Research Critique

Research Critique (Individual Project)
Purpose: This assignment allows students to demonstrate their ability to integrate and apply knowledge in relation to critically evaluating published research studies as a foundation for making evidence-based practice decisions.
Directions:

1. Choose from among the articles preselected by instructor to complete critique
2. Body of paper should be 10 to 12 double-spaced pages
3. No more than 2 quotes can be used in paper
4. Use APA format for development of paper
5. The class textbook plus a minimum of 2 relevant peer-reviewed research articles should be used (in addition article that is being critiqued) to guide thinking about critique
6. Submit to turn-it in and revise as necessary to obtain originality score of less than 25%
7. Introduction paragraph that :
i. Discusses purpose of you writing this essay
ii. Discusses relevance of assignment to evidence based practice (EBP)
iii. Provide citation for study that being critiqued
8. Discuss the strengths and limitations of the study authors in relation to their ability/credibility in carrying out the study
9. Discuss major areas addressed in the lit review (may be called background or introduction section)
10. Discuss the strengths and limitations of the literature review section
11. Articulate the gap (problem statement) identified by the author (s)
12. Articulate the study purpose
13. Evaluate the consistency between the lit review, problem and purpose statements
14. Identify target population for study
15. Discuss sampling procedure used in the study
16. Discuss major characteristics of sample (age, race/ethnicity, gender, education, income, geographic location, number of participants in study, other important characteristics relevant to study).
17. Evaluate the representativeness of sample in relation to target population
18. Articulate research design
19. Assess the strengths and limitations of study design in relation to study purpose
20. Articulate the major study variables (no more than 2 for this critique)
21. Provide a step by step overview of the data collection process used:
a. For Quantitative Study
i. Describe the who, what, when, where, and how of data collection process
ii. Describe data collection format (paper pencil, online, telephone, interview)
iii. Describe the tools/instruments used to collect data including:
1. Number of items in survey or questionnaire
2. Type of survey or questionnaire (short answer, true false, Likert Scale)
iv. Describe other data collection tools (if applicable)
v. Discuss how reliability and validity of data collection methods were evaluated
b. For Qualitative Study
i. Describe the who, what, when, where, and how of data collection process
ii. Describe data collection format (1:1 interview, focus group, internet interview, other)
iii. Discuss process used to ensure rigor of process
22. Discuss strengths and limitations of data collection process in relation to study purpose
23. Describe process used to protect participants
24. Evaluate strengths and limitations of process used to protect participants based on 3 principles guiding the ethical conduct of research
25. Provide an overview of data analysis process
a. For Quantitative Study
i. Discuss descriptive and inferential statistics used to analyze data and evaluate appropriateness of statistics in relation to study purpose and level of data
ii. Describe processes used to ensure analysis and interpretation were accurate
iii. Discuss level of significance set for evaluating findings (alpha level)
b. For Qualitative Study
i. Discuss qualitative method of analysis in detail
ii. Discuss process used to increase believability of findings
26. Findings
a. For Quantitative Study
i. Discuss statistically significant findings (results) of study related to primary variables
ii. Discuss clinically relevant findings

b. For Qualitative Study
i. Discuss major themes
27. Discuss the believability of study findings and provide rationale for conclusions
28. Describe major study limitations and discuss impact on usefulness of study to guide evidence based practice
29. Discuss major implications of study findings (results)
30. Provide conclusion that:
a. Summarizes major points of critique
b. Describes one thing you learned about the topic of interest in the study and how you can apply this knowledge to your future practice as a nursing student/nurse
c. Describes one thing that you learned about the relationship between research and EBP through completion of this critique
31. Due date for the research critique draft:
32. Due date for research critique final paper: