Guidelines for understanding nursing research in 2023/24

Research Critique Guidelines: Qualitative Study

Study Background:

Identify the clinical problem and research problem that prompted the study. What was unknown about the clinical problem that, if understood, could enhance healthcare delivery or patient outcomes? This knowledge gap constitutes the research problem.
How did the author establish the significance of the study? In other words, why should the reader care about this study? Look for references to human suffering, treatment costs, or the number of individuals affected by the clinical problem.
Identify the purpose of the study. The author may explicitly state the purpose or describe it as the study goals, objectives, or aims.
List the research questions that the study aimed to answer. If the author does not explicitly provide the questions, try to deduce them from the answers.
Were the purpose and research questions relevant to the problem?

Study Method:

Were qualitative methods suitable for addressing the research questions?
Did the author identify a specific perspective from which the study was developed? If so, what was it?
Did the author cite relevant quantitative and qualitative studies related to the study’s focus? What other types of literature did the author include?
Are the references up-to-date? For qualitative studies, older studies beyond the typical 5-year limit used for quantitative studies may be included. Findings from older qualitative studies may be relevant for a qualitative study.
Did the author evaluate or acknowledge the weaknesses of the available studies?
Did the literature review provide sufficient information to construct a logical argument?
In grounded theory qualitative inquiry, the researcher may develop a framework or diagram based on the study findings. Was a framework developed from the study findings?

Study Results:

What were the findings of the study?
What are the implications for nursing?
Explain how the findings contribute to nursing knowledge and science. Do they have an impact on practice, education, administration, or all areas of nursing?

Ethical Considerations:

Did the study receive approval from an Institutional Review Board?
Was patient privacy protected?
Were there ethical considerations regarding treatment or the lack thereof?

Conclusion:

Emphasize the importance and alignment of the thesis statement.
Provide a logical conclusion to finalize the appraisal, leaving a lasting impression and key takeaways relevant to nursing practice.
Include a critical appraisal and a brief analysis of the utility and applicability of the findings to nursing practice.
Summarize the knowledge gained.

Research Critique Guidelines: Quantitative Study

Study Background:

Identify the clinical problem and research problem that led to the study. What was unknown about the clinical problem that, if understood, could improve healthcare delivery or patient outcomes? This knowledge gap constitutes the research problem.
How did the author establish the significance of the study? In other words, why should the reader care about this study? Look for references to human suffering, treatment costs, or the number of individuals affected by the clinical problem.
Identify the purpose of the study. The author may explicitly state the purpose or describe it as the study goals, objectives, or aims.
List the research questions that the study aimed to answer. If the author does not explicitly provide the questions, try to deduce them from the answers.
Were the purpose and research questions relevant to the problem?

Study Methods:

Identify the benefits and risks addressed by the authors. Were there any benefits or risks not identified by the authors?
Was informed consent obtained from the subjects or participants?
Did it appear that the subjects participated voluntarily in the study?
Was institutional review board approval obtained from the agency where the study was conducted?
Are the major variables (independent and dependent variables) identified and defined? What were these variables?
How was data collected in this study?
What rationale did the author provide for using this data collection method?
Identify the time period for data collection in the study.
Describe the sequence of data collection events for a participant.
Describe the data management and analysis methods used in the study.
Did the author discuss how the rigor of the process was ensured? For example, did the author describe maintaining a paper trail of critical decisions made during data analysis? Was statistical software used to ensure analysis accuracy?
What measures were taken to minimize the effects of researcher bias (their experiences and perspectives)? For example, did two researchers independently analyze the data and compare their analyses?

Study Results:

What is the researcher’s interpretation of the findings?
Are the findings valid and reflective of reality? Do you have confidence in the findings?
What limitations of the study were identified by the researchers?
Was there a coherent logic to the presentation of findings?
What are the implications of the findings for nursing practice? Can the findings be applied to general nursing practice, a specific population, or a specific area of nursing?
What suggestions are made for further studies?

Ethical Considerations:

Did the study receive approval from an Institutional Review Board?
Was patient privacy protected?
Were there ethical considerations regarding treatment or the lack thereof?

Conclusion:

Reference

Burns, N., & Grove, S. (2011).Understanding nursing research(5thed.).St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.