The document provides guidelines for writing a research critique of qualitative and quantitative studies. It outlines the key components and considerations for evaluating the background, methods, results, and ethical aspects of a study. These include assessing the problem, purpose, methodology, findings, implications, and conclusions. The guidelines emphasize providing rationale and examples from the study in the critique responses.

1. Research Critique Guidelines
To write a critical appraisal that demonstrates comprehension of
the research study conducted, address each component below
for qualitative study in the Topic 2 assignment and the
quantitative study in the Topic 3 assignment.
Successful completion of this assignment requires that you
provide a rationale, include examples, or reference content from
the study in your responses.
Qualitative 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?
Method of Study:

2. · Were qualitative methods appropriate to answer the research
questions?
· Did the author identify a specific perspective from which the
study was developed? If so, what was it?
· Did the author cite quantitative and qualitative studies
relevant to the focus of the study? What other types of literature
did the author include?
· Are the references current? For qualitative studies, the author
may have included studies older than the 5-year limit typically
used for quantitative studies. Findings of older qualitative
studies may be relevant to a qualitative study.
· Did the author evaluate or indicate the weaknesses of the
available studies?
· Did the literature review include adequate information to build
a logical argument?
· When a researcher uses the grounded theory method of
qualitative inquiry, the researcher may develop a framework or
diagram as part of the findings of the study. Was a framework
developed from the study findings?
Results of Study
· What were the study findings?
· What are the implications to nursing?
· Explain how the findings contribute to nursing
knowledge/science. Would this impact practice, education,
administration, or all areas of nursing?
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
and to leave a lasting impression and take-away points useful in

3. 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.
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?

4. · Are the major variables (independent and dependent variables)
identified and defined? What were these variables?
· How were data collected in this study?
· 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

5. · Emphasize the importance and congruity of the thesis
statement.
· Provide a logical wrap-up to bring the appraisal to completion
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
Burns, N., & Grove, S. (2011). Understanding nursing research
(5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
© 2016. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.
4
Rough Draft Quantitative Research Critique and Ethical
Considerations
1
Unsatisfactory
0.00%
2
Less than Satisfactory
75.00%
3
Satisfactory
83.00%
4
Good
94.00%
5
Excellent
100.00%
75.0 %Content

6. 15.0 %Background of Study
Background of study including problem, significance to nursing,
purpose, objective, and research questions is incomplete.
Background of study including problem, significance to nursing,
purpose, objective, and research questions is included but lacks
relevant details and explanation.
Background of study including problem, significance to nursing,
purpose, objective, and research questions is partially complete
and includes some relevant details and explanation.
Background of study including problem, significance to nursing,
purpose, objective, and research questions is complete and
includes relevant details and explanation.
Background of study including problem, significance to nursing,
purpose, objective, and research questions is thorough with
substantial relevant details and extensive explanation.
15.0 %Method of Study
Discussion of method of study including discussion of
conceptual/theoretical framework is incomplete.
Discussion of method of study including discussion of
conceptual/theoretical framework is included but lacks relevant
details and explanation.
Discussion of method of study including discussion of
conceptual/theoretical framework is partially complete and
includes some relevant details and explanation.
Discussion of method of study including discussion of
conceptual/theoretical framework is complete and includes
relevant details and explanation.
Discussion of method of study including discussion of
conceptual/theoretical framework is thorough with substantial
relevant details and extensive explanation.
15.0 %Results of Study
Discussion of study results including findings and implications
for nursing practice is incomplete.

7. Discussion of study results including findings and implications
for nursing practice is included but lacks relevant details and
explanation.
Discussion of study results including findings and implications
for nursing practice is partially complete and includes some
relevant details and explanation.
Discussion of study results including findings and implications
for nursing practice is complete and includes relevant details
and explanation.
Discussion of study results including findings and implications
for nursing practice is thorough with substantial relevant details
and extensive explanation.
15.0 %Ethical Considerations
Discussion of ethical considerations associated with the conduct
of nursing research is incomplete.
Discussion of ethical considerations associated with the conduct
of nursing research is included but lacks relevant details and
explanation.
Discussion of ethical considerations associated with the conduct
of nursing research is partially complete and includes some
relevant details and explanation.
Discussion of ethical considerations associated with the conduct
of nursing research is complete and includes relevant details
and explanation.
Discussion of ethical considerations associated with the conduct
of nursing research is thorough with substantial relevant details
and extensive explanation.
15.0 %Conclusion
Conclusion does not summarize a critical appraisal and
applicability of findings.
Conclusion is vague and does not discuss importance to nursing.
Conclusion summarizes utility of the research and importance to
nursing practice.
Conclusion summarizes utility of the research from the critical

8. appraisal and the findings importance to nursing practice.
Conclusion summarizes utility of the research from the critical
appraisal, knowledge learned, and the importance of the
findings to nursing practice.
15.0 %Organization and Effectiveness
5.0 %Thesis Development and Purpose
Paper lacks any discernible overall purpose or organizing claim.
Thesis is insufficiently developed or vague. Purpose is not
clear.
Thesis is apparent and appropriate to purpose.
Thesis is clear and forecasts the development of the paper.
Thesis is descriptive and reflective of the arguments and
appropriate to the purpose.
Thesis is comprehensive and contains the essence of the paper.
Thesis statement makes the purpose of the paper clear.
5.0 %Argument Logic and Construction
Statement of purpose is not justified by the conclusion. The
conclusion does not support the claim made. Argument is
incoherent and uses noncredible sources.
Sufficient justification of claims is lacking. Argument lacks
consistent unity. There are obvious flaws in the logic. Some
sources have questionable credibility.
Argument is orderly, but may have a few inconsistencies. The
argument presents minimal justification of claims. Argument
logically, but not thoroughly, supports the purpose. Sources
used are credible. Introduction and conclusion bracket the
thesis.
Argument shows logical progressions. Techniques of
argumentation are evident. There is a smooth progression of
claims from introduction to conclusion. Most sources are
authoritative.
Argument is clear and convincing and presents a persuasive
claim in a distinctive and compelling manner. All sources are

9. authoritative.
5.0 %Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation,
grammar, language use)
Surface errors are pervasive enough that they impede
communication of meaning. Inappropriate word choice or
sentence construction is used.
Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors distract the reader.
Inconsistencies in language choice (register), sentence
structure, or word choice are present.
Some mechanical errors or typos are present, but they are not
overly distracting to the reader. Correct sentence structure and
audience-appropriate language are used.
Prose is largely free of mechanical errors, although a few may
be present. A variety of sentence structures and effective
figures of speech are used.
Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic
English.
10.0 %Format
5.0 %Paper Format (use of appropriate style for the major and
assignment)
Template is not used appropriately or documentation format is
rarely followed correctly.
Template is used, but some elements are missing or mistaken;
lack of control with formatting is apparent.
Template is used, and formatting is correct, although some
minor errors may be present.
Template is fully used; There are virtually no errors in
formatting style.
All format elements are correct.
5.0 %Documentation of Sources (citations, footnotes,
references, bibliography, etc., as appropriate to assignment and
style)

10. Sources are not documented.
Documentation of sources is inconsistent or incorrect, as
appropriate to assignment and style, with numerous formatting
errors.
Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style,
although some formatting errors may be present.
Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style,
and format is mostly correct.
Sources are completely and correctly documented, as
appropriate to assignment and style, and format is free of error.