N 302 – Evaluation Criteria for Critique

Name___Group 2________	                              Total points_____92.5______/100  

1. Summary of the article							(10)_____9___

You state in your paper that “ the nurses in general were against involuntary euthanasia and thought it was better not to administer artificial nutrition”. Involuntary euthanasia is the administration of lethal drugs in order to painlessly terminate the life of a patient – without their knowledge.  It is not the administration of nutrition. 

2. Problem/Purpose							(10)___9_____
   a. Is the problem clearly & concisely stated?
   b. Is the problem researchable (answerable with empirical data)?
   c. Is the problem significant to Nursing – “So what?”

I think this article and ethical problem is very significant to nursing. This kind of question goes directly to who you are and who you are as a professional. Not all nurses can work in palliative care or for instance at a planned parenthoods. You have to choose your employment to some degree in line with your personal views and what is healthy for you too.   

I think what you are trying to say on this slide page is that nurses should not allow their own beliefs to interfere with the needs or warranted care provided to and desired by a patient. You will not always agree with your patients decisions- and that is okay. You must respect their decision.  

3. Conceptual Framework						 	 (5)______5___
   a. Was the study based on a framework?
   b. Does the framework fit the problem?
   c. Are the concepts and relationships identified?

4. Review of the Literature						(10)____10____
   a. Is the review appropriate, thorough, organized?
   b. Is current research included?
   c. Is the literature well critiqued?
   d. Are there gaps in the knowledge re: the problem

Good job.

5. Research Question/Hypothesis					10)____10_____
   a. Are research questions/hypotheses clearly stated?
   b. Is the question/hypothesis researchable as stated?
   c. Does the question/hypothesis relate logically to the 
	problem, discussion, literature review, framework?

6. Variables								 	(5)_____5_____
    a. Are the concepts/variables clearly identified? Independent/Dependent?
    b. Are there conceptual & operational definitions?
    c. Are there extraneous/intervening variables identified? Controlled?

Good job on a difficult concept.

7. Design								 	(5)____4______
    a. What design was utilized?
    b. Is the design appropriate for the research problem?
    c. Is internal validity addressed?

What are the models? You could have elaborated more on this.  

8. Sample								  	(5)_____4____
   a. Is the sample described & representative e of the population?
   b. Is the sampling method appropriate?
   c. Is the sample size adequate?
   d. Is protection of subjects addressed?

You state that the sample is unbiased but it is not random – wouldn’t a random sample b more unbiased? 

9. Data Collection methods						(10)____10_____
   a. Is the data collection approach appropriate?
   b. Are the tools/instruments described adequately?
   c. Are reliability & validity of the tools addressed?

10. Data analysis								(10)______8___
   a. Are the analysis procedures appropriate for the level of measurement?
   b. Do the data analysis procedures answer the research question?
   c. Are the results clearly presented? Tables? Figures?

You stopped a little short on this page. I would have liked a little more information. It is true that your data was based on a probability of membership to the group. You stated that “the findings and interpretations were differentiated” You could have went further and stated -Differentiated into attitudinal groups regarding palliative care sedation and described this more.  

11. Results, Conclusions, Discussion of Findings			 (5)____5___
   a. Are findings & interpretations differentiated?
   b. Is the research question answered?
   c. Are limitations of the study identified?
   d. Are implications for nursing addressed?
   e. Are the results generalizable? To whom?
   f. Are recommendations for future research identified:

I was surprised to see you say that this article should not be used in nursing. These opinions are valuable, even if not your own. This is a thought provoking article and no doubt you will be faced with such dilemmas as nurses. 

12. Overall evaluation of research presentation			(10)____9__
 
13. Format & writing (Grammar, composition, APA, etc.)		 (5)____4.5____