Research Paper Critique
Please select any nursing research article from any one of the scientific journals found in the Nursing-Related Databases and Journals list. Select an article from an area that you are interested in or from the field you are working in. Using the article selected, construct a critique of the article, 6 to 10 pages (including cover page and references).
The critique should
•identify the problem statement or statement of purpose of the article
•describe the participants being studied, stating inclusion and exclusion criteria
•discuss the sampling issues, such as probability or nonprobability and number of subjects used
•identify the study setting—where data collection occurred
•discuss informed consent—whether the participants were fully informed, how their consent was obtained, and any other ethical considerations
•identify the hypothesis or research question
•identify the research design—for example, experimental or nonexperimental; descriptive, exploratory, explanatory, or predictive?
•identify research variables, both independent and dependent
•comment the on article’s literature review—how the study data were analyzed (what statistical measures were used)
•describe the results of the study and appropriateness of the methods used; include study limitations
•accurately critique comments on level of evidence used, nursing theory, and implications for nursing practice or research
•discuss how the research findings can be applied to the clinical area
The following resources, in the week 4 Learning Resources section of the LEO classroom, will provide helpful guidelines for constructing a critique of a nursing research article.
Video
•Framework for how to read and critique a research study: Research Article Critique.
Articles
•Vance, D. E., Talley, M., Azuero, A., Pearce, P. F., & Christian, B. J. (2013). Conducting an article critique for a quantitative research study: perspectives for doctoral students and other novice readers. Nursing: Research and Reviews, 3: 67–75.
•Cronin, P., Ryan, F., & Coughlan, M. (2008). Undertaking a literature review: a step-by-step approach. British Journal of Nursing, 17(1): 38-43.
The Learning Resources page lists resources that provide several guidelines for constructing a critique of a nursing research article you may find helpful.
