NURS 350 Assignment Research Article Critique
NURS 350 Assignment Research Article Critique
A research critique demonstrates your ability to critically evaluate an investigative study. For this assignment, choose an original or primary research study related to nursing or medicine. The purpose of this assignment is to review a research study in-depth and to decide whether or not it is a valid research study that can be used in practice. It is your written evaluation of the study, not just a summary of the study.
The body of your paper should follow APA Style guidelines, and it should 4–6 pages double-spaced plus a cover page and reference list. The full article must be attached to the critique for credit.
Note: Because submission of the article is part of the assignment requirements and is necessary for grading, any assignment submitted without the accompanying article will be considered incomplete. An incomplete assignment will be initially assigned a zero. The student has the opportunity to submit the article to complete the assignment. However, if it is submitted after the due date and time, the late penalty will apply. After five days, submissions will not be accepted, as per University policy, and the grade will remain a zero.
Articles used for one assignment cannot be used for the other assignments. (Students should find new research articles for each assignment.)
The selected articles should be original research studies. Review articles, concept analysis, meta-analysis, meta-synthesis, integrative review, and systemic review should not be used.
Mixed-methods studies should not be used.
Your critique should include the following:
Research Problem/Purpose
Describe the problem as it is presented in the study.
State the purpose of the research.
Have the investigators placed the study problem within the context of existing nursing or healthcare knowledge?
Will the study solve a problem relevant to nursing?
Review of the Literature (may be part of the author’s introduction or conclusion)
Identify the concepts explored in the literature review.
Are the references current in relation to the publication date of the study? If not, what are the possible reasons for using older sources?
Theoretical Framework
Do the authors identify their overall assumptions or a theoretical framework for the study? Are these assumptions appropriate for the study?
Does the research draw only on nursing theory, or does it draw on theory from other disciplines?
If a formal theory is not identified, suggest one (preferably a nursing theory) that might be suitable for the study. Various nursing theories can be found at http://www.nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/
Variables/Hypotheses/Questions/Assumptions
What is the research question or the hypothesis? Is it clearly stated or implied?
What are the independent and dependent variables in the hypothesis or research question?
Are the variables clearly defined so that the reader understands the researchers’ interpretation of the variables?
Is the dependent variable concrete and measurable?
Methodology
What type of design (quantitative, qualitative) was used in this study?
Was inductive or deductive reasoning used in this study?
State the sample size and study population, sampling method, and study setting.
Did the investigator choose a probability or non-probability sample?
Describe how the independent variable was tested or surveyed in the study.
Describe how the dependent variable was measured.
Discuss the reliability and the validity (quantitative) or the credibility (qualitative) of the measurement tools.
How were ethical considerations addressed? What ethical considerations were necessary for this type of study?
Data Analysis
What data analysis method was used?
How were the results in the study presented to the reader?
Discuss at least one (1) finding from the authors’ results and relate it to the dependent variable of the study.
Summary/Conclusions, Implications, and Recommendations
What are strengths and limitations of the study other than those stated by the authors?
Can the researcher generalize the findings to other populations? Explain.
What is the significance of the findings and conclusions for you in your personal nursing practice? For nursing as a profession?
The body of your paper should be 4–6 pages double-spaced plus a cover page and a reference page. The critique must be attached to the article and follow APA Style guidelines.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ARTICLE CRITIQUE AND A REVIEW?
A criticism is a method of critically analyzing a piece of research in order to highlight both its strengths and faults, as well as its relevance to practice. Professionals frequently need to be able to identify the best current practice, and the capacity to analyze and use published research is crucial to this. As a result, it is a skill that is required in many job descriptions. A detailed critique, such as that required in the health sciences and possibly other disciplines, is suggested in this guide. Check with your tutors and the assignment rules to see what your specific requirements are.
RESEARCH THAT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED
To better understand published research, it is helpful to have some basic understanding of the publishing process. As a last phase in the study process, researchers aim to get their findings published. They intend to publish in professional journals in order to reach the widest possible audience and contribute to professional practice.
THE PROCESS OF PUBLISHING
Because the contents of peer-reviewed journals are scrutinized by peers for quality, they are considered the best for publication. In a nutshell, the procedure entails: 1. submitting an article to a journal.
2. Two experts in the subject review the manuscript (without knowing who the authors are). Each reviewer submits a report addressing the article’s relevance, research rigor, and potential value to the profession. The reviewers make their own decisions on whether it should be published or if it needs more development.
3. Based on the reviewers’ reports, an editorial board accepts or rejects the manuscript.
4. Authors may choose to revise their paper in light of the reviewers’ recommendations and resubmit it to the same or a different journal for consideration for publication. The paper will be subjected to the same scrutiny.
