How to Critique a Nursing Research Study Introduction Section
- 1). State the name, degrees and job title of the nursing study's author. Find this information at either the very start or end of the research study. Is the author a nurse or other medical professional? Assess whether the researcher has credibility in the world of nursing.
- 2). Comment on the article's title. Does it adequately and accurately characterize the research? Long (more than 15 words) and short (three words or less) titles obscure meaning.
- 3). Judge the abstract, if given. Some research will not have an abstract that provides an overview of the study's purpose, methodology, findings and recommendations in a paragraph on a separate page at the start. Evaluate the abstract's sufficiency. However, do not denigrate the study for the absence of an abstract because some journals do not demand it.
- 4). Analyze the study's introduction by judging these elements: historical background about the subject (reasons for, or context of, the study); gaps in past research; research purpose or problem statement; preview of the study's sub-sections; thesis statement. First, look at the study as a whole and evaluate the presence of these elements, and then determine their effectiveness.
- 5). Evaluate the literature review if one substitutes for an introduction. All literature reviews should: identify the research problem; identify research methodology; identify keywords; provide the paper's sub-sections; present thesis. Address the same questions for an introduction: Does the literature review provide these elements and how well does the study articulate them?
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