A research critique demonstrates your ability to critically read an investigative study.
choose a research article related to nursing or medicine to critique.
Articles used for one assignment can't be used for the other assignments (students should find new research
articles for each assignment).
The selected articles should be original research articles. Review articles, meta-analysis, meta-synthesis, and
systemic review should not be used.
Mixed-methods studies should not be used.
Your critique should include the following:
Research Problem/Purpose
State the problem clearly as it is presented in the report.
Have the investigators placed the study problem within the context of existing knowledge?
Will the study solve a problem relevant to nursing?
State the purpose of the research.
Review of the Literature
Identify the concepts explored in the literature review.
Were the references current? If not, what do you think the reasons are?
Theoretical Framework
Are the theoretical concepts defined and related to the research?
Does the research draw solely on nursing theory or does it draw on theory from other disciplines?
Is a theoretical framework stated in this research piece?
If not, suggest one that might be suitable for the study.
Variables/Hypotheses/Questions/Assumptions
What are the independent and dependent variables in this study?
Are the operational definitions of the variables given? If so, are they concrete and measurable?
Is the research question or the hypothesis stated? What is it?