Critiquing Research: Part Select A Research Article From A

Critiquing Research Partselect A Research Article From A

Select a research article from a nursing journal that is related to your practice. Use the questions below to write a critique of your research article. Answer all questions that apply to the quantitative and/or qualitative study that you selected. Include 2-3 pages in the body, a title page and article citation (APA format) on the title page, and your reference page. Please save the research article that was critiqued in a .pdf and attach the article with the paper. Points will be deducted if the article is not submitted along with the critique.

Paper For Above instruction

The purpose of this critique is to analyze and evaluate a research article relevant to nursing practice, focusing on its problem statement, hypotheses, and literature review. Selecting an appropriate article allows for an in-depth understanding of research methodologies and contributes to evidence-based practice improvement.

Statement of the Problem

The first essential component of research critique involves examining how clearly and precisely the problem is articulated. A well-structured problem statement should be specific, narrow enough to study, and articulated in terms that facilitate investigation. Clarity in defining the problem ensures that the research is focused and relevant to nursing practice. The importance or significance of the problem must also be established, demonstrating its impact on patient care, nursing outcomes, or healthcare policies. For example, a problem statement outlining high rates of postoperative infections among surgical patients directly links to nursing interventions aimed at improving infection control practices.

Research Questions and Hypotheses

Next, evaluating the research questions and hypotheses provides insight into the study's direction. Clear hypotheses should specify the relationship between variables, including a dependent variable (the outcome being measured) and an independent variable (the factor thought to influence the outcome). For quantitative studies, hypotheses often predict a specific relationship or difference, such as "Increased patient education will reduce medication errors." The hypotheses should explicitly state these relationships to guide methodological choices and data analysis. For qualitative studies, the research questions are often exploratory but should still be focused and aligned with the study’s purpose.

Review of Literature

The review of literature serves to contextualize the study within existing research. An effective literature review demonstrates recent and relevant work, providing evidence of a gap or need for the current study. It should be well-organized, critically appraising previous research to support the rationale for the new investigation. The inclusion of a theoretical or conceptual framework enhances understanding of the variables and the relationships under study. If absent, the addition of such a framework could improve the clarity and theoretical grounding of the research, guiding interpretation and application of findings.

Overall, critical appraisal of these components informs the validity and applicability of research findings, ultimately contributing to improved nursing practices and outcomes.

References

• Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2020). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
• Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage Publications.
• Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2019). Practical research: Planning and design (12th ed.). Pearson.
• Burns, N., & Grove, S. K. (2019). Understanding nursing research (7th ed.). Elsevier.
• Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2017). The content validity index: Are you sure you are using it correctly? Nursing Research, 66(6), 459–467.
• Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2019). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice (4th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
• Fink, A. (2019). Conducting research literature reviews: From the internet to paper. Sage Publications.
• Hendricks, C. (2018). The literature review: A step-by-step approach. Pearson.
• Hammersley, M. (2018). The present situation with respect to literature reviews: A critique. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 21(3), 291–304.
• Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). Sage Publications.