Appraisal of Two Research Papers Using Critical Appraisal Framework Tool

The writer must be from the UK
Degree in Midwifery preferred
Harvard Referencing must be used
Referencing list in alphabetical order listed at the end

Please go on the right part based on the element of your choice and choose 4-5 questions to critique.

Moule, P. (2018). Making sense of research in nursing, health and social care. Ed 6, P160-162. Sage.

Critical Appraisal Framework

THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

Part 1

Is the knowledge sought already available?

Is there an important reason for research to be undertaken?

Are the potential outcomes of the study realistic?

Was the research(S) appropriately qualified/supported to undertake the research?

Are there any concerns about any funders of the research in relation to the process of the research described?

RESEARCH PROBLEM AND RESEARCH QUESTION

Part 2

Is the problem significant and researchable and have all potential ways of solving the problem been considered?

Are all research questions and hypotheses developed directly from the problem?

Did the research place unethical or unrealistic demands on the participants 

LITERATURE SEARCH AND REVIEW

Part 3

Was there a search of a wide range of literature pertinent to the topic?

Was there a search strategy with named databases and key search terms?

Was the review balanced and not biased?

Was the literature critically appraised?

Was any conflicting evidence clearly presented?

Did the literature review provide rationale and direction for the research?

Is the literature review up to date?

Were any limitations of the literature identified? 

ETHICAL ISSUES

Part 4

Ethical issues should be considered at all stages of the study.

 Is there evidence of approval from the appropriate Research ethics Committee?

Were any governance issues dealt with appropriately?

There should be clear evidence that privacy, dignity, anonymity and confidentiality were maintained throughout the study.

The researchers should have identified ethical issues related to the study.

Were all the participants fully informed about the nature of the research? 

SAMPLE SELLECTION

Part 5

Was an appropriate sampling strategy used?

If a random sample was selected, was it genuinely random?

Were any biases in the sample group identified?

Was the target population identified in a quantitative study?

Was there a clear account of how participants were recruited and selected to take part in the study?

Was there any coercion in recruiting participants?

Was there clear evidence that participants gave informed consent?

If the participants were vulnerable, has this clearly been considered in the study?

Were all the participants accounted for throughout the study? i.e. was any attrition noted and discussed?

RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA COLLECTION

Part 6

Was the design of the study appropriate to the research question?

Was an appropriate methods of data collection used?

Are advantages and disadvantages of the method(s) discussed?

Was reliability and validity of any data collection tool tested?

Was a pilot study conducted and the results used to inform the main study?

What type of questions were asked?

Were the participants protected from physical and psychological harm?

Was the issue of ‘deception’ dealt with appropriately in observational studies?

Were the data gathers by appropriate people?

Was the researcher’s role and relationship with the participants fully considered? 

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS OF FINDINGS

Part 7

Were the results and analysis linked back to the original research question?

Were the results and analysis manipulated in order to favour particular findings?

Are steps that have been taken to demonstrate the trustworthiness of the data in a qualitative study clear?

Was there any evidence of lost data?

Was there evidence of a statistician’s input into complex quantitative analysis?

Is the statistical tests justified?

Is there a link between the research approach, the level of measurement gained from the data collection tool and the statistics testing used?

Is the level of significance produced by the statistical testing given?

In qualitative studies, were the data authenticated? 

CONCLUSIONS, RECOMENDATIONS AND LIMITATIONS

Part 8

Were the conclusion and recommendations based on the results of the study?

Was it clear that there was no intention to mislead or give false conclusions?

Was the hypothesis accepted or rejected?

Was the sample selected considered in relation to the recommendations?

Did the researcher acknowledge any limitations?

Were limitation of the findings of the study identified, as well as limitations of the study design and techniques?

Are any implications for practice and policy considered?

GENERAL POINTS

Part 9

The researcher should acknowledge sources of support and funding.

When critically appraising research, readers should acknowledge their own limitations and gain assistance when necessary.

The role of service users and carers in the research should be explained.