Introduction
The aim of the paper is to critique the article “Sprinkler Systems Have Had a Long, Strange Trip” by Ronny Coleman. Contrary to the popular belief that the risk of a fire outbreak is highest in hotels, schools, and other public facilities, residential homes have the highest probability of catching fire.
Although the plan to have fire protection devices installed in residential homes in the country has been existent for a long time, it is yet to be implemented. The delayed implementation of sprinkler technology in residential premises is the main issue Coleman talks about in the article.
This paper critiques Coleman’s article by looking at the various aspects of a good research study. Firstly, the paper gives a brief introduction of the article, followed by a statement of the research problem. The paper also describes the research procedures used in the study and explains the flaws present in the design and procedure of the study. Lastly, the paper critiques the methods of data analysis used and the conclusion obtained from the research findings.
A Brief Introduction of the Article
The article talks about the fire protection system, especially the residential built-in fire fighting structure used to protect people from the risks of fire outbreaks in their residential dwellings. The article explains why the plan to have residential fire protection systems is yet to be implemented after such a long time. The author compares having the plan implemented to a religious pilgrimage: a trip that believers engage in to fulfill their spiritual quest.
The article explains that the plan to have residential fire protection systems installed in residential premises has been postponed for long enough (Coleman, 2008, p. 34).
The main fire protection technology discussed in the article is the sprinkler system. A fire protection sprinkler system works by being implanted into the ceiling of the house. The sprinkler is bound to a fusible link, which melts when the temperature goes beyond a certain mark, allowing the sprinkler to open up and start pouring the water onto the fire (Coleman, 2008, p. 35).
The introduction of the article is well written; it has been done so well that it strongly catches the reader’s attention. The author uses humor to impress the reader; for example, he compares the delay in implementing the sprinkler technology in residential dwellings to the long journey that believers engage in to reach certain holy places. The plan to implement the sprinkler technology remains unsuccessful despite the National Fire Protection Association’s fight to have the plan implemented.
Statement of Research Problem
Research is normally regarded as a systematic investigation that enables people to carry out a study on a certain topic using specific materials and sources to establish facts about a given phenomenon. A problem statement is a description of the aspects that lack in a certain research field, which need to be solved by conducting a study.
In some cases, the description is just meant to establish if a solution to a given phenomenon can be found. The problem statement is regarded as a gap that exists between the real fact and the desired truth about a certain phenomenon (Denscombe, 2010).
In Coleman’s article, the problem statement concerns establishing the fact behind the delay in the implementation of sprinkler systems in residential premises. Although the problem statement is not clearly stated in the article, it can be easily deduced from the thesis. The problem statement in the article should be “the installation of sprinkler systems in residential buildings has suffered serious delays; to correct the situation, the government needs to set aside more funds to implement the project.”
A Description of the Research Procedures
Although it is not clearly stated which methods were used to collect data in the article, the information given in it shows that the data could have been collected through two methods: observation and survey. The observation method is a natural way of collecting data and is known to provide first hand information about the phenomenon being investigated.
The research study used observation to collect data on how the sprinkler technology works. The study also relied on the method to find out the distribution network of the sprinkler technology; Coleman insists that the technology is only common in business premises.
The second method, which involves holding surveys, was used to help the researcher find out why the sprinkler technology is yet to be installed in residential premises. The researcher established that the main reason why the technology is yet to be implemented is due to its high cost. The cost incurred in the installation of the technology is so high that very few private residents can afford it. The survey method of data collection is also reliable, as it is able to obtain first hand information.
Flaws in the Procedural Design
Although the study was conducted in a controlled environment, it still has a few flaws. The main shortcoming is that the data obtained was collected from a small geographical region, probably a single county; consequently, the conclusion may not be representative of the whole country as originally intended (Denscombe, 2010).
The conclusion was supposed to represent the delay in installation of the sprinkler technology in residential houses across the whole country and not a single province. Since the data collection was not done evenly across the entire country, the findings cannot be used to make conclusions that are representative of the entire population.
Analysis of the Data
The author managed to collect some data explaining why there was still a delay in the installation of sprinkler systems in residential premises. The author claims that the sprinkler technology was invented a long time ago, but is yet to be implemented in residential buildings to enhance the safety of residents by preparing them against fire incidents in their homes. Although not enough, the data provided is valid and reliable.
The data is valid in the sense that it was collected through observation and survey methods, which are able to retrieve first hand information (Denscombe, 2010). The fact that the information was obtained directly implies that it was not distorted to fit the expected findings. The study also used current information; information is more reliable and relevant when it is up to date.
Limited and Justifiable Conclusions
The author of the article draws a comprehensive conclusion that summarizes everything he has talked about in the body of the article. He says that it is just a matter of time before the sprinkler system is installed in every single-family dwelling. He says that there are proposals to expand the building code to ensure that the plan to install the sprinkler systems in residential buildings is implemented in the construction plan.
He emphasizes that the implementation of the plan will take place soon, despite the existing divisions on the issue, in the fire protection department (Coleman, 2008, p. 36). The conclusion is also effective and all-inclusive, as it highlights all the key points addressed in the article.
References
Coleman, R. J. (2008). Sprinkler systems have had a long, strange trip. Chief’s Clipboard, 1(1), 34-37.
Denscombe, M. (2010). The good research guide: For small-scale social research projects. Maidenhead: Open University Press.