Chapter 3: Reading and Critically Appraising Research Articles

Research reports

Evidence from nursing studies is communicated through ___________ that describe what was studied, how it was studied, and what was found. They are often daunting to readers without research training.

Research journal articles

They are descriptions of studies published in professional journals.

peer reviewers

Usually, manuscripts are reviewed by __________ peer reviewers (other researchers) who make recommendations to the journal editor about accepting or requesting revisions to the manuscript.

Reviews

They are usually blind—reviewers are not told researchers’ names and vise versa

Oral presentation

Researchers are typically allotted 10 to 20 minutes to describe key features of their study to an audience.

Poster sessions

Many researchers simultaneously present visual displays summarizing their studies, and conference attendees walk around the room looking at the displays.

dialogue

Conferences offer an opportunity for ________: Attendees can ask question and they receive suggestions relating to clinical implications of the study.

Introduction, Method, Results, And Discussion

IMRAD format

Abstract

It is a brief description of the study placed at the beginning of the article.

Introduction

Acquaints readers with the research problem and its context. It lets readers understand the problem the researcher sought to address.

Method Section

It describes the methods used to answer the research questions.

Results Section

It presents the findings that were obtained by analyzing the study data. The text presents a narrative summary of key findings, often accompanied by more detailed tables.

Quantitative Study Results Section

Names of statistical tests used
Value of the calculated statistic
Statistical Significance

raw data

The actual words of participants

Discussion Section

researcher presents conclusions about the meaning and implications of the findings i.e., what the results mean, why things turned out the way they did.

Statistically significant

If a researcher reports that the results are _________, it means the findings are probably true and replicable.

Level of Significance

Research reports also indicate the _________, which is an index of how probable it is that the findings are reliable.

References

Research articles conclude with a list of the articles and books that were referenced.

Critical appraisal

A distinction is sometimes made between a research critique and a __________. The latter is favored by those focusing on the evaluation of evidence for nursing practice.

Inference

An integral part of doing and appraising research. It is a conclusion drawn from the study evidence using logical reasoning and taking into account the methods used to generate evidence.

Scientific merit

Quantitative researchers use several criteria to assess the quality of a study.

Reliability

Refers to the accuracy and consistency of information obtained in a study.

Validity

A more complex concept that broadly concerns the soundness of the study’s evidence.

Trustworthiness

Qualitative researchers use different criteria and terminology in evaluating a study’s integrity. In general, qualitative researchers pursue methods of enhancing the trustworthiness of the study’s data and findings (Lincoln & Guba, 1985)

Credibility

An especially important aspect of trustworthiness. It is achieved to the extent that the research methods inspire confidence that the results are truthful and accurate.

Triangulation

It is the use of multiple sources or referents to draw conclusions about what constitutes the truth.

Bias

It can threaten a study’s validity and trustworthiness. A distortion or influence that results in an error in inference.

Research control

It usually involves holding constant influences on the outcome so that the relationship between the independent and dependent variables can be understood.

Confounding variables

Contaminating factors that best be illustrated with an example. One variable may be age. For example, levels of depression tend to be higher in older people, and people with urinary incontinence tent to be older than those without this problem.

Randomness

Powerful tool for eliminating bias (having certain features of the study established by chance rather than researcher preference.

Blinding (masking)

Another bias reducing strategy which is used in quantitative studies to prevent biases stemming from people’s awareness. It involves concealing information from participants.

Reflexivity

It is the process of reflecting critically on the self and of analyzing and noting personal values and beliefs that could affect data collection and interpretation.

Generalizability

It refers to the extent to which the findings can be applied to other groups and settings.

Transferability

The extent to which qualitative findings can be transferred to other settings, as another aspect of trustworthiness.