CRITICAL APPRAISAL CHECKLIST FOR QUANTITATIVE (DESCRIPTIVE) RESEARCH

Was able to Was able to Was not

Was able
Guide Questions Answers extensively somewhat able to Faculty Comments
to justify
justify justify justify
1. Is the title eye-catching or caught your interest? Justify
your answer
2. How was the introduction presented? What particular
elements you think is imperative that has been
integrated as part of the introduction? Was the need
for the study adequately substantiated or covered?

3. What research question do you think is being asked? □ □ □ □

4. Identify the variables of the study. Were there any
confounding variables? Discuss how the authors
controlled or did not controlled the confounding
□ □ □ □
variables.
5. What was the design of the study? Was the study
design appropriate for the research question? Did the
study methods address the most important potential
□ □ □ □
sources of bias?
6. How was the sample selected (eligibility criteria)? How
is the sample representative of the population?
□ □ □ □
7. Was the sample size large enough to detect a
statistically significant association or difference?
□ □ □ □
8. How were the data collected (one time (cross-
sectional) or repeated over time (longitudinal)? What □ □ □ □
were the limitations of the data collection methods?
9. Were the measures appropriate for the population or
the variable being studied? Explain
□ □ □ □
10. Were the analysis plans (statistical methods) described
in detail? How were the data distributed (e.g., normal
versus skewed)? Were the correlative and comparative □ □ □ □
tests appropriate for the type of data analyzed and the
questions asked? Explain
11. Is the research ethical according to current criteria or,
for recent studies, and is there evidence of ethical □ □ □ □
approval by an appropriate body? Explain

12. What were the findings? Explain □ □ □ □

13. Did the authors put their findings in the context of the
broader literature on this topic? Explain
□ □ □ □
14. Were the conclusions drawn flow from the analysis, or
interpretation of the data? Explain
□ □ □ □
15. Discuss how the findings can be applied to practice.
What relevance do the findings have to nursing □ □ □ □
practice? Explain