RESEARCH ARTICLE ANALYSIS PAPER GUIDELINES
Use the article that I submitted
Use APA format and style for the paper. Include an accurate reference page and title page.
Use headings/subheadings (following APA format for them) to set off each area of your paper in accordance with the guidelines for each section addressed below (e.g., introduction, selection of the research interest area, etc. would each be a heading).
The paper should be 8 to 10 pages in length. Quality and depth trump quantity.
You must address each area listed under the guidelines below to receive a successful score on your paper. Points will be deducted for each item omitted.
See the scholarly paper rubric for scoring.
Paper Format and Content Guidelines:
1. Introduction
Explain the general purpose, scope and depth of your paper (what it will cover).
2. Selection of Research Interest Area
Explain briefly how you chose the article upon which you will focus in this paper. What clinical experience, question or other interest led you to choose this article? Describe the authors and the citation for the article chosen and explain how it can be pertinent to your learning goals.
What was the research question(s)/ and/or hypothesis(es)?
3. Overview of Research Design
You will explain an overview of the research the article. Was the design- correlational,
experimental, grounded theory (for example)? Find out what the authors say about their study design and explain it here.
Is the study design appropriate to answer the research questions proposed?
4. Foundation for the Studies
Explain the theories and/or conceptual models the researchers used to guide the study, if any.
Is the literature review reflecting the state of the science on this topic presented in a logically organized manner? Do the authors discuss supporting as well as opposing studies or information?
Does the literature review for the article seem adequate in depth and breadth? Is it clear how the research study flows or fits into the body of work the literature review describes? Will the research presented be a good contribution to the body of knowledge on this area of interest?
Do the researchers offer hypotheses about what they will find? Do they discuss hunches of what they might find or expect to see based upon theory or other research?
In the hypotheses or research problem statements, what independent, dependent and/or other variables are identified? If a qualitative research article is used, what are the phenomena under investigation?
5. Conduct of the Research (Each item must be addressed)
What was the population of interest and the sample size? How was the sample selected or recruited? Do the researchers describe how they chose the specific characteristics of the sample, the specific sample size or why?
What were the principles of measurement used? What measures were used (questionnaires, photos, abdominal girth, lab values)? If instruments are used, name those specifically. If a qualitative study — what methods were used to solicit or capture information?
What were the specific data collection methods? Was the data collected quantitative or
qualitative in nature? How were the participants measured, assessed or interviewed, at what times were they measured, how were the data captured and stored? Do participants have access to the data or the findings of the study?
How were the rights of the participants upheld and protected during the conduct of this research?
For example, how was their anonymity preserved? Was there any risk to them during the conduct of the study or afterwards? How were they informed of this? Could they refuse to have their data included even after they participated? Is there institutional review board approval documented?
Were there any problems with the methodology of these studies?
6. Analysis and Reporting of the Research (Each item shall be reported for both articles)
Once the data were collected and stored, how were the data handled? What data analysis methods were reported?
If a quantitative study, what types of statistics were used to analyze the data (descriptive, inferential) explain?
If a qualitative study describe the analysis steps reported by the researchers.
What generalizability, reliability and/or validity issues do the researchers report? For qualitative research, what are the other factors the researchers discuss (e.g. truth value, auditability).
Were the conclusions from the research clear? Explain.
Were any ethical issues raised in the conduct, analysis and/or reporting of this research?
7. Usefulness of the Research
What do the researchers claim is the significance of their findings for nursing practice, for further nursing research, for nursing education, and/or for nursing theory development? Do you agree with their assessments, disagree? Explain.
If you wanted to know more about this research, how would you contact the researchers?
What level of evidence does this research represent?
What are some appropriate ways you can use these research findings? Explain.
8. Conclusion
Write a summary paragraph explaining what your paper was about and the key points you want
your reader to remember upon concluding your discussion of this research.
9. References
APA format Please utilize the Sample APA Template for all of your scholarly papers found in Course Resources and in the Scholarly Paper assignments in Canvas
Include citations for the research article you selected and any other articles you used to assist you with the research critique process.
Includes at least 4 references from current peer reviewed nursing journals; or 2 from journals and 2 from reading or a reliable education, government or organizational website. These four references do not include the ones for the article. (5 total).
10. Do not use quotes from any source or author. The use of quotes just tells us what the author/reference material states. Cite properly using APA Style for any references used in discussion. This allows your colleagues to locate the information. This also eliminates plagiarism.
