acm.org WITH 729 ASG2 IN THE TITLE, with copy to your partner .

c. Summarize and present your assessment using 3-5 slides in class, giving time for comments from the rest of the class. Print a copy of your slides, 6/page, for the instructor.

 

You will be allocated a paper from the list of STS papers given in Asg 1.


Review the paper honestly – you don’t get points for saying nice things but for saying true things – you are supposed to critically review the paper, i.e. whether you like or dislike it is not relevant to your grade. However to critically review a paper there must be some criticism, i.e. finding nothing to criticize about a paper will not give a good grade. Your grade depends on you finding critical as well as complementary points, and all these papers have faults.

  

Suggestion: You and your partner should first both read the chosen paper carefully, then meet face to face to discuss it actively. When doing so do not worry if you disagree, that is normal, but try to discuss objectively to reach agreement. The course coordinator can’t recommend solutions for you, but can suggest how you can better analyze the issue. Remember: Keep the person and the argument separate!