How to Critique Quantitative Research Papers Text

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Discuss a few of quantitative article critique: factors affecting the successful. Running head: quantitative research critique understanding and critiquing quantitative research papers. Successful clinical research depends on a properly constructed research question on a topic that is. Conducting an article critique for a quantitative research study: perspectives for doctoral students and other novice readers. Our writers can help get your essay back on track, take a look at our services to learn more about how we can help. Essay writing service essay marking service place an order this essay evaluates a quantitative research article which has relevance to nursing practice, because it deals with a chronic condition and one which is prevalent in worldwide populations.

The author will review tangkawanich et al 2008 p 216 'causal model of health: health related quality of life in people living with hiv/aids in the northern region of thailand.' this article is published in a reputable journal, the journal of nursing and health sciences which addresses issues of interest and concern to nurses internationally, and as such, offers specific insight into hiv/aids and nursing within a global context. There are a number of appraisal tools available to healthcare practitioners to assist them in analysing and critiquing primary research articles. Such models are developed over time in relation to standardised conceptualisations of what constitutes quality and rigour in research and in its reporting. For the purposes of this essay, the primary tool used is that proposed by cormack 20 , but the author will make reference to other critiquing guides and information, including the popular casp tool phru, 2009, online discussion the title is concise cormack, 20 and describes the focus of the research itself. While it clearly indicates what the purpose of the study was cormack, 20 , it could be clearer and more indicative of the nature of the study. The use of the word 'causal' tangkawanich et al, 2008 p 216 also suggests that this is a quantitative research article. To the less research aware reader, it would be difficult to divine this information from the title alone, and it could be argued that it would be better to include in this title a clearer indication of the nature of the study.

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This would then help the reader to identify if this is the type of research study that would be applicable to their own practice or learning. Authors the authors' qualifications are provided, and they all are registered nurses, all of which have postgraduate degrees, and two of which have doctorates. This would suggest that they have the research skills and expertise to carry out such a study. However, there is no indication in the author list whether or not any of them have the statistical expertise for the study. Abstract tangkawanich et al, 2008 p 216 provide an abstract, which is identified by cormack 20 as an important introduction to the article.

The study effectively summarises the research, by identifying the variables being tested. The abstract contains a summary of the study sample, and also identifies the research tools that have been used. As such, the abstract does represent the article itself phru, 2009, online , and for the reader, it does make it easy to identify whether or not the article is relevant to their interest. In particular, it does indicate clearly that it is a quantitative paper which uses recognisable data collection tools. Introduction and literature review although cormack 20 separates these two into distinct subheadings, within this article, the introduction and literature review are contiguous.

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The author has noted that this is often the case in the reporting of such studies, but this may simply be a convention of the publication itself, and not the preference of the authors of the study. The authors use the introduction to contextualise the problem in relation to published research, stating the importance of health related quality of life hrql for people living with hiv/aids plwha , because of the impact of the disease on these individuals' daily lives tangkawanich et al, 2008 p 216. They discuss changes and advances in treatment options for this condition, and relate this to hrql, and then discuss the disease itself, and how these impact upon hrql tangkawanich et al, 2008 p 216. They summarise some research about this topic, and also look at self care strategies, symptom management and treatment tangkawanich et al, 2008 p 216. There is some exploration of hrql and its relationship to nursing and to existing literature on this topic, which aids understanding of the concept prior to reading the rest of the article. They highlight some important topics in relation to the focus of the article, including treatment, social support, and other issues tangkawanich et al, 2008 p 216. Who wrote this essay request removal example essays although the introduction/literature review contextualises and introduces this study, this author believes that a more detailed critical analysis of the literature would be warranted here.

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It is not enough to cite previous research as a means of establishing the credentials of the study, as it were. A wider range of research could have been included gerrish and lacey, 2006, 38 fontana, 2004, p 93 , and this research could have been evaluated to identify its quality. It is left to the reader to pursue this matter and determine the quality of the research upon which they base the premise and justification for this study. The hypothesis the authors do not state a hypothesis cormack, 20 , as such, but instead present a research question. 'the purpose of this study was to examine the causal relationships between age, antiretroviral treatment, social support, symptom experience, self care strategies, and the hrql in thai plwha' tangkawanich et al, 2008 p 217. The nature of this statement would suggest that it is not an experimental study, but that it is within a quantitative research paradigm.

Operational definitions cormack 20 suggests that people appraising research question whether operational definitions are clearly presented. In this study, operational definitions are explained within the introduction but in language that would make it inaccessible to the less experienced or less knowledgeable reader. Methodology the methodology section does not clearly state or discuss the choice of a quantitative approach cormack, 20.

The focus of the section on methods is rather on the instruments that are being used. The quality of this study seems to rest in the choice of a quantitative approach, and the choice of data collection instruments. Quantitative research approaches offer a better standards of evidence, with generally greater ability for replication and greater rigour kitson et al, 20 p 149 duffy, 2005, p 233. As far as research for healthcare practice is concerned, quantitative studies hold better status than those based with a qualitative paradigm hek, 20 p 19 newman et al, 1998 p 231 pepler et al, 2006, p 23. There is however no real discussion of the underpinning principles of quantitative research parahoo, 2006. It is good that the research instruments are explained in such detail, because it helps overcome one of the limitations of quantitative research, that of not asking the right questions to elicit answers that relate to person al experience johnson and onwuegbuzie, 2004 p 14.

Subjects there is very limited detail given of sample selection, save stating that eight hospitals were randomly selected using a 'lottery method without replacement' and that the 422 participants were randomly sampled tangkawanich et al, 2008 p 217. This could constitute a limitation of this research, as it is not possible to identify if there was any sampling bias, how participants were recruited, who recruited them, and any ethical issues in relation to participant recruitment hek, 20, p 20 phru, 2009, online, bowling, 2002. This author would argue that this is a weakness of the study, as these are crucial elements of quality measurement in primary research within healthcare austin, 2001 p 1 cooper, 2006, p 439 nuremberg code, 1949, online.

Sample selection sample selection is not discussed in any detail, which could be a weakness of the study, as mentioned above cormack, 20. Sample size is stated, but it is not stated whether this was statistically determined, which could also be considered a weakness, as achieving a statistically sound sample size is important within quantitative research daggett et al, 2005, p 255 donovan, 2002. Data collection data collection procedures are not adequately described in this study cormack, 20. There is no indication who administered the questionnaires, whether or not they were self report in the participant's own time and convenience, or whether a researcher was present at the time of completion. The issue of researcher bias is important in the completion of data collection tools, and while questionnaires may be considered a way of avoiding this, if they are remotely administered, it is not always possible to check they are full, or honest, or completed by the intended target gillham, 20, p 48. Having the researcher present, however, could introduce bias or influence of some kind, particularly in vulnerable people bowling, 2001. As these are vulnerable adults attending clinics for their chronic condition, not discussion how the data was collected from them is a serious failing and may also constitute an ethical issue.

As we are always expanding we are looking to grow our team of freelance writers. To find out more about writing with us then please check our freelance writing jobs page. Freelance writing jobs however, a strength of this study could be considered to be the use of multiple data collection instruments, and the detail with which they are described, and their provenance accounted for. They have used the social support questionniare, the symptom experience questionnaire, the self care strategies questionnaire, and the health related quality of life questionnaire tangkawanich et al, 2008 p 217. These are described in detail, and where they are based on previously developed research or derived directly from previous studies, this is also described. As these are established research data collection tools, this would suggest they have been previously validated, which adds to the quality of the research yu and cooper, 1983 p 36 oppenheim, 1992 mcdowell and newell, 1996 mccoll et al, 2001 p 1.

The demographics of the sample are addressed to some extent, and the use of multiple tools also helps to address potential confounding variables or factors phru, 2009, online. Ethical considerations it is clearly stated within the study that ethical approval was derived from an appropriate body, and that informed consent was achieved, both of which signify good ethical consideration here cormack, 20. However, there is no explanation of what information was given to the participants, how informed consent was achieved, or if there was any issue with communication or accessibility for people with different communication needs. It does not specifically address issues of anonymity and confidentiality cormack, 20 , but instead seems to focus on safety tangkawanich et al, 2008 p 218. Results the results of this study are presented in tables, diagrams, and in great detail within the text of the paper.

The key results and demographic issues are presented, but data presentation is summarised in a results section and then in more detail in the discussion. The findings are not very accessible, but p values are clearly stated, which is important in a study of this kind. Phru 2009, online , within the casp tool, poses the question of 'do you believe the results?'. The results seem plausible, and relate to established statistical analysis procedures see below.

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