Reading Research Assignment

Reading Research Worksheet Score: /45 Course Leader: Kim McCormick Group Members and Student Numbers _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ Date of Article: _____________________________________________ Title of Article: _____________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Journal ____________________________________________________ Volume, Pages ______________________________________________ Author(s) ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 13 Reading Research: Worksheet This work sheet is a set of questions on nursing research concepts found in published studies. The questions posed help the consumer “walk” through and comprehend the research report. In some questions you may just need to circle the correct answer. In other questions you will need to expand/qualify your answer with a written statement. For example, you may need to provide rationale or support your answer with a direct quote from the article. Use the answer sheets (you can write on the back if more space is needed). Abstract 1. The major finding(s) noted in the abstract is/are (.5): 2. Would the results, as presented in the abstract, be useful in nursing practice? (1) Yes ________ No _______Somewhat__________ Elaborate: (Consider research design, sampling techniques & relevance to the practice setting) 14 Introduction 3. What is the purpose of this study? (1) 4. What is the research question/ hypothesis that the investigator is trying to answer? (1) 5. What is the relevance of this problem to nursing practice? (1) 6. What are the study’s main concepts or research variables? (List and identify as applicable all the Independent and Dependent Variables) (1) 7. What is the target population? (1) 15 8. Does the study use a conceptual/theoretical framework? (1) Yes_____ No ______ If yes, it is identified as: The Literature Review 9. Reference List Analysis (1): How many articles are listed in the reference list? ______ What is the publication year of this article? ______ How many articles in the reference list are greater than 10 years old from the date of publication? ________ How many of the >10 year old articles could be considered classic literature? (E.g. they are about the theoretical framework, philosophy of the research study or are related to psychometric testing of the instruments/questionnaires used in the study.) _______ 10. In your own words and in point form summarize the key points in the review of the literature: (2) 16 11. Identify the gap and/or conflict in knowledge about the problem: (1) 12. How does this study intend to fill the gap/resolve the conflict? (1) Research Design 13. Is the research approach/method quantitative, qualitative or a combined method? (1) How can you tell (give one example)? 14. Identify the study design as (circle): (1) Non-experimental Quasi-experimental or Experimental How can you tell (give one example)? 17 15. Based on the identified design of this study, what do you see as one limitation? (1) 16. Describe the setting/environment for the study. Where did the main research activities take place?(1) Study Subjects 17. What did the researcher(s) use as the accessible population? (1) 18. What inclusion/exclusion criteria were used in subject selection for the study (ie. Age, gender, diagnosis, occupation and so forth)? (1) 18 19. What procedures were used to select the sample: Probability or nonprobability? Identify the specific sub-type: (1) 20. What is the sample size? (.5) 21. What is the reason given for this sample size? Any power analysis and were the recommendations from that power analysis met? If no reason is given, attempt to infer why the sample is this size. (1) 22. Indicate sample mortality: (.5) Ethical Considerations 23. How did the researcher(s) protect human rights? (1) 24. Who sponsored/funded this study? (.5) 19 Data Collection 25. List all the instruments/questionnaires used to collect data in this study. (.5) 26. Outline (briefly – point form) the procedures used for data collection. (1) 27. List the methods of testing reliability for each of the instruments/questionnaires used in this study. Identify the type of reliability tested if any. What level of reliability is reported? (2) Are the reliability levels acceptable? Yes _____ No ______ Elaborate: (1) 20 28. Were methods used to ensure the validity of the data collected? List each tool and identify what type of validity measure was done if identified. (2) Data Analysis/Findings 29. What was the response rate? (only if applicable) (1) 30. What methods of data analysis were used? (1) Qualitative? Yes ______ No ______ Describe: Quantitative? Yes _____ No ______ If yes, did the researcher: (check all that apply) Use Descriptive Statistics (mean, median, mode) ________ Test for differences between groups. __________ Test for relationships between variables. _________ 21 31. Identify one statistical test used to analyze the data and its level of significance, as set by the researcher. (1) 32. Describe the characteristics of the study sample? (1) 33. What are the main objective findings of the study (or main themes which emerged)? (1) 34. Were any of these findings statistically significant? Give 2 examples. (1) Yes_____ No _____ Not Applicable _______ Elaborate: 22 35. We’re any of the findings clinically significant? (1) Describe: Researcher’s discussion of results . 36. Is the framework mentioned in relation to the findings? (.5) Yes ______ No ______ 37. Does the researcher comment on the generalizability of the study findings (beyond sample) (1) Are these comments logical within the scope of this study? (Consider the target population, sampling techniques, sample characteristics, research design….) (2) Yes _____ No _____ Elaborate: 23 38. Could these findings be used in nursing practice? Given what you know about evidenced based nursing practice, why? Or Why not? (2) 39. Does the researcher(s) acknowledge any limitations of this study? (1) Yes _____ No ______ Describe: 40. Overall, one strength of the study is: (1) 41 Overall, one weakness of the study is: (1)