How to Write an Article Summary

When writing an article summary, it should be 1.5-2 pages long and shouldinclude the following:

1. Briefly write why this topic is important (e.g., why is it important to decrease off-task behaviors in school-aged children?)
2. Briefly mention what has been done before and why and/or why this method was chosen. Usually, this information is found in the introduction of the research article.
3. For example: Visual schedules have been successful in decreasing off-task behaviors in school-aged children, which have helped to increase the child’s academic performance and building appropriate relationships with their peers, (CITE AUTHORS, YEAR). Visual schedules have been chosen because they are inexpensive to make and are easy for children to follow.
4. Transition to the specific article you chose for this review.
   1. For example:Due to these benefits of using visual schedules, Rafeeq & Jones (2018) used individualized visual schedules to help reduce rates of off-task behaviors in three students with autism.
   1. Then describe/state the following:
5. What was the independent variable? The dependent variable?
6. State the population/subjects chosen (you do not have to write how they were chosen).
7. Mention what procedures/methods were utilized in the study in sufficient and enough detail.
8. For example: The authors utilized a visual laminated schedule, with individualized tasks/pictures for each child. Each picture was 2.5 inches X 2.5 inches and printed in bright colors. Additionally, each child’s schedule ranged from 6-10 pictures/visuals, which included what task the child was supposed to engage in at a specific time. When the task was successfully completed, the child removed it from their schedule. For example, at 9am, John’s task was eating breakfast at this desk; at 10am, John’s task was completing math work at his desk; and at 11am, John’s task was reading with the class on the rug. After John successfully completed each task, which required assistance by the teacher to complete, he independently removed the task from his schedule when instructed. After John successfully completed each task on his schedule, he earned a 5-minute break on his iPad. If John did not complete the task on his schedule or engaged in any instance of problem behavior, a negative punishment procedure was implemented, which resulted in John losing access to a preferred item, and then the therapist physically prompted John to complete the task on his list. John’s teacher reported that he did not like when physical prompting was provided, so it was hypothesized that such prompting possibly served as a positive punisher.
9. What were the results? Did it work? No need to state the levels of significance and the p-values. But use numbers/percentages from baseline/control group and compare them with the intervention/experimental group—this will help illustrate how successful the intervention/treatment was.
10. What did the authors conclude? Did the intervention overall workto decrease the problem behaviors in all of the participants?Did the intervention overall work to help the individuals acquire new skills?Did the intervention work to help treat the individual’s phobia or smoking habit? What did the authors state they would have done differently in the current experiment? Future directions? Limitations? Confounds?