Faculty of Health Sciences

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Inquiry for Evidence Based Practice

Student Name: ___________________________ Student Number: ________________

Marking guide for Assessment 4: Research Report Critique (Qualitative)

Marking guide
  Marks
Developing Satisfactory Above Outstandin
Requirements g
 0-4 4-5.5  5.5-7.5 8
Recruitment & sampling       8
 Was the group or population adequately described?
 Were the setting and sample described in sufficient detail?
 Was the approach used to gain access to the site or to recruit
participants appropriate?
 Was the best possible method of sampling used to enhance
information richness and address the needs of the study?
 Was sample size adequate?
 Was saturation achieved?

Are any of these items strengths or weaknesses? Why are they a

strength or a weakness?

Data collection       8
 Were the methods of gathering data appropriate?
 Was there an attempt to achieve data triangulation?
 Were data collection and recording procedures adequately
described and do they appear appropriate?
 Were data collected in a manner that minimized bias or
behavioural distortions?
 Was the staff that collected data appropriately trained?
 Were the data collected relevant to the research question?

Are any of these items strengths or weaknesses? Why are they a

strength or a weakness?

Ethical considerations       8
 How have the rights of participants been protected?
 What indications are given that informed consent of the
subjects has been insured?
 Was ethical approval obtained from an agency or institution?
 Was the study designed to minimise risks and maximise
benefits to participants?

Are any of these items strengths or weaknesses? Why are they a

strength or a weakness?

Data analysis & Findings       8

Data Analysis:

 Were the data management and data analysis methods

sufficiently described?
 Was the data analysis strategy compatible with the research

NURS3003 – Critical Appraisal Marking Guide (Qualitative Semester 1) Page 1

 tradition and with the nature and type of data gathered?
 Did the analysis yield an appropriate product?
 Did the analytic procedures suggest the possibility of biases?

Findings:

 Were the findings effectively summarized, with good use of

excerpts and supporting arguments?
 Did the analysis yield a meaningful picture of the phenomenon
under investigation?
 Are the themes and patterns logically connected to each other
to form a convincing and integrated whole?
 Were figures, maps and models used effectively to summarize
conceptualizations?

Are any of these items strengths or weaknesses? Why are they a

strength or a weakness?

Trustworthiness       8
 Were methods used to enhance the trustworthiness of the
data and analysis?
 Was the description of those methods adequate?
 Were the methods used to enhance credibility appropriate and
sufficient?
 Did the researcher document research procedures and
decision processes sufficiently that findings are auditable and
confirmable?

Are any of these items strengths or weaknesses? Why are they a

strength or a weakness?

Developing Above
Satisfactory requirements Outstandin
0-1.25 1.25 - 1.5 1.5-2.25 g
2.5
Academic Writing 2.5
 Clear and effective academic English.
 Wide range of appropriate vocabulary.
 Free of grammatical errors. Free from spelling, formatting
or punctuation errors.

Referencing 2.5
 Critique and rationale supported by literature
 In text referencing done correctly
 References provided in reference list match those given in text
 Reference list conforms to APA 6th format
 Minimum of 6 references for ‘satisfactory’. Textbook and
article being critiqued are not included in the 6.

Comments 45
 Identifies strengths and weaknesses within the published research report
 Demonstrates understanding of research theory
 Using research theory to support the critique
 Is able to identify information from article to support critique

NURS3003 – Critical Appraisal Marking Guide (Qualitative Semester 1) Page 2