Qualitative analysis

1. Problem Statement. Identify the underlying clinical problem that led to the study.

2. Purpose and Research Questions. Identify the purpose of the study. List research questions that the study was designed to answer, where stated or inferred. Were the purpose and questions related to the problem(s)?

3. Literature Review. Did the author cite studies relevant to the focus of the study? What other types of literature did the author include? How many articles on the reference page? Are the references current (within 5-10 years of the study)? If older consider why? Did the authors speak to the need for this research – or how the research study was going to fill a gap in knowledge?

4. What is the study design? Was the study design appropriate to answer the questions? What is the author’s rationale for the study design – the link between the purpose of the study and this design? Compare to what the textbook says.

5. Overall, what characteristics did this study possess that were qualitative in nature?

6. Sample, Population, and Setting. Describe the location/country the research was conducted and number of settings used for this study. Identify how the subjects were selected. How many people participated in the study? Was randomization used to compare groups? What were the inclusion and exclusion criteria?

7. Protection of Human Participants. (Informed Consent & IRB) Were any benefits and risks of participation addressed by the author? What organization (if any) granted Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval to ensure human subjects’ safety allowing the investigators to conduct the study?

8. Data Collection, Management, and Analysis. How were data collected in this study? Be specif to identify the survey, tool, or other. Were any instruments used? Were the instruments valid & reliable? What data analysis techniques were used? Explain how validity and reliability were established (refer to textbook).

9. What were the findings or themes identified in this study? Go back to the study questions in Question #2. Did the findings address the purpose of the study? Is the evidence sufficient enough to generalize the results of the study (threats to external validity)? Did the results offer new information about the topic being studied? Were study findings linked to other published studies? What was the significance of study findings?

10. Do you have confidence in the findings? Explain.