Unit 8: Critiquing Research and Synthesis of Findings

Critical appraisal involves...

• Subjectively determining the strength, quality & consistency of evidence

• Objectively determining the strength, quality & consistency of evidence

• Participating in an inner dialogue with writer

• Reviewing research findings without questioning their validity

Critical appraisal is also known as...

• Being "critical" with research findings

• "Critique of Literature"

• Appraisal of an article

• "Negative dismissal" of an article

Why is critical appraisal an important skill for nurses?

• Encourages nurses to practice based on traditional ways of doing

• Ensures practice is based on current evidence

• Ensures practice is based on trial and error

• All of the above

Critical appraisal of research articles allows you to assess___in the articles?

• Worth

• Validility/Reliability

• Applicability to practice

• All of the above

Standardized critiquing criteria ensures structure, consistency, accuracy, and quality when evaluating studies

• TRUE

• FALSE

What is an example of a critical appraisal tool?

• Systematic review

• CASP checklist

• Literature Review

• The levels of evidence hierarchy

How do you determine the strength of a research article?

• Using the Level of Evidence Hierarchy

• Using the EIP Steps

• Using the Ways of Knowing

• All of the above

What characteristics do you evaluate to determine the quality of the study?

• Feasibility

• Validility/Reliability

• Rigor

• All the above

What factors or characteristics constitutes the generalizability of a research study?

• The use of standarized critiquing criteria

• Data's ability to represent a broader population beyond the study sample

• Design of the study

• Number of participants

How do you assess validity and reliability of a research study?

• By examining the source of funding for the study

• By assesing the gaps in the literature

• By evaluating the study's methods & design e.g measuring tool for variables

• All of the above