1. Critical appraisal of qualitative research for nursing practice
Penn State College of Nurisng: 200W

2. Learning objectives
Describe when intellectual critical appraisals of studies are conducted in nursing.
Implement key principles in critically appraising qualitative studies.
Describe the three steps for critically appraising a study.
Conduct a critical appraisal of a qualitative research report.

3. Critical appraisal in nursing
Broaden understanding
Improve practice
Provide a background

4. Qualitative critical appraisal
How the qualitative methods impact the study’s:
Credibility
Meaningfulness
Applicability in practice

5. Qualitative critical appraisal
Step 1: Identify Components of the Research Process
Step 2: Determining Strengths and Weaknesses
Step 3: Evaluating the Trustworthiness and Meaning of Study Findings

6. Step 1 Identifying Components of the Research Process Title?
Abstract representative of research study?
Major components of research study presented?

7. Step 2 Determining Strengths and Weaknesses Trustworthiness
Dependability
Confirmability
Credibility
Transferability

8. Trustworthiness Rigor and Quality
Combination of the following: dependability, confirmability, credibility, and transferability

9. dependability
Documentation of steps of research process with rational for why those steps were taken
Example: Selection of participants to fill in a specific gap in knowledge

10. confirmability Logical and Dependable
Often supported by the use of an audit trail (e.g., like leaving small stones on a path to trace your steps)

11. credibility Confidence that results are accurate
Enhanced by methods such as:
Triangulation or going back to the participants to verify the answers
Seeking out all negative cases to find out why

12. transferability
Applicability in other settings with similar participants
Example: Findings would be relevant in one medical center of similar size and location, but not perhaps in a large metropolitan medical center

13. Step 3 Evaluating the Trustworthiness and Meaning of Study Findings
Combination of Steps 1 & 2

14. Questions? Comments?