Nursing

QUALITATIVE

KEY CONCEPTS IN APPRAISAL

STUDENT NAME:

DATE:

APA REFERENCE FOR THE ARTICLE:

Problem Statement

1. Identify the clinical problem and research problem that led to the study.

2. How did the author establish the significance of the study? In other words, why should the reader care about this study?

Problem Statement

Purpose and Research Questions

1. Identify the purpose of the study.

Purpose and Research Questions

Literature Review

1. Did the author cite quantitative and qualitative studies relevant to the focus of the study? Explain. What other types of literature did the author include? Explain.

2. Did the author evaluate or indicate the weaknesses of the available studies? Explain.

Literature Review

Frame of Reference

1. Did the author identify a specific perspective from which the study was developed? If so, what was it?

Frame of Reference

Research Tradition

1. Identify the stated or implied research tradition upon which the study was based.

2. Were the methods used in the study consistent with the research tradition? Explain.

Research Tradition

Sampling and Sample

1. Identify how subjects were selected. Be specific.

2. What were the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the sample? Be specific.

3. How many people participated in the study? Did any potential subjects refuse to participate? Did any of the participants start but not finish the study? Explain all answers.

Sampling and Sample

Data Collection

1. How were data collected in this study? Be specific.

2. Describe the sequence of data collection events for a participant.

Data Collection

Protection of Human Participants

1. Identify the benefits and risks of participation addressed by the authors. Were there benefits or risks the authors do not identify?

2. How were recruitment and consent techniques adjusted to accommodate the sensitivity of the subject matter and possible vulnerability of participants?

Protection of Human Participants

Data Management and Analysis

1. Describe the data management and analysis methods used in the study.

2. What measures were used to minimize the effects of researcher bias?

3. Did the data management and analysis methods fit the research purposes and data? Explain.

Data Management and Analysis

Findings

1. Did the findings address the purpose of the study? Explain.

2. Were the data sufficiently analyzed? Explain.

Findings

Discussion

1. Did the results offer new information about the target phenomenon? Explain -describe the clinical, policy, theoretical, and other significance of the findings. Does the author explore these applications? Explain

Discussion

Logic and Form of Findings

1. Were readers able to hear the voice of the participants and gain an understanding of the phenomenon studied? How so? Explain.

2. Were elements of the research report easily found by readers? Explain.

3. Did the overall presentation of the study fit its purpose, method, and findings? Explain.

Logic and Form of Findings

Evaluation Summary

1. Do the findings provide a credible reflection of reality? If so, how can the findings be used in nursing practice?

2. What do the findings add to the current body of knowledge?

3. State the conclusion of the critical appraisal of the study.

Evaluation Summary