University of Bridgeport School of Nursing – Traditional BSN Program
NURS 314-01 & NURS 314-02 – Nursing Research (9/21/20)
Research Critique Guidelines for Quantitative Studies
Student Name: __________________________________ Date: _____________________
Reference of Nursing Research Article (less than 5 years old): __________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Please provide a hard copy (with your name on it) or send an electronic copy of this article to your professor.
Level of Evidence of Research Article: _____________________________________________________
Answer either Yes or No for each item and provide the rationale for your answer.
Step 1: Research Problem& Research Purpose (10 points)
- Is the problem clearly and concisely stated?
- Is the problem adequately narrowed down into a researchable problem?
- Is the problem significant to nursing? Is it interesting?
- Is the relationship of the identified problem to previous research clear?
- Does the purpose narrow and clarify the focus of the study?
Step 2: Review of Literature (5 points)
- Is the literature review logically organized?
- Does the literature review provide a critique of the relevant studies?
- Are the gaps in the knowledge about the research problem identified?
- Are important relevant references omitted?
Step 3: Study Framework (5 points)
- Is the theoretical framework easily linked with the problem or does it seem forced?
- If a conceptual framework is used, are the concepts adequately defined and are relationships among these concepts clearly identified?
Step 4: Research Objectives, Questions, or Hypothesis (10 points)
- Are the objectives, questions, or hypotheses expressed clearly?
- Are the objectives, questions, or hypotheses logically linked to the research purpose and to the concepts and relationships in the study framework?
- Is a predicted relationship between two or more variables included in the hypothesis?
- Are the hypotheses clear, testable, and specific?
- Do the hypotheses flow from the literature review and conceptual framework?
- Is the sample included in the hypotheses?
Step 5: Variables (10 points)
- Are the independent and dependent variables clearly defined conceptually and operationally and based on previous research or theories?
- Is the conceptual definition of a variable consistent with the operational definition?
- Are any extraneous variables identified?
Step 6: Sampling (10 points)
- Is the sample size adequate?
- Is the sample representative of the population?
- Is the method for selection of the sample appropriate?
- Are the sample criteria for inclusion into the study identified?
- Is there any sampling bias in the method?
Step 7: Research Design/Data Collection Methods (15 points)
- Is the research design adequately described?
- Is the design appropriate for the research problem?
- Does the research design control for threats to internal and external validity?
- Are the data collection instruments described adequately?
- Are the reliability and validity of the tools adequate?
- Are the data collection methods appropriate for the study?
- Where was the research conducted?
- Who, what, where, and how of data collection identified?
Step 8: Data Analysis (10 points)
- Is the results section logically organized?
- Is the type of analysis appropriate for the level of measurement of each variable?
- Are the tables and figures clearly understandable?
- Is the statistical test(s) the correct one for answering the research question(s)?
Step 9: Interpretation and Discussion of Findings (15 points)
- Are the interpretations based on data obtained?
- Does the investigator clearly distinguish actual findings and interpretations?
- Are the findings discussed in relation to the previous research and conceptual framework?
- Are unwarranted generalizations made beyond the study sample?
- Are the limitations of the results identified?
- Are implications of the results for clinical nursing practice discussed?
- Are recommendations for future research identified?
- Are the conclusions justified?
Additional Questions: (10 points)
- Who are the researchers and are they qualified to do this research?
- How “readable” was this study?
- Do you have any suggestions for ways to improve this study?
- What did you think of this research study?
- Would you use this research in your nursing practice?