The Effect of Divorce on Sons’ Aggression
Research Study Critique Questions
1. What is the experimental design of the study reported in this article? Explain your
answer. (5 marks) (maximum 30 words)
2. Identify and operationalise the independent variable(s), if any, in this study. If there
were no independent variables, explain your answer. (10 marks) (Maximum 100
words)
3. Identify and operationalise the dependent variable(s) in this study. (10 marks)
(maximum 100 words)
4. Is/are the independent variable/s appropriate to test the aim of the study? If yes,
briefly explain why. If no, briefly explain why not. (10 marks) (maximum 200 words)
5. Is/are the dependent variable/s appropriate to test the aim of the study? If yes, briefly
explain why. If no, briefly explain why not. (10 marks) (maximum 200 words)
6. The authors conclude that the finding that observable signs of anger and overt
aggressive behaviour nearly doubled under frustration supports the hypothesis that
anger is a distinguishing characteristic of boys of divorced parents. Is this conclusion
supported by the study result? Explain your answer. (15 marks) (maximum 200
words.
7. Was the choice of participants in the experiment appropriate to test the aim of this
study? If yes, briefly explain why. If no, briefly explain why not. (15) (maximum 200
words).
8. Was the procedure for assuring accurate observations of aggressive behavior
appropriate? Explain your answer (10 marks) (maximum 150 words)
9. Identify a potential threat to internal validity of the study? (10 marks) (maximum 50
words)
10. Is the reference formatting appropriate? If yes, explain why. If, not, explain why not. (5
marks) (maximum 50 words)
