Five Steps in the Critique Process for Quantitative Research
Quantitative research has the goal of investigating social phenomena through the application of rigorous statistical analysis. Such studies are commonly used in the fields of nursing, sociology, epidemiology and psychology. If you have been assigned the task of critiquing a quantitative study, you can do this by examining the purpose of the study, the research problem, the methodology and design, the data collection and analysis and the credibility and significance of the findings for the field.
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Purpose of the Study
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Ask whether the purpose of the study is clear. Is it relevant for practitioners? What contributions might the study make to the body of existing theoretical and practical knowledge? Is the study necessitated by a real-world problem, beyond which clinicians and researchers are seeking to advance? Examples might be the impact of hand washing on infection rates, or the prevalence of schizophrenia in young adult immigrants.
Research Problem
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Ask whether the research problem defines a specific frame of inquiry. Does it establish the parameters of the research and reflect the purpose of the study? If it is stated as a hypothesis, does it describe all variables?
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Methodology and Design
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Critique the study's methodology and design. Is the population to be studied clearly identified? Did the researchers use a control group to account for random variations in the data? Ask about the conceptual theory guiding the study. Is the study methodologically consistent? Is there a plan for executing the study from start to finish?
Data Collection and Analysis
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Evaluate the study's use of data collection and analysis. Ask about the parameters for collecting the data. Were the populations studied representative? Note whether there is any evidence that the data collection was biased. Observe whether there was an attempt to correct for subjective factors, such as through the use of a placebo.
Credibility and Significance of the Findings
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Critique the study's conclusions. Do the results support the conclusions, or can the data be interpreted differently? If so, suggest possible corrections. Make suggestions about directions for future research, and state your view of how significant the findings are for the field.
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References
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