Research Article Critique Instructions

You MUST critique the article provided in the Module/Week 7 Reading & Study folder. The Influence of Work-Related Fatigue, Work
Conditions, and Personal Characteristics on
Intent to Leave Among New Nurses
Liu, Yi, PhD, RN; Wu, Li-Min, PhD, RN; Chou, Pi-Ling, PhD, RN; Chen, Mei-Hsin, MSN, RN; Yang, Li-Chien,
MSN, RN; Hsu, Hsin-Tien, PhD, RN . Journal of Nursing Scholarship ; Indianapolis  Vol. 48, Iss. 1,  (Jan
2016): 66-73.

Directions for formatting the critique:

Using the outline below, address each section in a critique, using current APA format. While the outline is provided in a bulleted format, the critique must be written in narrative format with enough depth and breadth to demonstrate your understanding and knowledge of the content. The critique, including title and reference pages, must not exceed 10 pages,

NOTE: Refer to the points on critiquing research studies that are detailed throughout the textbook.

This assignment is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of Module/Week 7.

RESEARCH CRITIQUE

Part I. COMPREHENSION: In this part of the critique you are reading the article for comprehension, and gaining information that will enable you to clearly describe and define the following components of the study. Part II. COMPARISION AND ANALYSIS: You will focus on evaluation and analysis of the article.

Part I. Comprehension

Introduction

• Qualifications of author(s).
• Does the title fit well with the content of the article?
• Discuss the content of the abstract. Is it a good overview of the content? Is it consistent with content? Are some elements missing?

Problem/Purpose

• State the problem.
• Do the authors provide adequate background information to support the problem?
• Do the authors explain the purpose or aim of the study?

Literature Review

• Are the references current? (Number of sources in the last 10 years and in the last 5 years.)
• Do the authors “critique” the research studies they cite (i.e., point out some of the limitations, contradictions, weaknesses, etc.)?
• Do the authors summarize their review of the literature to reveal what is known/not known and the need for further study?

Framework/Theoretical Perspective

• Is the framework (theoretical model or theory) explicitly expressed in the introduction or the literature review?
• Do the authors specifically tie the framework/theory to their study: concepts/variables of interest? If so, how is this accomplished?
• If a specific theory or framework is not identified, what nursing theory do you think would fit with the focus of this study? Explain your answer.

List the Research Question(s) or Hypotheses

Identify and Define Variables

• Independent Variables (Intervention/Treatment)
  • Identify and define variable(s): what is the treatment or intervention, and how is it implemented?
• Dependent Variables (Outcome of the Treatment: “Effect”)
  • Define the dependent variable, and describe how it is measured.
• If the study does not have an independent and dependent variable, what are the study’s variables of interest?

Demographics of Sample

• Were demographics of the sample included? If yes, provide a few examples of demographics (i.e., 50% male, 50% female, etc.).

Research Design

• Identify the research design and define the design (i.e., nonexperimental, descriptive survey, correlational, etc.).
• Did the researchers conduct a pilot study? If so, what did they have to say about it? Did they make changes based on the pilot study?

Sample/Setting

• Sampling criteria—this is usually referred to as “inclusion criteria”—meaning, what characteristics did participants need in order to be included in the study (i.e., female, 40–50 years of age, pregnant with 1^st child, etc.)?
• Sampling method: how did researchers obtain participants? What kind of approach was used—nonprobability (nonrandom) or probability (random)?
• Sample size: was response or attrition rate discussed?
• Was informed consent obtained? Was the Institutional Review Board mentioned?
• Identify the setting of the study. Did the setting fit well with the study’s objectives?

Measurement, Methods, and Instruments

• Who developed the instruments used: the author(s) or someone else?
• Identify the instruments (data collection tools) used.
• Did the authors discuss the reliability and validity of the instruments used?

Data Collection

• How were data collected?
• Timing of data collection: (one-time [cross-sectional] collection, or longitudinal)?
• Where was data collected?

Statistical Analyses

• What statistical measures were used to analyze the data collected (the data that “answered” the research hypotheses or research questions)?
• Was the level of significance or alpha identified? If so, indicate what it was (.05, .01, or .001). Remember, .05 means that the researchers are 95% confident that there was cause and effect or correlation between variables; .01 means that they were 99% confident; and .001 means that the researchers were 99.9% confident that their intervention was effective and directly related to the outcome, or effect.

Implication of Findings

• What implications for nursing were described?
• Can you think of any implications that were not described?

Limitations

• What limitations were identified?
• Can you identify any other limitations?

Generalization of Findings

• Did the author(s) generalize the findings? (Did they apply the findings of their study beyond the sample studied and make application to the population in general?) Remember that a random (probability) sample is considered to be generalizable, whereas a nonrandom (nonprobability) sample is not.

Suggestions for Further Study

• What were the suggestions for further study?

Format

• Was current APA (or other type of format) used accurately? Did you discover any spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors? What about sentence structure, organization, and clarity?

Part II. Comparison and Analysis

Design

• Is the design used in the study the most appropriate design to obtain the needed data?
• If applicable, is the treatment/intervention clearly described?
• What are the strengths and limitations of the research design used?
• Do you think that another research design would have been more appropriate?

Data Analysis

• Are data analysis procedures appropriate for the type of data collected? Explain.
• Are data analysis procedures clearly described? Explain

Overall Evaluation

The following questions provide guidance in identifying strengths and weaknesses of the study.

• Were the steps of the research process logically linked together? (Did the authors’ research questions or hypotheses make sense based on the review of literature? Did the methods employed [i.e., quantitative/qualitative] fit well with the intent of the study?)
• Do the findings build on the findings of previous studies? Refer to the studies cited and discussed in the literature review and in the discussion section of the article.
• What are your impressions about the overall quality of the study?
• Your impressions regarding the applicability of the study to nursing practice and how it contributes to nursing knowledge?
• Include any other points of “critique” or commentary, as desired.