17 Jan Critical Evaluation of a Research Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate your ability to evaluate one quantitative or qualitative nursing research article of interest from any refereed nursing journal. Writing a critical review of a journal article can help to improve your writing and analytical skills. By assessing the work of others, you develop skills as a critical reader and become familiar with the types of evaluation criteria necessary to translate the evidence to practice.

Instructions:

1. Choose one primary research (1) article used in the literature review—less than five years or if you prefer in the EBP project. It is preferable to use a randomized controlled trial or the highest level of evidence. Attach a copy of the article.

2. Write a 1-2 page critique on the article (excluding cover and reference page).

3. Format references and citations using 7th ed. APA guidelines.

4. Read the Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice: model and guidelines and use the attached appraise from the article.

5. Begin your critique by identifying the:

o article’s title

o author(s)

o date of publication

o name of the journal or other publication in which it appeared

o and when was the article published

6. In your introduction, you should briefly describe the purpose and nature of the study and, if applicable, its theoretical framework. If the Assignment was not published in a peer-reviewed journal, consider the credibility of the publication in which it appeared.

7. If you are reviewing a research study, organize the body of your critique according to the Assignment’s structure.

8. Did the researcher identify the gaps in the knowledge?

9. Did the researcher identify the purpose of the study?

10. Write a brief description and analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the research design and methodology. For example:

a. How does the method reflect other studies of the same topic? (sample, data collection, setting).

b. What makes this method feasible? (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods).

c. How realistic is it? How does the method address questions of validity? (independent, dependent variables).

d. How does the researcher overcome the limitations of the method?

e. Are there large limitations or minor ones?

f. How will these limitations affect your ability to use this data to answer your research question?

11. Describe the results by answering:

a. How were the results interpreted?

b. How were they related to the original problem (author’s view of evidence rather than objective findings)?

c. Look at DISCUSSION are the author(s) able to answer the question (test the hypothesis) raised?

d. Did the research provide new factual information, a new understanding of a phenomenon in the field, a new research technique?

e. How was the significance of the work described?

f. Did the reported observations/interpretations support or refute observations or interpretations made by other researchers?

g. Did the researcher report limitations.

12. Describe the significance of the research by answering:

a. Did the research make a significant contribution to human knowledge?

b. Did the research produce any practical applications?

c. What are the nursing implications of this research?

d. How do you evaluate the significance of the research?