NUR 302 Experience of Breast Cancer Qualitative Research Critique Essay

Statements Yes NO   justification/rationale. Title and Abstract        

1) Does the title suggest the key phenomenon and the population, group, or community under study?

 

X   Yes, the title does not suggest the key phenomenon, the population, group, or community under study. The title of the study (Experience of Breast Cancer

Burden, Benefit, or Both?) does contain the primary concern, which is exploring stress experiences in women who has breast cancer.

 

2) Does the abstract clearly and concisely summarize the main features of the report?

 

X   The article contains an abstract that summarizes all the major parts of the study, such as Phenomenon of Interest/Problem        

3)Is the phenomenon of interest or problem clearly stated and easy to identify? What is the phenomenon of interest or problem of study?

 

       

4) Does the phenomenon lend itself to study by qualitative methods? Is there a good match between the phenomenon of interest and design/tradition chosen?

 

       

5) Are research questions explicitly stated? If stated, what is (are) the research question(s)?

 

       

6)Are the questions consistent with the study’s philosophical basis, underlying tradition, conceptual framework, or ideological orientation?

 

       

7) Does the problem have significance for nursing?

 

       

Study Purpose and Research Question

       

8)Is the purpose clearly stated? Does the purpose warrant the description and understanding of the phenomenon of interest or answer the research question(s)?

 

      Conceptual Underpinnings        

9) Is the philosophical basis, underlying tradition, conceptual framework made explicit and is it appropriate for the problem? If yes, what is it?

 

      Research Design/Tradition        

10) Is the identified research tradition congruent with the methods used to collect and analyze data? What is the specific qualitative research design?

 

       

11) Was an adequate amount of time spent in the field or with study participants?

 

       

12) Did the design unfold in the field, giving researchers opportunities to capitalize on early understandings?

 

       

13) Was there evidence of reflexivity in the design?

 

       

14) Were there an adequate number of contacts with study participants?

 

      Literature Review        

15) Is the review of literature presented at the beginning of the study or in the end/conclusion?

 

       

16)Does the review of literature present information that will help illustrate how the findings of the study fit into the existing body of knowledge on the phenomenon of interest?

 

       

Sample Selection

      17)Was the group or population of interest adequately described? Were the setting and sample described in sufficient detail?

 

      18) Is the participant selection and recruitment process clearly described?

 

      19) How was the sample size determined? Was data saturation achieved       Gain Entry to Site        

20) Was the approach used to gain access to the site or to recruit participants stated and is appropriate?

 

      Protection of Rights of Participants        

21)Were appropriate procedures used to safeguard the rights of study participants?

 

       

22) Was the study designed to minimize risks and maximize benefits to participants?

 

      Data Collection       23)Is the data collection and recording process fully described?

 

      24) Were the methods of gathering data appropriate?

25) Did the researcher ask the right questions or make the right observations, and were they recorded in an appropriate fashion?

 

      26)Was enough data gathered? Was the data of sufficient depth and richness?

 

       

27)Is it clear how researcher bias was avoided?

 

      Data Analysis       28)Were the data management (e.g., coding) and data analysis methods sufficiently described?

 

      29)Was the data analysis strategy compatible with the study purpose, research tradition and with the nature and type of data gathered?

 

      30) How were the data organized?

 

      Interpretation of Data/Findings       31)Did the analysis illuminate an insightful, provocative, and meaningful picture of the phenomenon under investigation? (e.g., meaning, thematic pattern, a structure, a theory, taxonomy, etc.)?

 

      32)What are the findings? Are the study findings clearly presented? How was it presented or interpreted in the report?

 

      33)Do the themes adequately capture the meaning of the data? Does it appear that the researcher satisfactorily conceptualized the themes or patterns in the data       34)Were the findings effectively summarized, with good use of excerpts narratives and supporting arguments?

 

      35) Did the analytic procedures suggest the possibility of biases?

 

      36)Are the limitations acknowledged? What is (are) limitations of the study?

 

      Implications/Recommendations       37)Do the researchers discuss the implications of the study for clinical practice or further inquiry, and are those implications reasonable and complete?

 

      38)Are suggestions made for further research based on the study findings?