Critical Evaluation of a Research Paper
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:
- 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.
- Write a 1-2 page critique on the article (excluding cover and reference page).
- Format references and citations using 7th ed. APA guidelines.
- Read the Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice: model and guidelines and use Appendix E critically
- Download Appendix E critically appraise from the article.
- Begin your critique by identifying the:
- article’s title
- author(s)
- date of publication
- name of the journal or other publication in which it appeared
- and when was the article published
- In your introduction, you should briefly describe the purpose and nature of the study and, if applicable, its theoretical framework. If the paper was not published in a peer-reviewed journal, consider the credibility of the publication in which it appeared.
- If you are reviewing a research study, organize the body of your critique according to the paper’s structure.
- Did the researcher identify the gaps in the knowledge?
- Did the researcher identify the purpose of the study?
- Write a brief description and analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the research design and methodology. For example:
- How does the method reflect other studies of the same topic? (sample, data collection, setting).
- What makes this method feasible? (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods).
- How realistic is it? How does the method address questions of validity? (independent, dependent variables).
- How does the researcher overcome the limitations of the method?
- Are there large limitations or minor ones?
- How will these limitations affect your ability to use this data to answer your research question?
- Describe the results by answering:
- How were the results interpreted?
- How were they related to the original problem (author’s view of evidence rather than objective findings)?
- Look at DISCUSSION are the author(s) able to answer the question (test the hypothesis) raised?
- Did the research provide new factual information, a new understanding of a phenomenon in the field, a new research technique?
- How was the significance of the work described?
- Did the reported observations/interpretations support or refute observations or interpretations made by other researchers?
- Did the researcher report limitations.
- Describe the significance of the research by answering:
- Did the research make a significant contribution to human knowledge?
- Did the research produce any practical applications?
- What are the nursing implications of this research?
- How do you evaluate the significance of the research?
- Papers will be graded by rubric. Please take time to review the rubric so that you are aware of the expectations for the research critique paper.
