SNHP 330- Research and Evidence-based Practice

Task:

Introduction

Statement of the Problem

What is the research problem?  

Did the author(s) build a convincing and persuasive argument for the study from the problem statement?  

Purpose of the Study

Is the purpose of the study stated? 

Is/are the purpose appropriately worded, with clear predictions of the relationships among the key variables and the study population? 

Research Question(s)

Is/are the research question(s) stated? 

Is/are the research question(s) appropriately worded, with clear specification of the key study variables, the relationships among the key variables and the study population? 

Conceptual Underpinning

Is there a conceptual framework, rationale and/or map? Are the conceptual definitions adequate?

Are the concepts adequately defined conceptually?

Method

Research Design

Describe the research design, that is, how the study was conducted. Tell how the subjects/participants/respondents were selected and assigned to the different groups. 

Was the population and/or sample identified and described in sufficient detail? 

Are the operational and conceptual definitions congruent with the research method (e.g., interviews, observations…)? 

Were the research instruments adequately described, given the research purpose, variables being studies and the study population? 

Does the research provide reliability and validity measures on the measurement tools?

Protection of human participants: How has the researcher addressed the selection of subjects/participants/respondents, informed consent, and ethical concerns?

Were these procedures appropriate? 

Was the study designed to minimize risks and maximize benefits to participants? 

Did the analysis(es) address each research question or each hypothesis?

Were appropriate statistical methods used, given the level of measurement of the variables, number of groups being compared, and assumptions of the tests?  

Are the findings adequately summarized with good use of tables, figures, and/or maps? 

Do themes adequately capture the meaning of the data? 

Does it appear that the researcher(s) satisfactorily conceptualized the themes or patterns of the data? 

Are the major findings interpreted and discussed within the context of the study’s conceptual framework? 

Are the major findings interpreted and discussed within the context of the present study?  

Does the study discuss the implications for further research? 

Are these implications reasonable and the discussion thorough and complete?

Are the findings transferable beyond the study?

Is the study well-written, organized, and sufficiently detailed for critical analysis?