PART ONE: DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH QUESTION AND SEARCH

One of the underlying concepts explored through this subject was in refining broad clinical questions into researchable questions and using these refined terms to extract data.

Previously we have given you the case studies. In this assessment we want you to take this further and decide on a topic yourself.

Specifically, we would like you to ask a qualitative research question on a clinical topic that you are interested in.

You will then need to refine your topic of interest into a single researchable question, provide a search strategy and provide a screenshot of how you implemented this strategy into a database of your choice. Finally, you will be asked to provide the abstract of the qualitative article you have found on your chosen topic.

1. Please describe the clinical topic in which you are interested and why this is particular interest to you (2 points):

The PICO format is most applicable for quantitative research approaches; however, it is useful in planning a systematic search of literature for any research question.

2. Determine the PICO terms from your larger topic that might assist you in developing your specific qualitative researchable question:

Population

Interest

Comparison (if appropriate)

Outcome (if applicable)

3. Why is it important to have short and specific terms in your PICO instead of long descriptive sentences?

4. Create your PICO format qualitative question (Eg: In individuals with ......, what is their experience of ...... (P....I.... C.... O....)) (1 point)

5. Please fill in the search strategy, including standard Boolean operators, that you would use in any chosen database (2 point)

Search Strategy
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6. Please provide a screen shot of your database search:

7. Please provide the screenshot of the abstract of your chosen qualitative research article that provides understanding to your research question: (1 point)

PART TWO: APPRAISAL OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH ARTICLES

Assessing the quality of the available evidence and thinking about what parts of each study add to your question has also been a key focus this semester. Use the CASP Appraisal for Qualitative Research to decide whether the information presented in your paper is trustworthy and truly reflective of the participant's voice.

SCREENING QUESTIONS (4 points)

1. Was there a clear statement of the aims? ?Yes ? Can't tell ?No
HINT: Consider
· What was the goal of the research?
· Why it was thought important?
· Its relevance

Your comment:

2. Is a qualitative methodology appropriate? ?Yes ? Can't tell ?No
HINT: Consider
· If the research seeks to interpret or illuminate the actions and/or subjective experiences of research participants
· Is qualitative research the right methodology for addressing the research goal?

Your comment:

DETAILED QUESTIONS

3. Was the research design appropriate to address the aims of the research? ?Yes ? Can't tell ?No
HINT: Consider
· If the researcher has justified the research design (e.g. have they discussed how they decided which method to use)?

Your comment:

4. Was the recruitment strategy appropriate to the aims of the research? ?Yes ? Can't tell ?No
HINT: Consider
· If the researcher has explained how the participants were selected
· If they explained why the participants they selected were the most appropriate to provide access to the type of knowledge sought by the study
· If there are any discussions around recruitment (e.g. why some people chose not to take part)

Your comment:

5. Was the data collected in a way that addressed the research issue? ?Yes ? Can't tell ?No
HINT: Consider
· If the setting for data collection was justified
· If it is clear how data were collected (e.g. focus group, semi-structured interview etc.)
· If the researcher has justified the methods chosen
· If the researcher has made the methods explicit (e.g. for interview method, is there an indication of how interviews were conducted, or did they use a topic guide)?
· If methods were modified during the study. If so, has the researcher explained how and why?
· If the form of data is clear (e.g. tape recordings, video material, notes etc)
· If the researcher has discussed saturation of data

Your comment:

6. Has the relationship between researcher and participants been adequately considered ?Yes ? Can't tell ?No
HINT: Consider
· If the researcher critically examined their own role, potential bias and influence during
a) Formulation of the research questions
b) Data collection, including sample recruitment and choice of location
· How the researcher responded to events during the study and whether they considered the implications of any changes in the research design

Your comment:

7. Have ethical issues been taken into consideration? ?Yes ? Can't tell ?No
HINT: Consider
· If there are sufficient details of how the research was explained to participants for the reader to assess whether ethical standards were maintained
· If the researcher has discussed issues raised by the study (e.g. issues around informed consent or confidentiality or how they have handled the effects of the study on the participants during and after the study)
· If approval has been sought from the ethics committee

Your comment:

8. Was the data analysis sufficiently rigorous? ?Yes ? Can't tell ?No
HINT: Consider
· If there is an in-depth description of the analysis process
· If thematic analysis is used. If so, is it clear how the categories/themes were derived from the data?
· Whether the researcher explains how the data presented were selected from the original sample to demonstrate the analysis process
· If sufficient data are presented to support the findings
· To what extent contradictory data are taken into account
· Whether the researcher critically examined their own role, potential bias and influence during analysis and selection of data for presentation

Your comment:

9. Is there a clear statement of findings? ?Yes ? Can't tell ?No
HINT: Consider whether
· If the findings are explicit
· If there is adequate discussion of the evidence both for and against the researchers arguments
· If the researcher has discussed the credibility of their findings (e.g. triangulation, respondent validation, more than one analyst)
· If the findings are discussed in relation to the original research question

Your comment:

10. How valuable is the research?
HINT: Consider
· If the researcher discusses the contribution the study makes to existing knowledge or understanding e.g. do they consider the findings in relation to current practice or policy?, or relevant research-based literature?
· If they identify new areas where research is necessary
· If the researchers have discussed whether or how the findings can be transferred to other populations or considered other ways the research may be used