Appraise the introduction, problem, literature review, and ethical considerations of a quantitative research study.
Choose a quantitative study from this module’s learning activities.
Provide an introduction and overview of the study. Then critique the formulation of the problem, purpose, research questions, and hypotheses (if applicable):
To what extent is the general problem clearly articulated?
How is the problem significant to society’s wellbeing?
How clear is the study purpose?
What is/are the research question(s)?
If research questions are not stated, would stating them contribute value to the study? Why or why not?
If the authors are testing a hypothesis, are the research and null hypotheses clearly stated?
Next, assess the literature review, including:
The depth and breadh of literature used to build the rationale for the study.
To what extent do the authors avoid one-sidedness by providing conflicting evidence or differing views on the topic?
Aside from seminal work, which may be older, is most evidence cited current (within the past 5 years)?
To what extent do the authors effectively identify the gap in the literature that the study is meant to address?
Finally, examine the ethical considerations:
What are possible risks and benefits of this research for the human subjects involved?
Describe any vulnerable populations involved in this research.
How did the authors provide evidence of appropriate ethical review, such as by an institutional review board?
How were informed consent, privacy, and confidentiality of research subjects addressed as needed?
