CRITIQUE ESSAY

Critique Essay

Critique Essay

A critical consideration of the empirical/theoretical framework chosen for the research and how it logically underpins the research rationale

Framework

Since a number of years, experts have debated the role played by the intelligence quotient (IQ) on academic achievement. The latest research suggests that there is too much emphasis on IQ. In a recent article published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, Tracy and Ross Alloway found that working memory may be more significant than IQ to achieve academic success. In this study, researchers measured IQ and working memory in children who were 5 years of age and found their academic performance 6 years later. The performance in the examination of working memory predicted better future academic success than IQ. According to this study, working memory was not related to the level of parental education or socioeconomic level. Therefore, an emphasis on working memory may help to equalize opportunities (Engel & Gathercole, 2008).

Working memory is the ability of our brain to keep the information on the execution time of a process. For example, when a person says how to get somewhere and imagines without recording the route on paper, or when a person adds 24 and 56, in his head without using a calculator or paper. The study incorporated children, who were measured by tests working memory and IQ, first in 5 years and then in 11 years. In addition, the researchers also tested their academic performance in reading, pronunciation, and mathematics.

The results showed a stable relationship between working memory and academic performance, regardless of IQ. Working memory can also be an accurate predictor of future student academic success. In turn, IQ proved to be unreliable as a predictor. Working memory increases with age, but, in general, remains fairly stable. Working memory, unlike IQ, is independent of socio-economic status of parents and their education.

Research Rational

The most important information combines with knowledge and the information that touches us emotionally stays in the long-term memory for a long time. However, period of at least twenty four hours is required to anchor the information in the brain. During this time span, formation of the memory gets disrupted by information or promoted by pertinent information. Since the correlation, between the working memory and the long-term memory is strong, the perceptions that develop are compared with the memories as well as the experiences that are evaluated as well as interpreted. Therefore, this enables the human brain to deal with various situations they come across. Moreover, this also broadens their knowledge also updates it as well which enhances learning. It has been estimated by the experts that the way in which the students respond helps them in checking their work. However, it is essential for the learner to acquire knowledge which is relevant. This not only improves learning but also helps students in understanding the mechanics. Therefore, the exact formula is used to create links and make them remember extraordinary things. However, for this it is important for the teacher to understand the students ...