Critical Review Template 1 
Tutorial 9: Social Psychology Critical Review 1: Student Work Sheet
The aim of today’s tutorial is to work through your first Social Psychology Critical Review
1. Title
(Full reference of the paper in APA Format)
2. Non Evaluative Summary (approx. 500 words)
(N.B. Do not use the subheadings below in your CR,; this is just to guide your planning and to help you think about what you should be including)
Describe the topic and focus of the paper (Brief background & rationale, aims and hypotheses)
N.B
– Try to rewrite this in your own words.
- If you refer to research within the paper when describing the background ensure this is cited correctly (author, date; cited in paper author, date)
- Try to write in a logical order
Take background of study and re-word, cite-in
Few lines – pretence, and why doing it what’s diff?
Hypothesis at end
Secondary cites only from page
Unless limitations – go further
Outline the methodology used (Design, procedure/measures, participants)
N.B
–Try to rewrite this in your own words
- Focus on the ‘key’ elements within the method – you do not need to describe it all in depth.
-Remember to state the measures used and cite them correctly.
Summarise the main findings and conclusions (Key findings and authors conclusion)
N.B
– Do not just regurgitate all of the findings – which are the ‘key’ findings that relate to the aims and hypothesis.
-Try not confuse the findings (e.g. results/statistics) and the conclusion (how authors interpret the results)
3. Critical Evaluation (approx. 1000 words)
Identify strengths and weaknesses. Each weakness should be followed up with a recommendation or suggestion for improvement.
(N.B.
- This can be in relation to any aspect of the paper or study design, e.g., the theoretical development of the study, the methodology or results.
- It is not enough to just state a limitation – think about HOW and WHY it is a
The aim of today’s tutorial is to work through your first Social Psychology Critical Review
1. Title
(Full reference of the paper in APA Format)
2. Non Evaluative Summary (approx. 500 words)
(N.B. Do not use the subheadings below in your CR,; this is just to guide your planning and to help you think about what you should be including)
Describe the topic and focus of the paper (Brief background & rationale, aims and hypotheses)
N.B
– Try to rewrite this in your own words.
- If you refer to research within the paper when describing the background ensure this is cited correctly (author, date; cited in paper author, date)
- Try to write in a logical order
Take background of study and re-word, cite-in
Few lines – pretence, and why doing it what’s diff?
Hypothesis at end
Secondary cites only from page
Unless limitations – go further
Outline the methodology used (Design, procedure/measures, participants)
N.B
–Try to rewrite this in your own words
- Focus on the ‘key’ elements within the method – you do not need to describe it all in depth.
-Remember to state the measures used and cite them correctly.
Summarise the main findings and conclusions (Key findings and authors conclusion)
N.B
– Do not just regurgitate all of the findings – which are the ‘key’ findings that relate to the aims and hypothesis.
-Try not confuse the findings (e.g. results/statistics) and the conclusion (how authors interpret the results)
3. Critical Evaluation (approx. 1000 words)
Identify strengths and weaknesses. Each weakness should be followed up with a recommendation or suggestion for improvement.
(N.B.
- This can be in relation to any aspect of the paper or study design, e.g., the theoretical development of the study, the methodology or results.
- It is not enough to just state a limitation – think about HOW and WHY it is a