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Guide to an Overall Critique of a Qualitative Research Article Polit & Beck (2017) p 106-109

Student Name

Date

Article Citation (APA format )

NUR 610 INSTRUCTIONS: The format of the critique follows the sections of the article. Pay attention to section headers on this document as that is where you will find information in the article. After answering YES/NO to the critique question (make answer bold or in italics), follow with a brief explanation or description of how the research demonstrated that the answer to the question. ​If the question ​does not apply to the study​, state that in the box.

Aspect of the Research Article

Title

1 Is the title a good one, suggesting the key phenomenon and the group or community under study? Explain:

Yes or No

Abstract

2. Does the abstract clearly and concisely summarize the main features of the report? Explain:

Yes or No

Introduction

Statement of Problem

3. Was the problem stated unambiguously, and was it easy to identify? Explain: Yes or No

4. Is the problem significant for nursing? Explain: Yes or No

5. Was there a good match between the research problem and the use of a qualitative approach, versus quantitative, to find the answer? Explain:

Yes or No

Hypothesis or research questions

6. Were research questions explicitly stated? Explain: Yes or No

7. Were the questions consistent with the study’s philosophical basis, underlying tradition, or ideological orientation?

Yes or No

Literature Review

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Guide to an Overall Critique of a Qualitative Research Article Polit & Beck (2017) p 106-109

8. Did the article adequately summarize the existing body of knowledge related to the problem or phenomenon of interest? Explain:

Yes or No

9. Was the literature review up-to-date (ideally less than 5 years unless classic)? Describe:

Yes or No

10. Did the literature review provide support that the research performed in the article needed to be done (identify gap in literature/knowledge)? Explain:

Yes or No

Conceptual Underpinnings

11. Were key concepts adequately defined conceptually? Explain: Yes or No

12. Was the philosophical basis, underlying tradition (phenomenology, ethnography, or grounded theory), conceptual framework, or ideological orientation made explicit and was it appropriate for the problem ? Explain:

Yes or No

Method

Protection of Human Rights

13. Were appropriate procedures used to safeguard rights of the study participants? Explain:

Yes or No

14. Was the study reviewed by an Institutional Review Board (or ethics committee)? Explain:

Yes or No

Research Design

15. Was the identified research tradition (if any) congruent with the methods used to collect and analyze data? Explain:

Yes or No

16. Was an adequate amount of time spent with study participants? Explain: Yes or No

17. Did the design unfold during data collection, giving researchers opportunities to capitalize on early understandings? Explain:

Yes or No

18. Was there an adequate number of contacts with study participants? Explain: Yes or No

Sample and Setting

19. Was the group or population of interest adequately described? Were the setting and sample described in sufficient detail? Explain:

Yes or No

20. Was the approach used to recruit participants or gain access to the site productive and appropriate? Explain:

Yes or No

21. Was the best possible method of sampling used to enhance information richness and address the needs of the study? Explain:

Yes or No

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Guide to an Overall Critique of a Qualitative Research Article Polit & Beck (2017) p 106-109

22. Was the sample size adequate? Was saturation achieved? Explain: Yes or No

Data collection

23. Were the methods of gathering data appropriate? Were data gathered through two or more methods to achieve triangulation? Explain:

Yes or No

24. Did the researcher ask the right questions or make the right observations, and were they recorded in an appropriate fashion? Explain:

Yes or No

25. Was a sufficient amount of data gathered? Were the data of sufficient depth and richness? Explain:

Yes or No

Procedures

26. Were data collection and recording procedures adequately described and do they appear appropriate? Explain:

Yes or No

27. Were data collected in a manner that minimized bias? Were the staff who collected data appropriately trained? Explain:

Yes or No

Enhancement of trustworthiness

28. Did the researchers use effective strategies to enhance the trustworthiness/integrity of the study, and was there a good description of those strategies? Explain:

Yes or No

29. Did the researcher document research procedures and decision processes sufficiently that findings are auditable and confirmable? Explain:

Yes or No

30. Was there “thick description” of the context, participants, and findings, and was it at a sufficient level to support transferability? Explain:

Yes or No

Results

Data Analysis

31. Were the data management and data analysis methods adequately described? Explain:

Yes or No

32. Was the data analysis strategy compatible with the research tradition and with the nature and type of data gathered? Explain:

Yes or No

33. Did the analytic procedures suggest the possibility of biases? Explain: Yes or No

Findings

34. Were the findings effectively summarized, with good use of quotes and supporting arguments? Explain:

Yes or No

35. Does it appear that the researcher satisfactorily conceptualized the themes or patterns Yes or No

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Guide to an Overall Critique of a Qualitative Research Article Polit & Beck (2017) p 106-109

in the data? Explain:

36. Did the analysis yield an insightful, provocative, authentic, and meaningful picture of the phenomenon under investigation? Explain:

Yes or No

Theoretical integration

37. Were figures, maps, or models used effectively to summarize conceptualizations? Yes or No

Discussion

Interpretation of the findings

38. Were the findings interpreted within an appropriate social or cultural context? Explain: Yes or No

39. Were major findings interpreted and discussed within the context of prior studies? Explain:

Yes or No

Implications/Recommendations

40. Did the researchers discuss the implications of the study for clinical practice or further research - and were those implications reasonable and complete? Explain:

Yes or No

General Issues

Presentation

41. Was the article well-written, organized, and sufficiently detailed for critical analysis? Explain:

Yes or No

42. Was the description of the methods, findings, and interpretations sufficiently rich and vivid? Explain:

Yes or No

43. Was the report written in a manner that makes the findings accessible to practicing nurses? Explain:

Yes or No

Researcher Credibility

44. Do the researchers’ clinical, substantive, or methodologic qualifications and experience enhance confidence in the findings and their interpretation?

Yes or No

Summary Assessment

45. Does the study contribute any meaningful evidence that can be used in nursing practice or that is useful to the nursing discipline?

Yes or No

When completed, sum the ‘yes’ answers. While still subjective, the greater number of ‘yes’ answers, the stronger the study is likely to be.

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