Task 3. The texts below are all intended for different categories of reader. Read them quickly and identify their target readership. What helps you to decide?

The Oxford Review of Education is a well established journal with an extensive international readership. It is committed to deploying the resources of a wide range of academic disciplines in the service of educational scholarship, and the editors welcome articles reporting significant new research as well as contributions of a more analytic or reflective nature. The membership of the editorial board reflects these emphases, which have remained characteristic of the Review since its foundation. The Review seeks to preserve the highest standards of professional scholarship in education, while also seeking to publish articles which will be of interest and utility to a wider public, including policy makers. Papers submitted to the Oxford Review of Education are read by two referees whose comments guide the Editors towards their final decision. The editorial board meets twice a year and takes responsibility for the general development of the Journal.

Peer Review Policy

All research articles in this journal have undergone rigorous peer review, based on initial editor screening and from at least two anonymous referees.

Effect of low light and high noise on behavioural activity, physiological indicators of stress and production in laying hens

O’Connor EA, Parker MO, Davey EL, Crist H, Owen RC, Szladovits B, Demmers TC, Wathes CM, Abeyesinghe SM.

Abstract

1. Commercial laying hens are commonly housed in noisy and dim environments, yet relatively little is known about whether these conditions, particularly in combination, have any effect on welfare or egg production.

2.The study was designed to investigate whether chronic exposure to continuous noise (60dB(A) vs. 80dB(A)) and/or light intensity (l 50lux vs. 5 lux) during the critical period of coming into lay (16-24 weeks of age) influenced behaviour, physiological stress (heterophil to lymphocyte ratio) and production (number and weight of eggs laid) in laying hens.

3.Hens in the low light pens were less active and preened and dust-bathed more than those housed in 1 50lux; hens in the high noise pens rested more frequently than those in quieter pens.

4. There was no evidence that chronic exposure to low light or high noise caused appreciable physiological stress but egg production was affected by these conditions. Hens kept in pens with low light or high noise laid fewer eggs per day than those kept in high light or low noise pens.

5. These results show that low light intensity and continual high background noise have a detrimental effect on egg production in the early laying phase, as well as influencing the time allocated to different behaviours. However, there was no strong evidence for a physiological stress response to either of these conditions or their combination.

The Editor who has approached you may not know your work intimately, and may only be aware of your work in a broader context. Only accept an invitation if the article is within your area of expertise.

Depending upon the journal, you will be asked to evaluate the article on a number of criteria. Some journals provide detailed guidance others do not, but normally you would be expected to evaluate the article according to the following: originality, structure, previous research, ethical issues.

Originality

Is the article sufficiently novel and interesting to warrant publication? Does it add to the canon of knowledge? Does the article adhere to the journal's standards? Is the research question an important one? In order to determine its originality and appropriateness for the journal, it might be helpful to think of the research in terms of what percentile it is in. Is it in the top 25% of papers in this field? You might wish to do a quick literature search using tools such as Scopus to see if there are any reviews of the area.

Task 4. Which abstract has all these elements?

a) Findings

b) Reason for writing

c) Conclusions

d) Methodology ( Process)

e) Problem

Task 5. Read stages a-g of research report preparation suggested by the Adelaide Writing Centre. Put them in order. Then compare your ideas in pairs.

a) Draft the supplementary material. e) Draft the body of your report.

b) Analyze the task. f) Develop a rough plan.

c) Do the research. g) Draft the preliminary material.

d) Improve your report.