Memory Joggers: Worksheet for Qualitative Research
DETERMINE RELEVANCE
Is this article worth taking the time to read? If the answer to any of these questions is No, it may be better to read other articles first.
Based on the conclusion of the abstract:
A. Did the authors study the outcome that patients would care about? (Be careful to avoid results that require extrapolation to an outcome that truly matters to patients)
Yes (go on) No (Stop)
B. Is the problem studied one that is common to your practice and the intervention feasible?
Yes (go on) No (Stop)
C. Will this information, if true, require you to change your current practice?
Yes (go on) No (Stop)
DETERMINE VALIDITY
If the answers to all three questions above are Yes, then continued assessment of the article is mandatory.
D.Was the appropriate method used to answer the question?
Interviews or focus groups should be used to study perceptions. Observation is required to evaluate behaviors
Yes No (Stop)
E. Was appropriate and adequate sampling used to get the best information?
Random sampling is not used in qualitative research. Instead, subjects are selected with the idea that they are best suited to provide appropriate information. Assurance that enough people were studied to provide sufficient information should be found in the description
Yes No
F. Was an iterative process of collecting information used?
In qualitative research, the research learns about the topic as the research progresses. The study design should consist of data collection and analysis, followed by more data collection and analysis, in an iterative fashion, until no more information is obtained
Yes No
G. Was a thorough analysis presented?
A good qualitative study not only presents the findings, but provides a thorough analysis of the data. Beware studies that simply present results without interpretation
Yes No
H. Are the background and training of the investigators described?
Since the investigator is being relied on for analysis of the data, we must know their training and biases. Knowing these characteristics, we can use them to evaluate their conclusions.
Yes No
1997: Information Mastery Working Group. |
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