“Refugees” by Tina Jaeckle and Alexia Georgakopoulos Essay (Article Review)

Introduction

Author of the article

The article is written by Tina Jaeckle and Alexia Georgakopoulos. Tina Jaeckle is an assistant professor in Social and Behavioral Sciences at Flagler College in Florida. Alexia Georgakopoulos is an associate professor in the Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution at the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale.

Given that one of the authors is an assistant professor in social and behavioral sciences, while the other is an associate professor in conflict analysis and resolution, it suffices to say they the authors are experts.

Overview of the article

The general argument in the paper is that cross-cultural misunderstandings exist between people from different cultures concerning how people communicate the meaning of conflict coupled with how they express the same. Specifically, the paper holds that these misunderstandings are common between Americans and Africans. The other overriding argument in the paper is that Dinka refugees communicate and express the meaning of conflict and conflict resolution based on experiences they had back in Sudan.

Your thesis

While the authors introduce a new and interesting perspective to the issue of conflict and conflict management in intercultural and cross-cultural settings, they do not offer conclusive findings on the extent at which Dinka refugees in Jacksonville respond to conflicts based on their experiences, culture, values, and norms. The authors simply give descriptions without giving clear-cut findings and the reader has to draw conclusions.

Content

Does the author provide enough background information?

The authors provide enough background information by carrying out an elaborate literature review on the available information concerning the topic. The authors provide sufficient background information to explain the research subjects’ culture and experiences. The Sudanese Civil War was the main cause of the immigrating of the respondents to Jacksonville, Florida. The authors gave literature review on this war and its implications on the Dinka culture and conflict.

Does the author provide sufficient evidence – primary sources, secondary sources (i.e. expert opinion), facts, textual references?

The authors provide sufficient evidence to support their research. The authors use over 70 primary and secondary sources to back up any claim made in the study. They give evidence form reliable sources like the Florida Department of Children and Families and the International Red Cross among others. The authors utilize books and journal materials to give facts and textual references. Therefore, the primary and secondary sources used are sufficient evidence for the study.

For what purpose does the author write the article? – a new discovery, an interesting take on a topic, introducing a subject not well-known

The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which the Dinka refugees living in Jacksonville, Florida, communicate and approach conflict situations based on their norms, culture, experiences of trauma, transnational families, and values.

For a long time, very little information exists on how Dinka refugees perceive conflict and conflict resolution. Therefore, the paper introduces an interesting take on this topic that these refugees communicate and address conflict and conflict resolution based on their culture, norms, values, and traumatic experiences.

Does the author logically develop her argument? Objective reasoning? Are there any logical fallacies?

The authors develop their arguments logically with objective reasoning. The reasoning here is that these refugees have undergone traumatic experiences especially during the Sudan Civil War. The majority of these refugees witnessed the killing of their loved ones, and thus such an aspect is likely to approach conflict with such experiences in mind. The paper does not have any logical fallacies as every argument is based on the available literature and responses from the subjects.

Based on your knowledge of the topic, is any evidence flawed or inaccurate?

Some evidences in the paper are flawed mainly due to the conceptual frameworks used in the paper, viz. conflict theory. The conflict theory does not address conflict in the family setting sufficiently, yet this aspect is one of the issues that the paper seeks to address. In addition, the paper assumes that these refugees make decisions based on their experiences and culture.

Respond to any inaccurate or misleading information.

The assumption that these refugees make decisions solely based on their culture and experiences if flawed. One of the respondents noted that he wants to further his studies, which is unconventional amongst the Dinka. The authors should have looked into the effects of changing cultures on conflict and conflict resolution.

Structure

Is there a logical development of the thesis?

The authors develop the thesis logically by indicating why the topic is important. They give a background study on the issue under study as a way of developing their thesis. However, the thesis should be placed in the introductory section before literature review. In this case, the authors state the thesis explicitly in the third paragraph of the literature review.

Is the introduction clear and informative on the topic?

The introduction is clear and informative of the topic. However, the authors did not title any section “introduction” and in this case the abstract serves as the introduction and it gives clear information on the topic. By reading the introductory part, the reader can tell what the paper is all about and the variables used in the research.

Are the ideas balanced and well-constructed?

The ideas are balanced and well-constructed. The authors start by presenting the available information concerning the topic from an objective perspective. They discuss what other scholars have said without giving subjective opinions. The authors note that the first step in carrying research on conflict resolution in intercultural and cross-cultural setting is to carry out conflict and cultural analysis. Therefore, the authors start by looking into the Sudanese Civil War, which gives a clear picture of conflict and cultural analysis.

Use of English

Audience – Does the author consider the audience? Is the text for specialists? For students?

The authors do not consider the audience. The paper is written for a general audience whether students, specialists, or anyone with interest in issues to do with conflict and conflict resolution. However, the paper fits both students and specialists as it contains rich sociological information, which is relevant for the two audiences.

Does the author effectively convey her information through good word choices?

The authors convey their information effectively through good word choice. In the abstract, they give key words, which enable the reader to understand the topic in a better way. In addition, the authors use sociological terminologies, which evoke the audience to think about and question the meaning of such words. Moreover, the authors use responses from the respondents to explain different issues arising in the research.

Conclusion

What would the author have to do to improve the article?

In a bid to improve the article, the authors should use the conventional way of writing a research paper. They should give an outline of what is expected in the paper and have clear cut key sections of a research paper. This paper lacks an introduction section, well-defined data collection methods, results discussion section, and a conclusion. In addition, the authors should state the research’s objectives clearly together with inclusion and exclusion criteria. In a recap, the authors should follow established protocols of writing a research paper.

Final thoughts

The paper is well-written as it meets its objective as stated in the beginning. The language use is suitable for the reader to understand the research paper. However, the paper needs to follow the conventional protocols of writing a research paper. In addition, the sample size is very small and in the future researchers should include more respondents in a bid to allow generalization of results.