Nurse Education in Practice, Student perceptions of support in practice Critique

Helen and Sharp 2009 define evidence based practice as a practice that is supported by clear reasoning, taking into account the patient’s or client’s preferences and using one’s own judgments. Health and social care practitioners in evaluating a research material need to have a clear understanding of the methods and types of research undertaken and how they may be applied in the health and social care setting. Various scholars require that caution be used in the application of any research findings to health and social care practices. A thorough analysis is essential before an application. Understating the strengths and weaknesses of a research material is thus essential in determining the best practices in health and social care. Critiquing skills are also essential in the analysis of a research material and providing recommendations for a medical practice. In this essay, I will analyze and critique two different research papers; the first section will deal with analysis and critique of Nurse Education in Practice: The concept of reflection in nursing: Qualitative findings on student and teacher perspectives, the second section will deal with analyzing and critique of Nurse Education in Practice: Student perceptions of support in practice Critique”.

The concept of reflection in nursing: Qualitative findings on student and teacher perspectives.

According to Charmaz (2006), it is significant to analyze a research material to help determine the reliability and suitability of a given research process and analysis. The results of the critique and analysis help to determine the appropriateness and reliability of a research material. The first research material does not provide more information as regarding the researcher but only that they are from Faculty of Health and Life Sciences United Kingdom University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. The other researches that have been carried out by the researcher are not stated either.

Titles and abstract

According to Barbara (1995), the main aims of a summary are to state the research problem and its significance. Summary also gives supporting information by the help of reviewing past research materials, discussing the theoretical implications of the research, identifying the reason of the study, and presenting the hypothesis to be studied, objectives to be met, or the specific question to be answered. It is therefore important to review the summary a research material for the above mentioned requirements.

A title and abstract should be short, concise and clearly state the aims of the research paper. Abstract is one of the initial parts of the research that readers review to decide whether or not they will go on reading. From reading the abstract the reader should be able to identify the research objectives, what was being measured, research method used, and major research findings. The research paper has a clear and concise title. The aims of the research material are clearly stated and one can easily tell form the title and abstract. The abstract in this research, being well written serves as one of the most important paragraphs of the paper.

In this research, the abstract has successfully provided a summary of the research and can be used by database retrieval services in indexing the research. The title is also short and clearly states what is being studied as it says “The concept of reflection in nursing: Qualitative findings on student and teacher perspectives.” The research has an accurate, self-contained, specific and non-evaluative abstract leading to the strengths of this study. The coherence and readability of the title and abstract also contributes to the research’s strengths and thus its appropriateness. The abstract or summary further provided clearly stated research background and aim, design and participants, research methods employed, the research findings, and conclusion (Charmaz, 2006). In contrast, the summary lacks details about the major findings of the research, which to ought to have been included. The reader by a quick glance at the summary might not be able to identify the main findings of the research and so the weakness of this summary.

Literature review

Barbara (1995) states that a literature review ought to provide supportive information for a given study. He further states that literature review should be restrictive to the most relevant and recent previous studies. The main aim of the literature review should be to establish the framework, provide a theoretical base, and place the content of the research into previously reported researches. Although some research materials used in the literature review dates back to 1967, like Wittgenstein’s, Philosophical Investigations Blackwell, Oxford, majority of the materials are up to date. Taking the number of recent research material used, the literature review reflects the defined aims and supports the theoretical framework of the research.

The literature examines original investigations, other literature reviews, peer reviewed academic literature, research databases, reviews, journals in various academic fields and original manuscripts that relate to beneficiary satisfaction (Charmaz, 2006). Since a search in the research databases produces a big number of results, the reviewed literature sources are picked on a random- sample strategy (Camilla, 2003). For instance, the interviewees and documentary data were picked at random.

Ethical considerations

A significant role of a research that is demonstrated in this research is the incorporation of ethical approval and ensuring the wellbeing of participants. This based on the research was achieved by going through a process of formal ethical approval. However, the non-predictive nature of action research means that it is also important to mutually agree an ethical code of practice at the start of the study. Clarke (2005) highlights various ethical code issues and principles of procedure. They emphasize the importance of maintaining a professional relationship, guided by a duty of care and respect for the individual; regardless of gender, age, and ethnicity along with a respect for cultural diversity and individual dignity, as well as protection from harm. This last principle is part of any researcher’s role, in addition to the need for informed consent and honesty. However, Clarke (2005) suggests that there are other principles of procedure that should be followed in action research.

Having an ethical code of practice does not negate the additional need for research governance and formal ethical approval for action research. However, these quality processes are made all the more complex by researcher not being able to say in advance what the research will do. Research proposals need to be written in collaboration with participants, often as co-applicants, with an inbuilt degree of flexibility. The researcher indicates the likely course of the study specifies the need for flexibility and enters into open and ongoing dialogue with ethical committees to seek approval for emergent changes in design. The author abided by the ethical consideration. Ethical approval was gained from National Health Services and from the University hosting program. The participants had freedom to withdraw any moment. The data submitted by the respondents were kept secure, locations, names of the respondents were never disclosed, and so author abide by the ethical considerations.

Research methodology

According to Barbara (1995), the research methodology should be a description of how the research was conducted. The description enhances the reader’s understanding of the research outcomes, provides a basis of the evaluation by the reader, and gives enough information for possible replication. According to Munhall (2007, the research methodology should contain participants, apparatus, instrumentation, and procedure and data collection techniques. Creswell (2002) further emphasizes that the section should contain a description of the sample and the site of research. It should also contain access to and permission form of for the participants, instruments employed in the research including their suitability and reliability and procedure use in the study.

The research tool is usually measured in terms of reliability, validity and sensitivity as well as specificity. These concepts were also applied in this study by the researcher to ascertain the reliability of the study. According to Caldwell (2003), reliability is the ability by which a study is able to produce results that are consistent and stable over a given period of time and given similar circumstances (Caldwell, 2003). Various types of validities exist that include internal validity and external validity. Internal validity relates to the correlation between items when measured on a scale. Whenever a study provides the same results after the application of two different measures, the outcome is said to be equivalent.

Validity is the extent to which a given instrument is designed to measure. The validity of a study can vary in different samples used. In one situation, a study can be valid while in other scenarios, it may not. The validity of a study is measured by what the study claims to and the availability of logical errors in the conclusions drawn from the study. According to Crotty (2003), internal validity is the extent to which it is possible to make independent reference from the findings of a study especially if the independent variable influences the dependent variable. In contrast, external validity is the general application of the findings of a study to other settings.

This research being a quantitative usually makes an emphasis on transforming the data quantities and the models of statistics for purposes of measuring and analyzing data. The research topics in which researchers use this method have clear idea of what they look or search for and tools like questionnaires are used to collect data (Clarke, 2005). Qualitative approach makes the researcher understand the phenomenon under study and be in a position to describe the whole situation as it is. Quantitative approach has its focus on the preciseness of data that is seen in terms of measuring data. Quantitative approach to a research involves using statistical data analyses to obtain information about the study simply because the approach is based on measuring the quantity or amount.

To realize the use deductive approach, quantitative research use tools of collective and analyzing data like questionnaires and interviews were used. Quantitative tools were preferred as compared to qualitative tools because they enabled the researcher to come up with facts. This is unlike qualitative tools that first come up with an abstract idea that is followed by creation of theories and concepts about the idea. As well, data in quantitative research is hard evidence and reliable as compared with qualitative research where data that is just rich and deep (Clarke, 2005). The good organization and presentation of the research techniques contributes to the suitability of the analysis.

In my thinking, the paper fully followed the research procedure; all the ethical considerations were taken into accounts. The paper is concise and flow smoothly, making it easy to interpret and follow the author’s arguments.

Nurse Education in Practice: Student perceptions of support in practice

Title and abstract

The research commences with a clearly stated abstract that states the reason for the study, where the study was conducted and the research method used. The title “Student perceptions of support in practice” is very clear and concise. It clearly shows the reader the direction and objectives of the research. More information about the authors is not stated and so their reliability and past researches cannot be identified. The only information that can be depicted is that the researchers are from the Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of Chester, United Kingdom. From this perspective, the reader cannot determine the reliability, authenticity and experience of the researcher in conducting such a study. However, the above mentioned point cannot be used to evaluate this study since it relies on other recently published studies to arrive at the results.

The summary of the research might not be completed to help a reader determine the key aspects of the study. The summary does not provide a clear guideline on how the research was conducted, the instruments used, and the key findings. The summary however provides information on the sampling technique, sampling areas, sampling population. The research summary therefore provides sufficient information for the reader to decide whether the research is of interest or not.

Literature review

According to Hughes et al., (2006), a research literature review should be a systematic, explicit and reproducible method for identifying, evaluating and synthesizing the present body of completed and recorded work produced by other scholars and practitioners. The literature examines original investigations, other literature reviews, peer reviewed academic literature, research databases, reviews, journals in various academic fields and original manuscripts that relate to beneficiary satisfaction (Charmaz, 2006). Since a search in the research databases produces a big number of results, the reviewed literature sources are picked on a random- sample strategy (Camilla, 2003). The literature review represents both breadth and depth in exploring around the subject and thus the strength of the research.

This literature review is a good theoretical framework as it identifies and defines the important variables in the situation that are relevant to the problem and subsequently describes and explains the interconnections among these variables. The relationships among the independent variables, the dependent variable(s), and, if applicable, the moderating variable(s), it is important to explain how and what specific relationships the moderate. For example, in the literature review, the author takes an example of a research carried by Brown and Edelman 2000 where theoretical knowledge, academic study, and personal expectations are explored.

Research methodology

The methodological framework of the study was mixed method entailing the use of questionnaires. Use of questionnaires in the study ensured thorough data collection on exploring the perceptions and experiences of nursing students regarding support in practice settings as the aim of the research. A qualitative study aimed to derive a detailed description of the phenomenon studied. The researcher took a key role in the data collection process. The outcome was data in the form of words and other descriptive forms. It was expected that some effects was measurable while other effects might not (Charmaz, 2006). Using the qualitative study ensured that the un- measurable were explored.

According to Mandan (2005), a quantitative study aims to classify, count and use measures to explain the condition or situation being studied. Data collection instruments, which are prepared beforehand, comprise the tools in collecting data (Mandan, 2005). The result was data in the form of numbers and statistical measures. Using quantitative study ensured that the measurable effects of perceptions and experiences of nursing students regarding support in practice settings were explored.

Another notable threat to the research validity was the method of selection that might be (though the probability cannot be determined) biased. Since participation in the study by respondents was voluntary, selection bias was likely to affect the internal validity. Instruments used were also identified by the scholars as another factor that affects internal validity. Any change or alterations made in the measurement of variables or changes in the techniques of observation. This may justify changes in the measurement that was ultimately obtained. This was evident from various researches (Camilla, 2003). A good way of dealing with this was to ensure consistency of the data analyzed and method used and techniques applied by the researcher.

There was no doubt that some respondents might not be comfortable with sharing information which, in their opinion, was sensitive; this also applies to certain experiences about which the researcher might be inquiring. The main reason for this was the likelihood that the researcher might fail to maintain confidentiality with the respondents. In the respect, the researcher will have to assure and promise that no such breach of confidentiality, whatsoever, will take place (Guthrie, 2001).

Questionnaires are a relatively convenient approach, which allowed matters of concern to the study to be carefully recognized and discovered. The method allowed the researcher to refine and narrow down the respondent’s ideas to concentrate on the specific research objectives. Questionnaires took less time to complete as compared to interviews, which required well-structured questions to obtain same information. Data collected was less biased when being interpreted. Questionnaires served as a good technique for collecting statistical facts about the research topic. It was easy to observe confidentiality when conducting questionnaires to gain honesty from participants. The questionnaire was designed to elicit experience and perceptions of the learners and to explore further themes, focus group was used.

Ethical Consideration

Ethical considerations are critical to the research process. Informed consent and confidentiality are fundamental to the conducting of primary research involving human participants and were assured in order for research to conform to ethical practice (Bryman & Bell, 2007). In the majority of instances in research, informed consent is guaranteed providing each research participant with an explanation of the purpose of the research. They were also informed of their right to withdraw from participating in the research at any stage should they choose to do so.

Personal information was not sought or collected in the questionnaire. Any personal information collected in the interviews that could identity any interviewee was changed. This measure ensured participant anonymity and guaranteed the confidentiality of data. In respect of data protection and storage, ethical practice was followed in ensuring all data was stored securely. As with informed consent and confidentiality, the ethical procedure for data protection was included in the questionnaire. In addition, the research instruments did not contain anything that threatened or subjected participants to any form of distress or harm and thus the strength of the research method used. The arguments in this research are presented in a logical manner, clearly readable and follow research procedures.

Analysis

The research outcome was descriptive which helped in summarizing useful information from both literature review and questionnaires. The tables and charts assisted in representing the data in a logical manner. The chats also helped in presentation of the data in a readable and manageable manner. The analysis section also followed a logical path which occasionally related back to the literature review in maintaining context and for consistency. The researcher in the end also acknowledged the weaknesses of the research method and this paper.

The analysis section was organized and easy to follow. The questionnaire were thoroughly analyzed using excel for closed data and qualitatively analyzed for open questions. This ensured all aspects of data were analyzed. Where limitations in the analysis appeared, experienced researchers verified the themes.

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