The document provides research critique guidelines focused on quantitative studies, highlighting the identification of clinical and research problems, the significance of the study, and its research questions. It emphasizes the study's methods, including consent, data collection, and ethical considerations, and discusses the interpretation of results and implications for nursing practice. Additionally, it includes a section on constructing confidence intervals for estimating population means, with steps for analysis and comparisons of confidence intervals.

1. Research Critique Guidelines
Quantitative Study
Background of Study:
· Identify the clinical problem and research problem that led to
the study. What was not known about the clinical problem that,
if understood, could be used to improve health care delivery or
patient outcomes? This gap in knowledge is the research
problem.
· How did the author establish the significance of the study? In
other words, why should the reader care about this study? Look
for statements about human suffering, costs of treatment, or the
number of people affected by the clinical problem.
· Identify the purpose of the study. An author may clearly state
the purpose of the study or may describe the purpose as the
study goals, objectives, or aims.
· List research questions that the study was designed to answer.
If the author does not explicitly provide the questions, attempt
to infer the questions from the answers.
· Were the purpose and research questions related to the
problem?
Methods of Study
· Identify the benefits and risks of participation addressed by
the authors. Were there benefits or risks the authors do not
identify?
· Was informed consent obtained from the subjects or
participants?
· Did it seem that the subjects participated voluntarily in the
study?
· Was institutional review board approval obtained from the
agency in which the study was conducted?
· Are the major variables (independent and dependent variables)
identified and defined? What were these variables?
· How were data collected in this study?

2. · What rationale did the author provide for using this data
collection method?
· Identify the time period for data collection of the study.
· Describe the sequence of data collection events for a
participant.
· Describe the data management and analysis methods used in
the study.
· Did the author discuss how the rigor of the process was
assured? For example, does the author describe maintaining a
paper trail of critical decisions that were made during the
analysis of the data? Was statistical software used to ensure
accuracy of the analysis?
· What measures were used to minimize the effects of researcher
bias (their experiences and perspectives)? For example, did two
researchers independently analyze the data and compare their
analyses?
Results of Study
· What is the researcher's interpretation of findings?
· Are the findings valid or an accurate reflection of reality? Do
you have confidence in the findings?
· What limitations of the study were identified by researchers?
· Was there a coherent logic to the presentation of findings?
· What implications do the findings have for nursing practice?
For example, can the findings of the study be applied to general
nursing practice, to a specific population, or to a specific area
of nursing?
· What suggestions are made for further studies?
Ethical Considerations
· Was the study approved by an Institutional Review Board?
· Was patient privacy protected?
· Were there ethical considerations regarding the treatment or
lack of?
Conclusion
· Emphasize the importance and congruity of the thesis
statement.
· Provide a logical wrap-up to bring the appraisal to completion

3. and to leave a lasting impression and take-away points useful in
nursing practice.
· Incorporate a critical appraisal and a brief analysis of the
utility and applicability of the findings to nursing practice.
· Integrate a summary of the knowledge learned.
Reference
Bunchner, R., & Grill, S. (2013). Understanding nursing
research (7th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier
Deliverable 03 Worksheet
1. Discuss the importance of constructing confidence intervals
for the population mean by answering these questions.
· What are confidence intervals?
· What is a point estimate?
· What is the best point estimate for the population mean?
Explain.
· Why do we need confidence intervals?
Answer and Explanation:
Enter your step-by-step answer and explanations here.
2. Using the data from the Excel workbook, construct
a 95% confidence interval for the population mean. Assume that
your data is normally distributed and σ is unknown. Include a
statement that correctly interprets the confidence interval in
context of the scenario.
Hint: Use the sample mean and sample standard deviation from
Deliverable 1.
Answer and Explanation:
Enter your step-by-step answer and explanations here.
3. Using the data from the Excel workbook, construct
a 99% confidence interval for the population mean. Assume that
your data is normally distributed and σ is unknown. Include a
statement that correctly interprets the confidence interval in

4. context of the scenario.
Hint: Use the sample mean and sample standard deviation from
Deliverable 1.
Answer and Explanation:
Enter your step-by-step answer and explanations here.
4. Compare your answers for (2) and (3). You notice that the
99% confidence interval is wider. What is the advantage of
using a wider confidence interval? Why would you not always
use the 99% confidence interval? Explain with an example.
Answer and Explanation:
Enter your step-by-step answer and explanations here.
5. We want to estimate the mean salary in Minnesota. How
many jobs must be randomly selected for their respective mean
salaries if we want 95% confidence that the sample mean is
within $126 of the population mean and σ = $1150.
Is the current sample size of 364 in the data set in our Excel
workbook large enough? Explain.
Answer and Explanation:
Enter your step-by-step answer and explanations here.
Deliverable 03 Worksheet
1. Discuss the importance of constructing confidence intervals
for the population mean by answering these questions.
· What are confidence intervals?
· What is a point estimate?
· What is the best point estimate for the population mean?
Explain.
· Why do we need confidence intervals?
Answer and Explanation:
Enter your step-by-step answer and explanations here.

5. 2. Using the data from the Excel workbook, construct
a 95% confidence interval for the population mean. Assume that
your data is normally distributed and σ is unknown. Include a
statement that correctly interprets the confidence interval in
context of the scenario.
Hint: Use the sample mean and sample standard deviation from
Deliverable 1.
Answer and Explanation:
Enter your step-by-step answer and explanations here.
3. Using the data from the Excel workbook, construct
a 99% confidence interval for the population mean. Assume that
your data is normally distributed and σ is unknown. Include a
statement that correctly interprets the confidence interval in
context of the scenario.
Hint: Use the sample mean and sample standard deviation from
Deliverable 1.
Answer and Explanation:
Enter your step-by-step answer and explanations here.
4. Compare your answers for (2) and (3). You notice that the
99% confidence interval is wider. What is the advantage of
using a wider confidence interval? Why would you not always
use the 99% confidence interval? Explain with an example.
Answer and Explanation:
Enter your step-by-step answer and explanations here.
5. We want to estimate the mean salary in Minnesota. How
many jobs must be randomly selected for their respective mean
salaries if we want 95% confidence that the sample mean is
within $126 of the population mean and σ = $1150.
Is the current sample size of 364 in the data set in our Excel

6. workbook large enough? Explain.
Answer and Explanation:
Enter your step-by-step answer and explanations here.
DataJob TitleSalaryAccountants and Auditors80050source:
http://www.bls.gov/Actuaries110710Administrative Law Judges,
Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers96690Administrative
Services Managers92940Adult Basic and Secondary Education
and Literacy Teachers and Instructors63940Advertising and
Promotions Managers104130Advertising Sales
Agents53940Aerospace Engineering and Operations
Technicians56140Aerospace Engineers103860Agents and
Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and
Athletes74580Agricultural and Food Science
Technicians42060Agricultural Inspectors54140Agricultural
Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary87390Air Traffic
Controllers137520Aircraft Cargo Handling
Supervisors52480Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and
Systems Assemblers51410Airfield Operations
Specialists59800Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight
Engineers146150Anthropologists and
Archeologists57720Appraisers and Assessors of Real
Estate52870Arbitrators, Mediators, and
Conciliators86430Architects, Except Landscape and
Naval81000Architectural and Civil Drafters62210Architecture
and Engineering Occupations73850Architecture Teachers,
Postsecondary73870Archivists60730Art Directors92680Art,
Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary78700Athletic
Trainers45440Atmospheric and Space
Scientists93900Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences
Teachers, Postsecondary96590Audiologists97230Avionics
Technicians47320Biomedical
Engineers99000Boilermakers76310Broadcast News
Analysts71040Brokerage Clerks57260Budget

7. Analysts75940Business and Financial Operations
Occupations64880Business Operations Specialists, All
Other67980Business Teachers, Postsecondary119810Buyers and
Purchasing Agents, Farm Products62290Camera and
Photographic Equipment Repairers32280Captains, Mates, and
Pilots of Water Vessels63890Cardiovascular Technologists and
Technicians59630Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle
School69050Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary
School63430Cargo and Freight Agents40910Cartographers and
Photogrammetrists72120Chefs and Head Cooks47660Chemical
Engineers87200Chemical Equipment Operators and
Tenders45460Chemical Plant and System
Operators54920Chemical Technicians50360Chemistry Teachers,
Postsecondary96330Chemists76620Child, Family, and School
Social Workers58140Chiropractors86820Civil
Engineers91430Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and
Investigators66030Clinical, Counseling, and School
Psychologists76150Coil Winders, Tapers, and
Finishers31280Commercial and Industrial
Designers66710Commercial Pilots104420Communications
Equipment Operators, All Other43160Communications
Teachers, Postsecondary85310Community and Social Service
Occupations43790Community Health
Workers37190Compensation and Benefits
Managers121570Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis
Specialists67210Compliance Officers71780Computer and
Information Research Scientists121310Computer and
Information Systems Managers137140Computer and
Mathematical Occupations81640Computer Hardware
Engineers95500Computer Network Architects112050Computer
Network Support Specialists70940Computer Occupations, All
Other92960Computer Programmers89390Computer Science
Teachers, Postsecondary89290Computer Systems
Analysts90600Computer User Support
Specialists53680Conservation Scientists67540Construction and
Building Inspectors64150Construction

8. Managers99150Continuous Mining Machine
Operators55330Control and Valve Installers and Repairers,
Except Mechanical Door64960Conveyor Operators and
Tenders31910Cost Estimators69480Crane and Tower
Operators53980Credit Analysts72870Credit
Counselors46720Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement
Teachers, Postsecondary66980Curators66230Database
Administrators91730Dental Hygienists71930Derrick Operators,
Oil and Gas38120Detectives and Criminal
Investigators90890Diagnostic Medical
Sonographers74340Dietitians and Nutritionists56480Directors,
Religious Activities and Education43690Drafters, All
Other51790Economics Teachers,
Postsecondary137920Economists106280Editors59510Education
Administrators, All Other83420Education Administrators,
Elementary and Secondary School104280Education
Administrators, Postsecondary99740Education Administrators,
Preschool and Childcare Center/Program65860Education
Teachers, Postsecondary65020Education, Training, and Library
Occupations47920Educational, Guidance, School, and
Vocational Counselors56550Electric Motor, Power Tool, and
Related Repairers63800Electrical and Electronics
Drafters69010Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Technicians68060Electrical and Electronics Installers and
Repairers, Transportation Equipment54060Electrical and
Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial
Equipment55970Electrical and Electronics Repairers,
Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay81590Electrical
Engineers91870Electrical Power-Line Installers and
Repairers67430Electricians74010Electro-Mechanical
Technicians54700Electronics Engineers, Except
Computer100610Elementary School Teachers, Except Special
Education62620Elevator Installers and
Repairers88340Embalmers48770Emergency Management
Directors79270Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All
Other63250English Language and Literature Teachers,

9. Postsecondary81700Environmental Engineering
Technicians56810Environmental Engineers84870Environmental
Science and Protection Technicians, Including
Health45090Environmental Science Teachers,
Postsecondary92530Environmental Scientists and Specialists,
Including Health84320Epidemiologists85620Executive
Secretaries and Executive Administrative
Assistants55770Exercise Physiologists54300Explosives
Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and
Blasters62910Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting
Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders38680Farm and Home
Management Advisors38940Film and Video
Editors62280Financial Analysts89860Financial Clerks, All
Other44080Financial Examiners99800Financial
Managers134370Financial Specialists, All Other87690Fire
Inspectors and Investigators58590Firefighters55300First-Line
Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction
Workers82160First-Line Supervisors of Correctional
Officers84290First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and
Forestry Workers42540First-Line Supervisors of Fire Fighting
and Prevention Workers91930First-Line Supervisors of Helpers,
Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand49590First-Line
Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping
Workers54280First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers,
and Repairers66430First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales
Workers72920First-Line Supervisors of Office and
Administrative Support Workers58120First-Line Supervisors of
Police and Detectives101240First-Line Supervisors of
Production and Operating Workers60990First-Line Supervisors
of Protective Service Workers, All Other46280First-Line
Supervisors of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine
and Vehicle Operators58250Fish and Game Wardens88120Food
Service Managers51340Foreign Language and Literature
Teachers, Postsecondary73350Forensic Science
Technicians79630Forest and Conservation
Technicians46640Foresters65970Forestry and Conservation

10. Science Teachers, Postsecondary90080Fundraisers57720Funeral
Service Managers82590Gaming Supervisors32220Gas
Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators62720Gas Plant
Operators70130General and Operations
Managers124190Geography Teachers,
Postsecondary82530Geological and Petroleum
Technicians39180Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and
Geographers70730Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining
Safety Engineers and Inspectors84880Health Diagnosing and
Treating Practitioners, All Other67650Health
Educators58050Health Specialties Teachers,
Postsecondary136670Health Technologists and Technicians, All
Other45940Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Occupations67470Healthcare Social Workers53600Hearing Aid
Specialists46970Historians70840History Teachers,
Postsecondary88590Hoist and Winch Operators*Home
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary74490Human Resources
Managers112430Human Resources Specialists61460Industrial
Engineering Technicians57750Industrial
Engineers82720Industrial Machinery Mechanics55930Industrial
Production Managers100480Information and Record Clerks, All
Other45700Information Security Analysts97360Installation,
Maintenance, and Repair Occupations45990Instructional
Coordinators66810Insurance Appraisers, Auto
Damage70380Insurance Sales Agents66080Insurance
Underwriters76990Interior Designers62010Judges, Magistrate
Judges, and Magistrates58140Kindergarten Teachers, Except
Special Education55850Labor Relations
Specialists51870Landscape
Architects68960Lawyers140920Layout Workers, Metal and
Plastic42830Legal Occupations82900Legal Support Workers,
All Other59510Librarians56320Library Science Teachers,
Postsecondary78830Life Scientists, All Other82630Life,
Physical, and Social Science Occupations62840Loading
Machine Operators, Underground Mining41270Loan
Officers82290Locomotive Engineers71960Logging Workers, All

11. Other41940Logisticians67890Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Technologists70580Management Analysts92200Managers, All
Other88600Marine Engineers and Naval Architects82410Market
Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists62380Marketing
Managers122260Marriage and Family Therapists55600Materials
Engineers91510Mathematical Science Teachers,
Postsecondary78880Mechanical Drafters58540Mechanical
Engineering Technicians60220Mechanical
Engineers92040Media and Communication Equipment Workers,
All Other76540Medical and Clinical Laboratory
Technologists65770Medical and Health Services
Managers113030Medical Equipment Repairers58310Meeting,
Convention, and Event Planners52370Mental Health
Counselors46580Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and
Tenders44990Middle School Teachers, Except Special and
Career/Technical Education66630Millwrights58660Mine
Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators46250Mine Shuttle
Car Operators56930Mining and Geological Engineers, Including
Mining Safety Engineers93920Mining Machine Operators, All
Other69160Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators,
and Tenders41970Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except
Engines58950Model Makers, Metal and Plastic57100Morticians,
Undertakers, and Funeral Directors69800Multimedia Artists and
Animators59890Music Directors and Composers46260Natural
Sciences Managers113620Network and Computer Systems
Administrators87700Nuclear Engineers121650Nuclear Medicine
Technologists79440Nuclear Technicians88770Nurse
Practitioners101960Nursing Instructors and Teachers,
Postsecondary72450Occupational Health and Safety
Specialists75610Occupational Health and Safety
Technicians61740Occupational Therapists82290Occupational
Therapy Assistants61860Operations Research
Analysts90310Optometrists108370Orthotists and
Prosthetists82380Painters, Transportation
Equipment45230Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and
Tenders37110Paralegals and Legal

12. Assistants56990Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic56260Personal
Financial Advisors121750Petroleum Pump System Operators,
Refinery Operators, and
Gaugers66550Pharmacists120280Philosophy and Religion
Teachers, Postsecondary78010Physical Therapist
Assistants57750Physical Therapists90040Physician
Assistants104730Physicists118520Physics Teachers,
Postsecondary89040Plant and System Operators, All
Other56830Plumbers, Pipefitters, and
Steamfitters77570Podiatrists192180Police and Sheriff's Patrol
Officers73870Political Science Teachers,
Postsecondary90250Postal Service Clerks49310Postal Service
Mail Carriers50160Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and
Processing Machine Operators49820Postmasters and Mail
Superintendents75620Power Distributors and
Dispatchers84830Power Plant Operators79100Precision
Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other64170Private
Detectives and Investigators58290Probation Officers and
Correctional Treatment Specialists64300Producers and
Directors75970Production, Planning, and Expediting
Clerks48390Property, Real Estate, and Community Association
Managers65980Psychologists, All Other75060Psychology
Teachers, Postsecondary89680Public Relations and Fundraising
Managers115180Public Relations Specialists63620Pump
Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers51520Purchasing Agents,
Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products61760Purchasing
Managers111380Radiation Therapists84640Radio, Cellular, and
Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers49240Radiologic
Technologists63100Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and
Hostlers54790Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters65740Rail-
Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators54600Real
Estate Brokers86260Real Estate Sales Agents59010Recreation
and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary60080Recreational
Vehicle Service Technicians34450Refractory Materials
Repairers, Except Brickmasons49210Registered
Nurses72090Reinforcing Iron and Rebar

13. Workers86290Respiratory Therapists56910Rolling Machine
Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic38060Roof
Bolters, Mining58900Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and
Gas49720Sales Engineers98760Sales Managers128340Sales
Representatives, Services, All Other61930Sales
Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except
Technical and Scientific Products69900Sales Representatives,
Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific
Products81950Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and
Career/Technical Education68380Securities, Commodities, and
Financial Services Sales Agents86070Service Unit Operators,
Oil, Gas, and Mining42200Set and Exhibit Designers54620Ship
Engineers69300Signal and Track Switch Repairers37720Social
and Community Service Managers63870Social Scientists and
Related Workers, All Other79960Social Work Teachers,
Postsecondary54580Social Workers, All Other65890Sociology
Teachers, Postsecondary87710Software Developers,
Applications96110Software Developers, Systems
Software106700Soil and Plant Scientists57080Sound
Engineering Technicians58660Special Education Teachers, All
Other59400Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and
Elementary School65430Special Education Teachers, Middle
School62160Special Education Teachers, Secondary
School68560Speech-Language Pathologists78760Stationary
Engineers and Boiler
Operators79090Statisticians83850Surveyors66400Tank Car,
Truck, and Ship Loaders45470Tax Examiners and Collectors,
and Revenue Agents79850Technical
Writers67410Telecommunications Equipment Installers and
Repairers, Except Line Installers57580Tire Builders42500Tool
and Die Makers54680Training and Development
Managers101500Training and Development
Specialists59910Transportation Inspectors86790Transportation,
Storage, and Distribution Managers92220Urban and Regional
Planners79510Veterinarians96440Water and Wastewater
Treatment Plant and System Operators54560Web

14. Developers78160Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm
Products59080Writers and Authors66260Zoologists and
Wildlife Biologists58370
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