Critique

MASTERSKILLUNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

The students should be able to

1. Define critique

2. List out steps in conducting research critique

3. Understand the research critique process

4. State the guidelines for conducting research critique

S1-critique Jan 08

Learning objectives

Definition

A research critique is a careful appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of the study

Steps in conducting research

1. Read and critique the entire study.

2. Examine the organization and presentation of the research report. A well prepared report is complete, concise, clearly presented and logically organized. It does not involve excessive jargon that is difficult for students and practicing nurses to read. The reference need to be complete and presented in a consistent manner.

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3. Examine the significance of the problem studied for nursing practice.

4. Identify strengths and weakness of a study. All studies have strengths and weaknesses

5. Be balanced in the critique. Try not to be overly critical in identifying a study’s weaknesses or overly flattering in identifying strengths

6. Provide specific examples of the strengths and weaknesses of a study.

7. Provide a rationale for your critique.

8.Suggest modifications for future studies.

9. Discuss the feasibility of replication of the study. Is the study presented in enough detail to be replicated?

10. Discuss the usefulness of the findings for practice.  

1. Comprehension:

understanding the terms and concepts in the report, identifying the elements or steps of the research process such as problem, purpose, framework and design.

2. Comparison:

requires what each step of the research process should be like and then the ideal is compared to the real.

Critique process

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3. Analysis:

Involves critique of the logical links connecting one study element with another.

4. Evaluation:

The evaluation becomes a summary of the study’s quality that builds on conclusions reached during the first three phases

Guidelines

I. Title: Is the title a good one, succinctly suggesting key

variables and the study population?

II. Abstract: Does the abstract clearly and concisely

summarize the main features (problem, methods, research conclusions)

Con..

III. Introduction                                                                        

I. Problem statement: a. What is the study problem? Is it easy to locate? b. Is the problem stated clearly and unambiguously?

Is it easy to identify? c. Does the problem stated, expresses a relationship

between two or more variables d.  Does the problem specify the nature of the

population being studied?

conii. Purpose: a.  What is the study purpose? b.  Does the purpose narrow and clarify the

focus or aim of the study and identify the research variables, population and setting?

c.  Is it worded appropriately? Are verbs used appropriately to suggest the nature of the inquiry

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iii. Objectives: a.   Formally stated? Clearly and concisely

stated? b.  Logically linked to purpose? c.  Linked to concepts and relationships from

the framework? d.  Measurable or potentially measurable and

achievable? e.  Do they clearly identify the variables and

population studied

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iv. Hypotheses: Are they a.  Properly worded? b.  Stated objectively? c.  Stating a predictive relationship between

variables? d.  Stated in such a way that they are

testable?

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v.  Conceptual framework: a. Is the study framework identified? Is a

particular theory or model identified as a framework for the study?

b. Is the framework explicitly expressed or must be extracted from the literature review?

d. Does the framework describe and define the concepts and major features of the theory?

Con… e. Does the framework present the

relationships among the concepts? f. Is a map or model of the framework

provided for clarity?

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vi. Variables

a.  Are the variables clearly defined based on previous research and or theories?

b. Is the conceptual definition of a variable consistent with the operational definition?

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c. Are the major variables or concepts identified and defined)? Identify and define the appropriate variables included in the study: Independent variables, Dependent variables, Research variables

Con…IV. Review of literature                                                                    a.  Is the literature review presented? b.  Are all relevant concepts and variables included in the

review? c. Are relevant previous studies identified and described? d. Are relevant theories and models identified and

described? e. Are the references current? Examine the number of

sources in the last five and ten years in the reference list.

Con…Methodology:                                                                     

 i. Ethical considerations: a.  Are the rights of human subjects protected? b. Were appropriate procedures used to safeguard the

rights of study participants used? c.  Was the study approved and monitored by an

institutional review board, research ethics board or other similar ethics review committee?

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

Con…ii. Design:                                                                            a. Is the research design clearly addressed? Identify the

specific design of the study.

b. Does the research question imply a question about the causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables?

c. What would be strongest design for the research question? How does this compare to the design actually used?

Con…iii. Setting: Discuss the setting and whether it was appropriate for the

conduct of the study.

iv. Population and Sample: a. Was the population identified and described? Was the

sample described in sufficient detail? b. Was the best possible sampling design was used to

enhance sample’s representative ness? Were sample biases minimized?

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sampling method adequate to produce a sample that is representative c. Is the of the study population?

d. Was the sample size adequate?

e. Identify the inclusion and exclusion sample criteria.

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v. Instrument/tools:                                                           

a. Are all of the measurement strategies /instruments identified and described?

b. Identify the author of each measurement strategy. Identify the type of each measurement strategy (Likert, visual analogue, physiological measurement, questionnaire, interview, observation).

Con.. c. Is the method used appropriate to the

problem being studied? Were the methods used appropriate to the clinical situation? Are they similar for all subjects?

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vi. Data collection: a. Did the researcher make the right decision about

collecting new data versus existing data for the study?

b.  Were the right methods used to collect the data?

C. . Was the right amount of data collected? Were too many data were collected in terms burdening study participants?

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VI. Data analysis.                                                                         a. Are data analysis procedures clearly described? What

statistical analyses are included in the research report?

b. Do data analyses address each objective, Question or hypothesis?

Are tables and figures used to synthesize and emphasize certain findings

Are the statistics used appropriate to the problem, the

hypothesis, the method, the sample and the level of measurement?

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VII. Discussion:                                                                         a. What is the researcher’s interpretation of findings? Are all

important results discussed?

b. Did the researcher identify and discuss important study limitations ?

c. Are there inconsistencies of the report?

d. Are all major findings interpreted and discussed within the context ?

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VII. Application and utilization:                                                     

a. How much confidence can be placed in the study findings? Are the findings an accurate reflection of reality? Do the study appear valid?

What research questions emerge from the findings ? Does the study contribute any meaningful evidence

that can be used in nursing practice or that is useful to the nursing discipline?

Con…VII. Conclusion:                                                                              The exercise of a critique was a useful task to apply the

knowledge of research. Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the study including the constraints and limitations, helped to review the research process. The exercise gives a room for thoughtfulness and to hold the analysis in practical terms. Thus the research critique gives room for the authenticity of the information and to analyze the credibility of the findings and to weigh the evidence base in terms of practicality, objectivity, utilization, application and replication possibility.