A nurses’ guide to the critical reading of research

Abstract

Objective: A sound theoretical foundation to guide practice is enhanced by the ability of nurses to critique research. This article provides a structured route to questioning the methodology of nursing research.

Primary Argument: Nurses may find critiquing a research paper a particularly daunting experience when faced with their first paper. Knowing what questions the nurse should be asking is perhaps difficult to determine when there may be unfamiliar research terms to grasp. Nurses may benefit from a structured approach which helps them understand the sequence of the text and the subsequent value of a research paper.

Conclusion: A framework is provided within this article to assist in the analysis of a research paper in a systematic, logical order. The questions presented in the framework may lead the nurse to conclusions about the strengths and weaknesses of the research methods presented in a research article. The framework does not intend to separate quantitative or qualitative paradigms but to assist the nurse in making broad observations about the nature of the research.