Abacahin, Sol Krishna N. Antallan, Ijielo L. Mariscal, Jemeah Ann M. AB ELS - 3A ELS - 69 Critical Analysis of a Research Journal Form groups of THREES. For your group, choose ONE sample study illustrating any of the current approaches to language and gender and do a critical analysis of the article by examining its parts. Give your critique of each of the parts by answering the guide questions given. Make your answers brief and direct to the point. Title of the Article: The role of gender in conversational dominance: A study of EFL Learners Author/s and Date of Publication: Maryam Pakzadian and Arezoo Ashoori Tootkaboni (2018) Parts Guide Questions Your Answer Title (5 pts) Does the title precisely state the subject of the paper? Explain briefly. Yes, because the premise of the whole study is to examine the role of gender in assessing dominance in a conversation when it come of EFL learners and it is clearly stated in the title of the study which gives us a glimpse of the whole paper as well. Introduction (10 pts) What is/are the objective/objectives of the study? Or why do/es the author/s conduct this study? There are two objectives from this study, firstly and mainly, is to examine the role of gender in the quality of gender dominance in informal conversation by focusing on Persian/Iranian EFL learners. Secondly, how men and women maintain their control over a conversation. Is the need to conduct the study well-established? Yes, a study should be well-established and is credible. In this study, it is a well-established journal and have cited enough credible references and other related studies. It is written by scholar authors Maryam Pakzadian and Arezoo Ashoori Tootkaboni in year 2018. Target audiences are same field researchers, communication experts, subjects in this study who are the Persian EFL learners, and also men and women. Another reason that makes it well-established is it is academically written. Lastly, its publication type limits to teacher education and development, social sciences, and communication studies. Method (15 pts) What method/approach/theory is used by the researcher/s? The approach used by the researchers is the Dominance Approach. How are language and gender In this approach, language and gender is studied studied in this approach? How does the approach help the researcher/s to obtain desired data or information? How are the data interpreted? by examining which gender would assert dominance in a conversation and what speech skills will the participant use. The researchers used five parameters; 1. interrupting 2. topic shifting 3. asking questions or raising topics 4. criticizing and engaging in conflict 5. silence This approach helped the researcher obtain the desired data through establishing boundaries of the study and as a result the researchers were avoid unnecessary generalizations. The data were obtained by recording the conversation of the participants via audio and video and were transcribed after. The transcript of the conversation went through content analysis and was analyzed by the researchers base on the parameters of the approach. Negative analysis and member checking were used to assure the reliability of the analyses and interpretations. Results and Discussion (25 pts) What are the results of the study? Do/es the author/s answer the problem/s raised? How is the approach used to obtain the result? How are the results interpreted? Do the findings of the study support or contradict findings of previous studies in the field? The results of this study echoed the findings of the previous studies (e.g., Fishman, 1983; Spender, 1980, Tannen, 1984) which reported that in most cases men interrupt women more often than the other way round. In dominance theory developed by Fishman (1983), it is mentioned that in mixedsex conversations men are more likely to interrupt than women. Spender (1980) endorsed a radical view of language as incorporating structures that support male power. The impression of topic dominance may be caused by style differences of the speakers even when the dominance is not intended. They choose one of the two instruments based on the context, their intentions and style differences. The findings of this research are in line with previous findings of other studies (e.g., Ong, 1981; Tannen, 1990, 1993) which indicated that men used criticism to start conflicts which finally promoted their dominance over conversation. Previous research on gender and conversational dominance found male speakers to be more likely to initiate and engage in conflict. Male speakers are reported to be more competitive (e.g., arguing, disagreeing, and issuing commands) and female speakers more cooperative (e.g., supporting, making suggestions, agreeing) Conclusion (5 pts) How is the significance of the findings described? Does the research make a significant contribution to human knowledge particularly on language and gender? The findings of this study revealed that women show greater acceptance in conversation and due to this feature they try to have more facilitative role in conversation, and men try to maintain dominance over topic by showing more assertive mode during stages of topic development and maintenance. Yes, by making this research the readers can differentiate the difference between men and women when it comes to conversation.
