Finance

3. Written examination (8 pages) 60 points
Instruction: Write a critique on your self-selected research article. Your critique should show that
you are able to
 understand, analyze and evaluate the reported research work
 recognize the writers’ arguments
 engage in critical thinking and writing.
* Preparation
Critique writing should not exceed 3000 words (not including references).
Please use 1.5 spacing and wide margins on one side. Use a font size of 10. Ensure that each new
paragraph is clearly indicated. Number all pages consecutively.

ANSWER

Quantitative Article Critique

Factors Affecting the Successful Employment of Transition-Age Youths with Visual Impairments

The study will delve into discussing the factors that affect visually impaired youths as the transition through college to employment of from high School to college. According to the article the researchers agree that the transition from college to employment or from high School to college is often discussed.

Little research has however been put into identifying the different factors that affect the transition process through to college of from college into employment for the visually impaired youth. from the article the researcher did not clearly state the national and the purpose for doing the study. I however feel that the lack of research on the same topic could be considered as a rationale for the researcher to choose to work on the same topic. More information could however have been important. and the researcher could have provided more information to justify the need and the essence for taking part in this research and for doing the study. The statement problem was also not clearly identified or written by the researcher. the author should have cited more information to emphasize on the high rate of unemployment within the visually impaired youth. the study by Nagle is however one of the best studies that sides unemployment rates within youths as they transition from high School through to college or to employment. The purpose statement of this study could have clearly stated that.

Review of the Literature

The researcher reviewed the literature used in the study to explain the variables that were used and previously studied. The article introduction is very clear and precise. From the introduction I could already clearly understand what the study was going to be and could already guess the amount of research done on each variable. The introduction also gave me a rough idea of the direction through which the researcher was going to take with the study and his analysis. More information provided by the author was helpful as the sole purpose for doing the research was not really indicated in the introduction.

Some of the factors mentioned by the author in his study include the role of assistive technology, self-esteem, academic competence, the locus of control, and self-determination. The author father considers the relevance of these factors in his work. The author clearly indicated these factors in his research but failed to label them as variables until later in the study (Wolffe and Candela, 2002). The correlation between different variables and finding employment who shown by citing studies from previous research. The study has ever mostly mentioned university graduates and secondary school students which made me wonder if more research could have been cited that forecast on visually impaired students and persons. The author did not explain how he ended up with the variables that he mentioned and listed in his study. I felt the variables were topics that the author had interest in and not really the most significant variables related to unemployment of the visually impaired.at the end of the study it was still not clear whether these variables just interested the order or what the most significant for the study.

I had to perform my own research to identify the counter arguments that might help me understand and comprehend more to the variables that were mentioned by the researcher. I however did not find any contradicting counterarguments to his research. Wiring information from other studies would have helped me better understand this article and closely look at the variables that were mentioned by the author. Any contradicting research would have also acted as the rationale for performing this research.

I also looked at the constructs of the study. From my research and an analysis of the study the variables that the researcher wished to evaluate were well reviewed and work from previous studies considered. Employment acted as the dependent valuable. I felt that the defendant variable was not clearly defined and was left as vague. it is not clear whether the water referred to as full-time or part-time employment. The author did also not indicate whether he referred to as both types of employment or whether long term or temporary (La Grow, 2004). The study did not touch on anything to do with minimum wages. I felt that employment really needed to be defined to avoid overlooking any allowed variables. Defining the dependent variable could have also helped do away with the threat to construct the validity of the study. This would have helped to avoid any misleading results.

The author failed to cite the national longitudinal transition studies or special education students which I felt was essential to this study. the other however referenced the national longitudinal transition studies of special education students at the end of his study (Bell, 2010). I had expected it to be cited more early in the study. Another important study for that the author could have all referenced was the study conducted by Kirchner and Smith in 2005. The study conducted by Smith and Kirchner reported on the wages generally and by youths with visual impairments forces youths with other disabilities. This would have added so much value to this research and the information could also have been important in defining our dependent variable. I however must not that I recognize so many names that the researchers cited. This made it easy for me to confirm the validity of his sentiments.

Methodology

Research questions and hypotheses were developed by the researchers at the end of their literature review. Some of the hypothesis developed who is listed below.

1. Early work experiences will be associated with employment.
2. Academic competence will be associated with employment.
3. Self-determination skills will be associated with employment.
4. Higher levels of self-esteem will be associated with employment.

The research questions were as follows (Capella-McDonnall & Crudden, 2009, p. 331):

1. Is the use of assistive technology or devices associated with employment?
2. Is involvement with the counselor in the vocational rehabilitation process associated with

employment?

3. Is an internal locus of control associated with employment?

The researcher listed the variables after he came up with the research questions and the hypothesis. The Independent variables used for this study were work experience, the use of assistive technology, level of involvement with a counselor, locus of control, self-esteem, self-determination, and academic competence. Employment was used as the dependent variable. The author clearly stated how he intended to measure each independent variable that he listed against the dependent variable which was employment (Wolffe and Kelly, 2011). He also came up with a way to set limitations to control them. The intervening confounding variables were not identified by the researcher. the study how was conducted well as the dependent and independent variables were well described. I have a field that intervening variables should have been listed United to reduce any threats to the internal validity of the study. these intervening variables include the amount of work time for a specific job rather than simply researching and working out when their most recent job was held. Job shadowing experience might be used as another intervening variable. According to Nagle, some other intervening variables include volunteer experience, access to print materials, and membership in community organizations.

Customer review of the study a funeral and that more intervening variables should have been listed by the author. Some of these intervening variables would include the existing social networks of friends and families. More success in finding work and employment could be seen with the larger social networks than those with smaller social networks. This can be noted independent of any independent variables. People with disabilities tend to experience buses in society and some additional confounding variables. Some of these are variables include previous job duties and social interaction skills. According to Nagel (2001), social interaction skills greatly influence I need success in employment. This is how you had to measure. The author would have added more value to these are a size if he could have included such information.

The study considered the transition in youths with visual impairments as the population of interest. The data used for the study was taken from the Cornell university’s website for longitudinal study of the vocational rehabilitation services program (Capella-McDonnall & Crudden, 2009, pp. 331-334). The sample used in the study was obtained based on a complex multi-state design. A certain criterion was that by the researchers to obtain data from the sample presented by the longitudinal study of the vocational rehabilitation services data. The ethical considerations of human subjects 10 included in the information presented by the researcher. The IRB process was also not presented. While analyzing the study assumed that the longitudinal study of the vocational rehabilitation services report included the information regarding ethical consideration of the human subjects (Lee and Park, 2008). This is because the information contained public use data. The best population for the study for aged 21 and below. The researcher used for 21 yards for his research. I personally felt that this population was rather small for the study. the sampling procedure would have been explained more sustainable data set had more than 8500 participants. The researcher did not bother to explain how he got to such a small population for the study. I assumed that most of the other subjects who were not included in the second subject or above age 21 forehead other disabilities.

The researcher used University and analysis for most of the variables due to his choice of the small sample size. The analysis used included the logistic regression and Fisher’s exact test. multivariate analysis of variance procedures was used to test the locus of control measure. The researcher also applied a method developed by Hochberg Benjamini to avoid the type 1 error.

It is very accurate to conclude that the researcher intended to use correlational design for his research. I drew to this conclusion based on his data analysis and the research questions and the hypothesis which is. There was no specific mention of any prediction design used in the research as much as it is clearly conclusive that they study reflected and exploratory design. The data obtained for the longitudinal study of the vocational rehabilitation services program was collected at magical points (Shaw et al., 2007). The latter however was collected one time for the study. The approach the researcher gave to his study resembled an explanatory model. Having understood that there was no prediction made in the study, I was further convinced that the explanatory model was used. Leading the study however the researcher tries to explain by giving predictions in the relationship between the dependent and the Independent variables.

Both inferential and descriptive statistics were used to calculate the results of the study. The academic competence and locus of control were measured using descriptive statistics while the measure of Central tendency and the viability of the two variables provided were measured through inferential statistics. The other variables were also analyzed using inferential statistics (Capella-McDonnall, 2005). Some of these statistics include the MANOVA test and the Fisher’s exact test. The researcher went an extra mile to prove the practical significance of the study. The practical significance of the results was calculated using phi coefficient more categorical analysis. The author chose to determine the significance of the study by setting the alpha level to .10. The researchers concluded that the recent years of work experience and self-esteem did not contribute to any statistical significance in the rehabilitation process of youth with disabilities. Statistical significance was reached to the number of jobs held prior to the use of assistive technology, locus of control, self-determination skills, and academic competence.

Discussion and Recommendations

The author mostly focused on the variables that reach significance and related them to the previous research within his conclusions and discussion sections of the study. The study will delve into discussing the factors that affect visually impaired youths as the transition through college to employment of from high School to college. According to the article the researchers agree that the transition from college to employment or from high School to college is often discussed. Little research has however been put into identifying the different factors that affect the transition process through to college of from college into employment for the visually impaired youth. from the article the researcher did not clearly state the national and the purpose for doing the study (Capella-McDonnall & Crudden, 2009, pp. 336-337). I however feel that the lack of research on the same topic could be considered as a rationale for the researcher to choose to work on the same topic. More information could however have been important. and the researcher could have provided more information to justify the need and the essence for taking part in this research and for doing the study. The statement problem was also not clearly identified or written by the researcher. the author should have cited more information to emphasize on the high rate of unemployment within the visually impaired youth. the study by Nagle is however one of the best studies that sides unemployment rates within youths as they transition from high School through to college or to employment. The purpose statement of this study could have clearly stated that the other identified and mention areas of the study which he failed needed more examination and research. he also acknowledged some limitations to his daddy at the end of the discussion. Some of his limitations including the sample size and the high number of statistical tests that had to be done to come up with more relevant results. The sample size was also very significant consideration to reduce the chance of errors during the study. the external and internal threats to the validity of the study became clear after one of the study’s limitations as listed by the author. A very clear example is the sample selection process that poster threat to both the external and internal validity. the sample used by the author did not appear to have come from a random selection process and this is a threat to internal validity. the limitation of the results and the fact that it could not be generalized to a larger population is a flaw in the design that post as external threat to the validity.

I did not any major surprises from the study as there was so much information to be learned from. from the study I learnt that it is very important to consider factors that impact employment opportunities such as work experience and self-determination (Capella-McDonnall & Crudden, 2009, p. 339). Previously most studies had overlooked most of the factors that were considered within this research. The author went ahead towards the end of his research to present extra findings and additional research that could support and evaluate the variables that he had suggested in the research. I interpreted this as request for triangulation by the researcher.

There is so much knowledge that this research contributes. the research has clearly indicated the correlations that exists between different dependent and independent variables. Several overlooked factors that determined the successful employment of youths with visual impairments were discussed within the study. the information presented in this study could be important for counselors of vocational rehabilitation programs and youths with visual impairments as they investigate getting through high school to college or to employment.

Conclusions

The author mostly focused on the variables that reach significance and related them to the previous research within his conclusions and discussion sections of the study. The other identified and mention areas of the study which he failed needed more examination and research. he also acknowledged some limitations to his daddy at the end of the discussion. Some of his limitations including the sample size and the high number of statistical tests that had to be done to come up with more relevant results. The sample size was also very significant consideration to reduce the chance of errors during the study. the external and internal threats to the validity of the study became clear after one of the study’s limitations as listed by the author. A very clear example is the sample selection process that poster threat to both the external and internal validity. the sample used by the author did not appear to have come from a random selection process and this is a threat to internal validity. the limitation of the results and the fact that it could not be generalized to a larger population is a flaw in the design that post as external threat to the validity.

References

Capella-McDonnall, M., & Crudden, A. (2009). Factors affecting the successful employment of transition-age youths with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 103(6), 329-341. Retrieved from http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pubjvib.asp?docid=jvib030603

Kirchner, C., & Smith, B. (2005). USABLE (Using statistics about blindness and low vision effectively) data report. Transition to what? Education and employment outcomes for visually impaired youths after high school. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 99(8). Retrieved from http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pubjvib.asp?DocID=JVIB990806

Nagle, K. (2001). Transition to employment and community life for youths with visual impairments: Current status and future directions. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 95(12). Retrieved from http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pubjvib.asp?DocID=JVIB951202

Shaw, A., Gold, D., & Wolffe, K. (2007). Employment-related experiences of youths who are visually impaired: How are these youths faring?. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 101(1), 7-21.

Capella-McDonnall, M. E. (2005). Predictors of competitive employment for blind and visually impaired consumers of vocational rehabilitation services. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 99(5), 303-315.

Lee, I. S., & Park, S. K. (2008). Employment status and predictors among people with visual impairments in South Korea: Results of a national survey. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 102(3), 147-159.

Wolffe, K., & Kelly, S. M. (2011). Instruction in areas of the expanded core curriculum linked to transition outcomes for students with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 105(6), 340-349.

Bell, E. (2010). Competitive employment for consumers who are legally blind: A 10-year retrospective study. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 47(2).

Wolffe, K. E., & Candela, A. R. (2002). A qualitative analysis of employers’ experiences with visually impaired workers. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 96(9), 622-634.

La Grow, S. J. (2004). Factors that affect the employment status of working-age adults with visual impairments in New Zealand. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 98(9), 546-559.