Strength of Research
The Milestone 1 assignment asks you to identify the strength of the research. This is outlined in pages 238-244 of Dearholt and Dang (2014). Strength of research can be categorized into High quality, Good quality or Low quality/Major Flaws based on the criteria summarized below.
Research Studies:
High Quality:
· Results are consistent, generalizable
· Adequate sample size
· Definitive conclusion
· Based on comprehensive lit review with reliable references
Good Quality:
· Moderately consistent results
· -Adequate sample size
· -Conclusion is given and moderately definitive
· -Fairly Comprehensive lit review and some scientific evidence is present
Low Quality/Major Flaws:
· Results are inconsistent
· Sample size is not sufficient
· Conclusions are not given or appropriate.
Non-Research Studies:
High Quality:
· Sponsored by professional organization or governmental agency.
· Discloses objectives
· Expertise of author is evident, thought leader in field
· Literature and scientific support is evident
· Current, within the past 5 years
· Definitive conclusion
Good Quality:
· Sponsored by professional organization or governmental agency.
· Discloses objectives
· Expertise appears to be credible but cannot be completely confirmed
· Literature and scientific support is present and mostly aligns
· Current, within the past 5 years
· Fairly definitive conclusion
· Logical arguments for the conclusions given.
Low Quality/Major Flaws:
· Not sponsored by professional organization or governmental agency.
· Limited or no lit review
· Inconsistent results, unable to draw conclusion
· Not current (within 5 years)
· -Objectives not stated or unclear
· Expertise cannot be confirmed
Based on:
Dearholt, S. L., & Dang, D. (2012). Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice: Model and guidelines (2nd ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International.
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