Question 1

The goal of a critical appraisal should be to
A) determine where faults exist in the study design.
B) evaluate whether a proposed study is feasible.
C) identify the meaning and credibility of the study.
D) review the credentials and expertise of the researcher.

Accepted Answer

An intellectual critical appraisal involves careful examination of all aspects of a study to judge the strengths,weaknesses,meaning,credibility,and significance of a study.Identifying faults in the study design is part of a critical appraisal but not the end goal.Reviewers conduct feasibility analyses prior to approval of a study.Evaluating the researcher's credentials is part of a critical appraisal but not the end goal.

Question 2

What are the steps used to evaluate quantitative research studies?
A) Assess the study design,evaluate the sampling methods,and review the study conclusions.
B) Determine the study purpose,review the study data,and evaluate the implications for further research.
C) Evaluate the study methods,validate the measurement tools,and determine the quality of results.
D) Identify the steps in the research process,determine the strengths and weaknesses,and evaluate the credibility and meaning of the findings.

Accepted Answer

There are three steps in the quantitative research critical appraisal process: identifying the steps of the research process in studies,determining study strengths and weaknesses,and evaluating the credibility and meaning of the study findings.All the other tasks listed are part of the process but do not represent the three steps in evaluating quantitative research.

Question 3

How do practicing nurses participate in critical appraisal of research?
A) By adhering to evidence-based practice guidelines and best practices
B) By presenting findings from their own outcomes research
C) By questioning the quality,credibility,and meaning of studies
D) By reading research journals to keep current in knowledge and practice

Accepted Answer

For critical appraisal to occur,nurses need to question the quality of the studies,the credibility of the findings,and the meaning of the findings for practice.Using EBP guidelines and best practices are part of research translation but are not part of critical appraisal.Presenting research findings and reading research journals are part of research utilization but are not part of critical appraisal.Presenting research findings and reading research journals are part of research utilization but are not part of critical appraisal.

Question 4

While critically appraising a study,a reviewer notes that the study includes an intervention.What will the reviewer assess?
A) If the intervention is consistently implemented using a clearly described protocol
B) How the intervention is administered to each subject in the study sample
C) If the intervention is consistently administered to both experimental and control subjects
D) Whether the intervention has been used in prior studies

Accepted Answer

When evaluating a study intervention,the reviewer should note whether the intervention is clearly described with a protocol and consistently implemented.The intervention should be administered in the same way to all members of the experimental group only.It is not necessary to identify,at this stage of the critique,whether the intervention has been used in previous studies.

Question 5

What will the reviewer do during the evaluation portion of a critical appraisal of a research study?
A) Assess whether the measurement tools are consistent with the phenomena of interest.
B) Determine whether the study findings are meaningful and should be implemented in practice.
C) Discuss the statistical analysis of the study's findings including demographic and experimental data.
D) Review the components of the study to gain an overall understanding of the study report.

Accepted Answer

During the evaluation of a critical appraisal,the reviewer determines the credibility and meaning of a study and decides whether the findings are relevant to practice.Analysis involves identifying incongruence between the phenomenon of interest and the measurement tool.Reviewing statistical data is part of the methodology review.The reviewer reads through a study for comprehension to gain an overall understanding at the beginning of the critique.

Question 6

A reviewer is critically appraising a study's variables.What will the researcher evaluate?
A) Conceptual and operational definitions of variables
B) Relationships of demographic variables to key concepts in the study framework
C) Whether variables and key concepts are linked
D) Use of all types of variables,including independent,dependent,and research variables

Accepted Answer

When appraising the study variables,the reviewer will note whether variables are conceptually and operationally defined.It is not necessary to relate demographic variables to concepts.The evaluation of the link between variables and key concepts occurs during appraisal of the study framework.Not all types of variables are included in all study types.

Question 7

What key principle for critically appraising research studies involves the report being complete,concise,clearly presented,and logically organized?
A) Be objective and realistic in identifying the study's strengths and weaknesses.
B) Examine the organization and presentation of the research report.
C) Provide a rationale for your critical appraisal comments.
D) Evaluate the quality of the study.

Accepted Answer

Examine the organization and presentation of the research report involves a well-prepared report being complete,concise,clearly presented,and logically organized.It does not include excessive jargon that is difficult to read.Be objective and realistic in identifying the study's strengths and weaknesses involves being balanced in your critical appraisal of a study.Provide a rationale for your critical appraisal comments involves the justification for your critical appraisal,and documenting your ideas with sources from the current literature.Evaluate the quality of the study involves describing the credibility of the findings,consistency of the findings with those from other studies,and quality of the study conclusions.

Question 8

What is the goal of an intellectual critical appraisal of a research study?
A) To determine whether a study should be replicated
B) To identify strengths and weaknesses in a study
C) To determine whether a study should be implemented into practice
D) To weed out and discard studies that are flawed

Accepted Answer

The purpose of intellectual critical appraisal includes identifying strengths and weaknesses in studies to help determine their credibility and meaning.Determining whether a study should be replicated is not the goal of intellectual critical appraisal.Determining whether a study should be implemented into practice is not the goal of intellectual critical appraisal.Many studies are flawed,but this does not mean that they are useless and need to be discarded.Flaws must be identified and discussed.

Question 9

How are study results utilized to develop evidence for practice?
A) Only evidence and data from strong studies are used.
B) Only quantitative studies are used to build evidence.
C) Strong points from multiple studies are used to build evidence.
D) Studies must be replicated successfully to be used for evidence.

Accepted Answer

Adding together the strong points from multiple studies slowly builds a solid base of evidence for practice.Many flawed studies contain strong points that may be used to build evidence.Qualitative and quantitative studies are both used in evidence building.It is not necessary to replicate every study to use data for evidence.

Question 10

An intellectual critical appraisal differs from other kinds of critiques because it
A) focuses solely on the strengths of the study.
B) evaluates the quality and meaning of empirical evidence.
C) judges the researcher's ability and credentials.
D) regards both the work itself as well as the study author.

Accepted Answer

An intellectual critical appraisal is directed at the study and is used to determine credibility and meaning.An intellectual critical appraisal looks at both strengths and weaknesses equally.An intellectual critical appraisal is directed at the study,not the researcher.

Question 11

A nurse researcher explains the importance of critically appraising research to a group of graduate-level nursing students.Which statement by a nursing student indicates the need for further teaching?
A) "Research is critically appraised to broaden understanding for conducting a study."
B) "Critical appraisal is an examination of the quantity of a study to determine the credibility and meaning of the findings for nursing."
C) "Research is critically appraised to improve practice and provide a background for conducting a study."
D) "Critical appraisal or critique is associated with critical thinking and evaluation."

Accepted Answer

Critical appraisal or critique is an examination of the quality of a study to determine the credibility and meaning of the findings for nursing.Research is critically appraised to broaden understanding,improve practice,and provide a background for conducting a study.

Question 12

What will the reviewer assess when critically appraising a study framework?
A) How the variables and concepts are evaluated and measured
B) What the research hypothesis is and how it was developed
C) Whether the literature review is complete
D) Whether the study variables link to key concepts

Accepted Answer

The reviewer of a study should identify key concepts in the study framework and then evaluate whether the key variables that will be measured link to those concepts.The methodology is concerned with how variables are evaluated and measured,but not necessarily how they link to the framework and concepts.The research hypothesis is derived from the study purpose.The framework critique is not concerned directly with the literature review.

Question 13

A reviewer critically appraising a study about self-care behaviors of adolescents who have cystic fibrosis evaluates comparisons of this sample to those from studies of young adults with cystic fibrosis.This appraiser is evaluating the
A) credibility and meaning of the study.
B) framework and key concepts of the study.
C) limitations of the study.
D) reliability and validity of the study.

Accepted Answer

When evaluating the credibility and meaning of the study,the reviewer may examine the relationships among the current study compared with those of previous studies.The framework and key concepts are included in the evaluation of the study framework.The review of a study's limitations occurs when evaluating the study discussion and conclusions.The reliability and validity are included in the evaluation of the study methods and design.

Question 14

A reviewer is asked to critically appraise a report to help determine whether funding will be allocated for a research study.This reviewer will be appraising a research
A) abstract.
B) article.
C) literature review.
D) proposal.

Accepted Answer

Critical appraisals of research proposals are conducted to approve student research projects,to permit data collection in institutions,and to select studies for funding.Abstracts,articles,and literature reviews may all be critically appraised when evaluating research study reports after the research has been conducted.

Question 15

When reading a research article in a refereed journal,the nurse researcher is assured that the article
A) describes a study undergoing review.
B) has been previously published.
C) is printed in abstract form only.
D) is of high quality and standards.

Accepted Answer

Journals that are refereed are critically appraised by expert peer reviews and tend to be of high quality.Articles published in refereed journals have already undergone review.Refereed journals contain new research not previously published.Articles published in refereed journals include abstracts as well as a full report of the study.

Question 16

What is important to assess when critically appraising a literature review?
A) If previous studies support the research problem
B) If textbooks are included in the reference list
C) What sources are used to provide study funding
D) Whether relevant studies are discussed

Accepted Answer

The literature review should evaluate whether relevant studies are discussed,if the sources are current,whether the studies are critically appraised and synthesized and if they are from refereed journals,and if a summary of current knowledge is provided.Individual studies do not necessarily support the research problem but are used to show what is known and not known about a subject.Textbooks may be used,but refereed journals with current research are preferred.The sources of funding for studies may be mentioned if relevant to study outcomes.

Question 17

When assessing the conclusions,findings,and implications of a study,the appraiser will
A) determine whether alternate hypotheses are possible.
B) ensure that results are not based on past research.
C) identify that findings are specific to the sample population.
D) refute the study if limitations are identified.

Accepted Answer

During this phase of study review,the critical appraiser will evaluate,based on the study results,whether alternate hypotheses are possible.Results should be based on the study but may also build on other study findings as well.The appraiser should determine whether findings may be generalized to the larger population.Limitations should be discussed,but they do not necessarily refute the study.

Question 18

When critically appraising a research study,the reviewer will expect to find
A) identification of new research problems.
B) implementation of a perfect research design.
C) precise understanding of the real world.
D) tools to control outcomes in nursing practice.

Accepted Answer

Good scientific inquiry will likely include identification of additional problems.There is no perfect research design.All studies have flaws.Although an improved understanding of the real world is realistic,no study will lead to precise understandings of the real world.Experimental research strives to predict and control outcomes in practice,but each study only leads to improvements in this ability.

Question 19

When appraising the introduction section of a research study,what will the reviewer look for?
A) Completeness and quality of the study abstract
B) Evaluation of a comprehensive review of the literature
C) Significance of the research problem to practice
D) Study purpose and design

Accepted Answer

During a critical appraisal,the reviewer will review the introduction and evaluate the completeness of the study abstract along with the description of the qualifications of the study authors and the clarity of the article title.The literature review,the significance of the research problem to practice,and the study purpose and design are not part of the introduction.

Question 20

In which type of study design would a reviewer expect to find a discussion of extraneous variables?
A) Ethnographic
B) Qualitative
C) Quasi-experimental
D) Phenomenological

Accepted Answer

Extraneous variables are of most concern in experimental and quasi-experimental studies in which the researcher seeks to learn the effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable and must rule out the influence of other variables.An ethnographic study is not concerned with the effects of one variable on another; therefore,extraneous variables that may affect a variable are not usually discussed.A qualitative study is not concerned with the effects of one variable on another; therefore extraneous variables that may affect a variable are not usually discussed.A phenomenological study is not concerned with the effects of one variable on another; therefore extraneous variables that may affect a variable are not usually discussed.

Quiz 12: Critical Appraisal of Quantitative and Qualitative Research for Nursing Practice

The goal of a critical appraisal should be to

What are the steps used to evaluate quantitative research studies?

How do practicing nurses participate in critical appraisal of research?

While critically appraising a study,a reviewer notes that the study includes an intervention.What will the reviewer assess?

What will the reviewer do during the evaluation portion of a critical appraisal of a research study?

A reviewer is critically appraising a study's variables.What will the researcher evaluate?

What key principle for critically appraising research studies involves the report being complete,concise,clearly presented,and logically organized?

What is the goal of an intellectual critical appraisal of a research study?

How are study results utilized to develop evidence for practice?

An intellectual critical appraisal differs from other kinds of critiques because it

A nurse researcher explains the importance of critically appraising research to a group of graduate-level nursing students.Which statement by a nursing student indicates the need for further teaching?

What will the reviewer assess when critically appraising a study framework?

A reviewer critically appraising a study about self-care behaviors of adolescents who have cystic fibrosis evaluates comparisons of this sample to those from studies of young adults with cystic fibrosis.This appraiser is evaluating the

A reviewer is asked to critically appraise a report to help determine whether funding will be allocated for a research study.This reviewer will be appraising a research

When reading a research article in a refereed journal,the nurse researcher is assured that the article

What is important to assess when critically appraising a literature review?

When assessing the conclusions,findings,and implications of a study,the appraiser will

When critically appraising a research study,the reviewer will expect to find

When appraising the introduction section of a research study,what will the reviewer look for?

In which type of study design would a reviewer expect to find a discussion of extraneous variables?