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Topic 8: How to critique a research paper1
Topic 8: How to critique a research paper2AssignmentMajor Content Sections of a Research Report and Related Critiquing GuidelinesNotes:1. Use these guidelines to critique your selected research article to be included in yourresearch proposal. You do not need to address all the questions indicated in this guideline,and only include the questions that apply.2. Prepare your report as a paper with appropriate headings and use APA format 5th edition.Also see the web link: http://www.apastyle.org/.3. No more than five pages in length, including the cover page.4. When you submit your assignment file, please also include the full article as a separate *********************************Summary of the article (limited to one page; DO NOT copy the abstract of this article)SectionProblemstatement andpurposeQuestions to guide evaluation1.2.3.4.Review ofliterature andtheoreticalframework1.2.3.4.5.What is the problem and/or purpose of theresearch study?Does the problem or purpose statementexpress a relationship between two or morevariables? If so, what is/are therelationship(s)? Are they testable?Does the problem statement and/or purposespecify the nature of the population beingstudied? What is it?What significance of the problem, if any, hasthe investigator identified?What concepts are included in the review?Of particular importance, note thoseconcepts that are the independent anddependent variables and how they areconceptually defined.Does the literature review make therelationships among the variables explicit orplace the variables within atheoretical/conceptual framework? What arethe relationships?What gaps or conflicts in knowledge of theproblem are identified?Are the references cited by the author mostlyprimary or secondary sources? Give anexample of each.What are the operational definitions of theindependent and dependent variables? Dothey reflect the conceptual definitions?Comments andcritique
Topic 8: How to critique a research paperHypotheses or1.research questions2.3.4.5.Sample6.1.2.3.4.5.Research design1.2.3.4.5.6.Instruments1.2.What hypotheses or research questions arestated in the study?If research questions are stated, are theyused in addition to hypotheses or to guide anexploratory study?What are the independent and dependentvariables in the statement of each hypothesisor research question?If hypotheses are stated, is the form of thestatement statistical (also called null) orresearch?What is the direction of the relationship ineach hypothesis, if indicated?Are the hypotheses testable?How was the sample selected?What type of sampling method is used? Is itappropriate to the design?Does the sample reflect the population asidentified in the problem or purposestatement?Is the sample size appropriate?To what population may the findings begeneralized? What are the limitations ingeneralizability?What type of design is used?Does the design seem to flow from theproposed research problem, theoreticalframework, literature review, andhypothesis?What type(s) of data-collection method(s)is/are used in the study?Are the data-collection procedures similarfor all subjects?How have the rights of subjects beenprotected?What indications are given that informedconsent of the subjects has been ensured?Physiological measurement: Is a rationalegiven for why a particular instrument ormethod was selected? If so, what is it? Whatprovision is made for maintaining theaccuracy of the instrument and its use, ifany?Observational methods: Who did theobserving? How were the observers trainedto minimize bias? Was there an3
Topic 8: How to critique a research paper3.4.5.6.7.8.9.Analysis of ndations, 2.and utilization forobservational guide? Were the observersrequired to make inferences about what theysaw? Is there any reason to believe that thepresence of the observers affect the behaviorof the subjects?Interviews: Who were the interviewers?How were they trained to minimize the bias?Is there evidence of any interview bias? Ifso, what was it?Questionnaires: What is the type and/orformat of the questionnaire(s) (e.g. Likert,open-ended)? Is (Are) it (they) consistentwith the conceptual definition(s)?Available data and records: Are the recordsthat were used appropriate to the problembeing studied? Are the data being used todescribe the sample or to test thehypothesis?What type of reliability is reported for eachinstrument?What level of reliability is reported? Is itacceptable?What type of validity is reported for eachinstrument?Does the validity of each instrument seemadequate? Why?What level of measurement is used tomeasure each of the major variables?What descriptive or inferential statistics arereported?Were these descriptive or inferentialstatistics appropriate to the level ofmeasurement for each variable?Are the inferential statistics used appropriateto the intent of the hypotheses?Does the author report the level ofsignificance set for the study? If so, what isit?If tables or figures are used, do they meet thefollowing standards? They supplement andeconomize the text. They have precise titlesand headings. They do not repeat the text.If hypothesis testing was done, was/were thehypotheses supported or not supported?Are the results interpreted in the context ofthe problem/purpose, hypothesis, and4
Topic 8: How to critique a research papernursing practicetheoretical framework/literature reviewed?3. What relevance for nursing practice does theinvestigator identify, if any?4. What generalizations are made?5. Are the generalizations within the scope ofthe findings or beyond the findings?6. What recommendations for future researchare stated or implied?7. Are there other studies with similarfindings?8. What risks/benefits are involved for patientsif the research findings would be used inpractice?9. Is direct application of the research findingsfeasible in terms of time, effort, money, andlegal/ethical risks?10. How and under what circumstances are thefindings applicable to nursing practice?11. Should these results be applied to nursingpractice?12. Would it be possible to replicate this studyin another clinical practice setting?5
Topic 8: How to critique a research paper 2 Assignment Major Content Sections of a Research Report and Related Critiquing Guidelines Notes: 1. Use these guidelines to critique your selected research article to be included in your research proposal. You do not need to address all the questions indicated in this guideline,
