EFFECT OF NON-NUTRITIVE SUCKING: AN ARTICLE CRITIQUE
This article reported the results of research on the pre-feeding behavioral state of pre-term infants. Based on findings reported in the literature, the researchers posited that non-nutritive sucking prior to feeding would have a positive impact on an infant's behavioral state and that, in turn, feeding would be more effective. This hypothesis was tested experimentally. Based on research results, the conclusion drawn was that non-nutritive sucking was an effective modulator of an infant's pre-feeding behavioral state.
There is a problem statement in this article; however, the statement must be synthesized by the reader from material presented in the article introduction and material presented near the end of the literature review. This treatment of the problem is not conducive to a ready appreciation by the reader of what issues are being addressed in the article.
There is no research question stated in this article, although a research question may be inferred by the reader from the stated purpose of the article which is presented at the end of the literature review and the research approach followed in the experiment. The authors state that the purpose of the article is to describe the effect of non-nutritive sucking on the pre-feeding behavioral state of pre-term infants. In the conduct of the research, the authors sought to identify specific effects on behavioral state that were associated with specific manipulations of non-nutritive sucking activity. This treatment of the research question is not conducive to a ready appreciation by the reader of the goals of the research.
Specific variables are not stated in either the reader-synthesized problem or the reader-inferred research question. Neither the problem nor the research question is dealt with clearly and concisely in the article. Nevertheless, the issues investiga
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