HLSC122 Study Guide - Final Guide: Internal Validity, Quota Sampling, Quantitative Research
5 Jun 2018
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● Qualitative research concentrates on people’s experiences, attitudes and beliefs, on
their perception of a situation
● It is not the opposite of quantitative research and is not just a set of techniques for
collecting descriptive data - it has a theoretical foundation
● This is important because this foundation is needed if the knowledge generated from
qualitative research is seen as legitimate
● Qualitative research can address issues for the patient, for example, what it is like to
have chronic pain
Title
● Is it concise, yet informative?
● Does it indicate the research approach?
Abstract
The next area for appraisal is the abstract. Most articles these days have abstracts for the
convenience of their readers
● Does the abstract correctly and concisely describe the problem, methods, design,
results, conclusions and implications?
● Does it provide a good basis for deciding whether the study is worth reading?
Example
Aim: To compare the effectiveness of pre admission telephone screening verses clinic
assessment for preparedness of patients undergoing endoscopy during day surgery
procedure
Here, the authors clearly define that they are looking at
Method: Data was collected from participants by completion of an explicit questionnaire
This tells us that the data was collected but it does not tell us how participants were
allocated to the different interventions
Results: Forty-nine patients participated. No differences were observed in preparedness for
surgery in patients who were assessed by telephone screening or clinical assessment in the
pre-operative period
The authors clearly tell us there is no difference between the two types of intervention
Conclusion: In general, telephone screening and clinical assessment of patients ensured
preparedness for surgery. Future research might demonstrate a difference with a larger
study
Here, the authors are providing their opinion of the results. They tell us that the sample size
was not large enough and that more research needs to be carried out
Methods and processes
● Is the sequence of research methods clearly explained?
● How were participants enlisted into the project?
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● Has an explanation been provided of the reason for the number of participants in the
project?
● Are the processes used appropriate for the underlying methodological ideas of the
project?
○ In other words, does the project demonstrate an appropriate level of
negotiation, collaboration and sharing of power between the researcher and
participants as might reasonably expect?
● Is there a clear account of how the data was collected?
Design (p 69)
● Is the design the most appropriate one with which to answer the research question?
● Is the selected design likely to control threats to validity, thereby promoting internal
validity?
● If it is an experimental design, is the way of testing the hypothesis valid?
Participants (p 70)
● Has the author included a section about the participants?
● Has the paper stated what the target population was and how the participants were
selected (what the sampling procedures were)?
● Was demographic information on the sample provided? Does the sample appear to
be representative of the target population or is it biased in some way?
● What type of sample was it and how could this impact on the findings?
● How many participants were selected? Were there enough to ensure valid findings?
● How did the researcher determine how many participants should be in the sample?
Was a power analysis used, for example?
● What processes were used to recruit the participants?
● Did the participants volunteer to take part in the study?
● Was informed consent obtained?
● Were participants protected from potential physical, social, psychological and
financial harm?
Instruments
● Were the procedures of the study designed so as to protect the privacy,
confidentiality and anonymity of the participants where appropriate?
● Did the author report on instrument/s used, including their suitability?
● Did the instrument measure accurately, and with sufficient sensitivity?
● How was it developed, and by whom?
● If the instrument was previously in existence, did the author report the instrument’s
validity and reliability?
● Did the author get permission from the owner of the copyright on the instrument?
● If the instrument was research developed, was the trialling procedure reported,
including acceptable validity and reliability tests?
Procedure
● Did the author report on the ethical aspects of the study?
● Was permission gained from the appropriate human research ethics committee/s?
● After the sample was recruited, what procedures were used to assign participants to
groups if warranted?
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Qualitative research concentrates on people"s experiences, attitudes and beliefs, on their perception of a situation. It is not the opposite of quantitative research and is not just a set of techniques for collecting descriptive data - it has a theoretical foundation. This is important because this foundation is needed if the knowledge generated from qualitative research is seen as legitimate. Qualitative research can address issues for the patient, for example, what it is like to have chronic pain. The next area for appraisal is the abstract. Most articles these days have abstracts for the convenience of their readers. Aim: to compare the effectiveness of pre admission telephone screening verses clinic assessment for preparedness of patients undergoing endoscopy during day surgery procedure. Here, the authors clearly define that they are looking at. Method: data was collected from participants by completion of an explicit questionnaire.
