A valid piece of research truly measures what it sets out to measure. Show
To give valid results, a piece of research needs to:
How do we critically appraise the literature? The following questions may be asked to appraise the validity of research: 1. What is the research question? Are the objectives of the study clearly stated? Why was this research necessary? 2. Is the research original or important? Does the study have new findings? Is a treatment outcome clinically relevant? 3. Does the research question consider the following:
4. Did the authors use the relevant type of study for the research question? 5. Did the study design minimise the risk of bias in its methodology, reporting and patient selection? Did the study use best practice design such as a randomised controlled trial or a systematic review? Blinding of patients and outcome assessors, randomization, concealment, intention-to-treat analysis, similarity of patients for known prognostic factors, and completeness of follow-up are indicators of validity. 6. Was the study designed in line with the original protocol? Is the focus of the report in keeping with the study objectives? Were changes made to the inclusion or exclusion criteria? 7. Has the study's hypothesis been tested? 8. Is the analysis of the data accurate? What level of uncertainty surrounds any results? 9. Are the conclusions based on the data and analysis? Do the authors draw conclusions that are supported by the data? Have the authors discussed other work that both supports and contradicts their findings? Have the authors identified any limitations to their study? 10. Does the study contribute to the understanding of the problem being investigated? What are the strengths and limitations of the study? Are the findings of the study useful for clinical practice? Do the risks of a treatment or diagnostic procedure outweigh the potential benefits?
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Factors That Must Be Assessed When Critically Appraising Quantitative Studies January 9, 2018 Uncategorized It is important that nurses employ the latest practices when caring for patients as this improves outcomes across patients in the health care setting (Bronson & Davis, 2011). However, a practice nurse must possess the capability to do research on the available clinical evidence and critically examine their quality. Essentially, there are two major research strategies; the qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative research design employs research reviews and descriptive statistic in its data analysis. However, the quantitative research design employs random sampling of subjects, which should be representative, and uses statistical tools in data presentation and analysis. Therefore, a nurse practitioner must be conversant with the structures and elements that constitute a solid quantitative research journal. Read also When Multivariate Analysis Is Appropriate For A Quantitative Study Factors to Consider When Appraising Quantitative Research StudiesValidity and ReliabilityIt is important that the foundation of nursing care be based on sound research and this demands that the nurse practitioner assesses such factors as credibility, reliability, applicability, and validity of any published quantitative study. The research validity and reliability centers more on the methodology employed in a research study. It is imperative that any research instruments measures the concept under study in a consistent and unwavering manner. Read also Validity and Reliability – Compare and Contrast Essay All these aspects of a research instrument are determined through its validity and reliability. According to (Coughlan, Cronin, & Ryan, 2007), the validity of a research instruments is the measure of its ability to measure the intended research concept. The research reliability is ability of the employed instrument to measure the intended concept in a consistent and accurate manner. Most researches adopt or modify “off the shelf” research instruments. However, in order to assess the reliability and validity, a pilot study can be carried out, which should not involve the intended study subjects. ApplicabilityThe purpose of clinical research is to answer a particular focused clinical question. Moreover, the study results must be appropriate and easily generalized. Research applicability refers to the degree of appropriateness of the study findings in particular patient situations. According to (Atkins et al., 2011), a number of checklists have been developed in order to determine the applicability of a research, since it is context dependent. The variability in applicability is due to the variation in the clinical area and the intervention that a research studied. Research ValidityAmong the numerous elements of a quantitative study, the most important one is the research validity. The research validity precedes the applicability of the research findings. When the research study is valid, then the research will be reliable and applicable. Read also Comparison Of Qualitative And Quantitative Research Approaches Order Unique Answer Now What are the three steps of critical appraisal of quantitative research?The quantitative research critical appraisal process includes three steps: (1) identifying the steps of the research process in studies; (2) determining study strengths and weaknesses; and (3) evaluating the credibility and meaning of study findings.
What factors does critical appraisal examine?Critical appraisal is the process of systematically examining research evidence to judge its trustworthiness, its value and relevance in a particular context.
What is needed for critical appraisal of research?identify the most relevant papers. distinguish evidence from opinion, assumptions, misreporting, and belief. assess the validity of the study. assess the usefulness and clinical applicability of the study.
What are the three main factors of critical appraisal?Critical appraisal of RCTs: Factors to look for:
Data collection (bias). Sample size (power calculation). Presentation of results (clear, precise).
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